HISTORY 



GREENE COUNTY, 

PENNSYLVANIA, 



Sx\MUET. f; bates. 



Hills, vales, woods, netted in silver mist, 
Forms, gransee, donlik'd up nmoiis the hills 
And cattle grazing in the watered vales. 
And cottage chimneys smoking from the woods, 
And cottage gardens smelling everywhere. 
Confused with smell of orchards. See! I siud. 
And seel is Uod not with us on the earth y 

— ELIZABKTII BaRKETT linOWNl.NO. 



ILLUSTRATED. 



NELSON, RISHFORTH & CO., 
CHIOAOO. 

1888. 



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'Sf3f 



PREFACE. 



The section of country, of which Greene County occupies a central 
position, has more vitally interesting problems in its history, than any 
other portion of the United States. The natic lality which should occupy 
the great Mississippi Valley — Spanish, French, or English; the narrowed 
struggle between the French and the English, inaugurated by Marquette 
and LaSalle, in their pious ceremonials, and by Celeron in planting the 
leaden plates; the lierce military contest led by Washington, Braddock, 
and Forbes for possession of Fort Pitt and the final banishment of the 
French beyond the lakes; the long and wasting conflict with the natives 
in which isolated pioneers with their families were exposed in their 
scattered cabins in the forest, to the fiendish arts of the stealthy and 
heartless savage, who spared neither the helpless infant, the tender female, 
nor trembling age; the protracted controversy with Maryland over the 
possession of territory which both States claimed; the settlements of a 
Virginia company on Pennsylvania soil, and the claim of the former State 
to the whole boundless Northwest; the chances by which the final 
settlement of possession was invested, and the finding of the southwest 
corner of the State finally accomplished by astronomical observations at 
the instance of Thomas Jefferson; the subtle influences which swayed the 
location of the National road, and the Baltimore and Ohio railway — these 
were all questions which nearly touch the ultimate reaches of its history. 
It has been thought best accordingly, to give generous space in this 
volume to these vital subjects, which will ever command the attentior 
of the thoughtful, will daily increase in interest to the oncoming genera- 
tions, and by means of which we trace the jihilosophy of the vital events 
of history that are really useful. 

In preparing these pages for publication it has been decided not to 
encumber the te.\t with marginal notes, and references to authorities; but 
to name authors where their investigations have been used, and to make 
acknowledgements in a general way. It would be impossible to name 
all, but the following have been found especially useful and have been 
freely consulted: The Histories of the United States by Bancroft, Hildreth, 
Spencer, Bryant, and Lossing; Irving's Life of Washington; Life and 
Writings of William Penn; Colonial Records, and Pennsylvania archives; 
History of Pennsylvania Volunteers; the Western Annals; History of 



Western Pennsylvania; Redstone Presbytery; McConnell's Map of Greene 
County; The Historical Atlas; the State Reports of Education from 1837 
to 1887; and Crumrine's History of Washington County. 

Especial acknowledgements are due to L. K. Evans, Esq., who, during 
the Centennial year of American Independence, published in the Waynes- 
burg Repuhlican^ which he then edited, a series of articles running through 
an entire year of weekly issues, embracing investigations which he pushed 
with singular perseverance and marked success, covering much of the 
early history of the county. In a spirit of generosity and kindness, he 
not only placed at my disposal a complete set of these articles, but also 
a mass of manuscript which had been addressed to him by aged citizens 
in various sections of the county, bearing upon the subject of his investi- 
gations. From these sources matter has been freely drawn; and though 
it has not been possible, on account of the limits prescribed to this work, 
to use as much as might have been desired, in the interesting style in 
which it appears, yet in a condensed form it has been freely appropriated. 

Probably no equal portion of any part of the United States has been 
the scene of so many cold-blooded and heartless murders by the Indians 
as this county; not because the pioneers here piovoked the natives to re- 
venge, nor because they were the special objects of hatred, but because 
they happened to be in the way of the savages in their march to and fro 
upon their war expeditions, and because this was their ancient hunting 
ground. The Indians never made this section their home, having no vil- 
lages nor wigwams in all its limits; but from time immemorial had kept 
this as a sort of park or preserve for the breeding of their game. They 
may have felt aggrieved in seeing their favorite hunting grounds broken in 
upon, and the game scared away by the ring of the settler's ax, the echo 
of his gun, and his frequent burnings; but it is probable that this had 
less influence than the fact that their war-paths happened to cross here, 
and they found in their way subjects on whom they could glut their 
savage instincts. There are over one hundred well authenticated records 
in the State archives of murders committed within the limits of this small 
county alone. 

Hoping that the work will prove useful to the citizens of the county, 
and especially to the rising generation, and will serve to stimulate to 
further inquiry into the subjects which it touches, it is respectively sub- 
mitted to their considerate judgment. 

S. P. B. 
Wiiynesburg, Nov. 13, 1888. 



CONTENTS. 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 



CIIAPTEU I. — Pictiiroeiiiio Beamy <if 
Greouu Couuty — Wordy of AlcxniuU-r 
Cnrapbcll — Its Lcicatiou— ;S89,120 Sqiiiirc 
Acreis— StrcamB Draiuiiif^ It — WnttT-bhed 
-Trend of the HillH— Fertility of the Soil 
— Limestone — Forests -- Remarks upon 
Forchtry -A Girdled Forest— Coni«e(Mieuie 
of War upon the Forests— Judicious Plant- 
ing— The Sugar Maple— As Seen in South- 
ern Italy— Questions Touching Its Early 
Occupation 17-24 

CHAPTKR Il.-Why Called Indians-The 
Grandfathers, or Delawarcs— Shawuees— 
Six Nations or Irociuois, or Mingoep-The 
Tuscaroras— Dclawares Vassals- Indiana' 
Shemetic Origin— Application of Bitile 
Prophecy— The Indian Sui Generis— Char- 
acteristic*— ludolont—Position of Woman 
-The Indian a Law to Himself- Ills Occu- 
pations— Thievish— Patient of Toil to 
Feed Revenge — View of Columbus- 
Amida's and Barlow's Experience- Penn's 
Testimony— Bttncroft*8 View— The Stealth 
Practiced in Hunting Boned Them in 
Seeking the Victim's of their Savage Cru- 
elty— P.reheuf Describes an Instance of 
Their Barbarity which he Beheld— Cruelty 
a Delight— Greene County the Scene of 
this Savage Barbarity 87-39 

CHAPTEK HI, -Original Settlement upon 
the Continent by Europeans— Ponce do 
Leon in Florida -Vasquez de Ayllon Seiz- 
ing Natives for Slaves— De Soto Discovers 
the Mississippi— Voyages of Verrazzaiii — 
Jaques Carter— Champlain in Canada— 
His Expedition Against the Iroiiuois— 
Marquette and Joliet Voyage to the Mis- 
sissippi-Map of Country— l)eath of Mar- 
quette— Hemarks of Hildreth and Charie- 
voix— La Salle Pushes Explorations on the 
Missisei()pi -Takes Formal Possession 
of thcKiverand Lands it Drains— Possi- 
bilities of Greene County— England <;olo- 
ni/.es— Early Attitmpts Abortive- (irants 
of James I— Settlenu-ntof Jamestown and 
Plymouth— The Dutch on the Delaware— 
By What Kighthad European Possessions 
on this Continent— A Fruitful Couulry 
Unused— A Savage and Barbaric People 
Encumber It — Observations of Justice 
Story- Decision of Chief Justice Marshall 
—The Injustice liaukled in the Breasts of 
the Savages 40-54 

CHAPTER IV.— The Dutch and Swedes 
upon the Delaware— The English Super- 
cede Them— In 1077 came the English Qua- 
kers-William Peun Interested in New 
Jersey- Admiral Penn — The Uncertain 
Bounds— King Charles II. Grants Penn a 
Liberal Domain-Charier of Pennsylvania - 
Liberal Terms— Spelling— Penn had Medi- 
tated of a Frt^e Commonwealth— Receives 
his Grantin an Humble Spirit— Bitter Ex- 
periences in the Life of Penn— Disinher- 
ited—Father Rch-nls on his Death-bed— 
Urges his Son not to Wrong his Conscience 
—Seeks a Deed of tJuit-Claim from James, 
and Buys the Lower Counties -Perplexed 
in Devising a Form of Government- Se- 
cures Freedom to the Subject— Published 



Abroad— Letter Showing Abundance of 
Products— Penn Warns 'all to Consider 
Well Before Embarking the Privations 
Thev Must Endure— Tender of Rights of 
the Natives- Sends a Notice to Them of 
his Purposes- All Alike Answerable to 
God— mil Take no Land Except by Their 
Consent— Might have Become Citizens- 
Four Hundred Years of Intercourse has 
not Changed Their Nature— Show no Lev- 
ity in Their Presence— "They Love Not to 
be Smiled On." 57-78 

IHAPTER V.-Markhara First Governor- 
Sails for New York oud is Accorded Per- 
mission to Assume Control on the Dela- 
ware-Purchase Land of the Indians- 
Seek a Site of a Great City— Penu Sails for 
America— Advice to Wife and Children on 
Leaving- Love of Rural Life— Thirty Pas- 
sengers' Die on the Voyage — Culls an As- 
sembly and Enacts Laws— Civil and Reli- 
gious Liberty— Visits Site of the New City 
—Satisfied with It — Visits Governor of 
New York and Friends in Long Island 
and Jersey— Discusses Bonndarv with Lord 
Baltimore— The Great Treaty— Method of 
the Indians- Terms of the Treaty— Speech 
of Penn— Legal Forms Observed—" Treaty 
Tree" Preserved — Walking Purchase- 
Consideration of Peun— Injustice of Later 
Governor — Rapid Increase — Penn De- 
scribes the New City — Distances from the 
Chief Cities — Latitude and Longitude- 
Designs River Bank for a Public Park- 
Disregarded— Names His City Philadel- 
phia-Growth of the Colony— Compared 
with Other Colonies 73-&1 

CHAI'TEE VI — Controversy with Lord 
Baltimore Opened— Charters Comiiarcd— 
Penn Visits Lord Baltimore — Baltimore 
Makes Excuses — Ambiguities in both 
Charl.er8 — Baltimore offers Disputed 
Lands for Sale and Drives Out Pennsylva- 
nia Owners— Summons to Quit— K<'sponse 
-Penn Offers to Purchase— Penn Carries 
the Controversy Before the Roysl Com- 
mission—Letter to His Friends on Quit- 
ting His Colony— Found Officers Sour and 
Stern— New King Friendly, but Ministry 
Hostile to Dissenters— Claims Comprom- 
ised- Elaborate Treaty of 1760— Line De- 
scribed—Local Sun'eyors Appointed— Ma- 
son and Dixon Appointed— Native Sur- 
veyors' Work Found Conect— Sample of 
Work— Delaware Line Established— Ex- 
tracts from Notes—" Visto" Cleared— 
Horizontal Measurement- Stone Pillars 
Set— Indians View Astronomical Observa- 
tions with Awe— War Path iu Greene 
County Survey Stops— Tedious Lobors of 
Surveyors— Boundary Stone Cut in Eng. 
land— ('ost of Sun'ev for Pennsylvania, 
$171,nOO-End Not Yet «7-I0I 

CHAPTER VII. —French Claim the Entire 
Vnllcv of the Mississippi— The Peace of 
Ryswick— The Peace of Utrecht— The Five 
Nations Subject to the English— France 
Still Confirmed in Possession of th<^ Mis- 
sissippi Valley— Claim of the En-jlish- 
The Peace of Aix la ChappcUe— Uuprinci- 



CONTENTS. 



pled Traders— Ohio CompaEy Formed— 
The Boy Washiusrton— Ohio Company to 
Locate 300,000 Acres— Freiicll JealoilK-» 
Send Celeron to Bury rlates— Paes Over 
Chautaiinna Lake-The Rome by FreBquc 
Iple andLe Bffinf Snlieequeutly Adopted- 
Indians on the Watch-Plate Buried at 
Warren— Inscription upon Plate- Plate 
Una up and ( urrieil to 8ir William John- 
son- Governor Clinton Communicates 
Contents to Lords of Trade, and to Gover- 
nor Hamilton— Speech of Indian Chieftain 
and Interpretation of Inscription- Reply 
of I 'hieflain — Celeron Plants Another 
Plate at Indian God— Another at Logs- 
town — E\pi-ls English Traders— Sends 
Letter to Governor Hamilton Warning 
nini -Other I'lates at .Month of Jhiskin- 
.'iini -Great Kanawha, and Great Miami— 
Ascends the lliami and Down the Maumee 
—Plates found— Proprietary Distnrhod— 
Notes of Croghan — Buililiiig a Fort 
Contemplated 102-118 

CHAPTER VIII.— Activity of the "Ohio 
Contpany" — Explorations of Gif-t — Prepa- 
rations of the French to Occnpy— Arms 
Sent to Indians- Half King \V arns the 
French- Insolent Reply— Earl Hoklerness 
Warns Governors of the C'olonies — War 
"Vessel Sentto Virginia— Washington Com- 
missioned to Visit French Commander- 
Perilous Journey — Selects Site of Fort 
Pitt— Provisioijs sent from S^w Orleans— 
"Where Does the Indian's Land Lie :-''— 
Jean Cteiir at Franklin— Heceived at Le 
Bd'uf l)v Legardenr St. Pierre— Answer- 
Politeness of the General- Refers to the 
Slarciuis DuQ.uesne- Return of Washing- 
toiJ— Treacherous Indian Fires at Him— 
Sutrcring from the Cold— Makes his Re- 
port to fJoveruor Dinv\ iddie — Journal 
AVidelv Circulated— The Intention of the 
French to hold the Ohio Valley l)y Force 
Clearly .-Manifest llil-iaSl 

CHAPTER IX.— Troops Sent to Fort Pitt- 
French I apture It— The Summons- Wash- 
ingt.uu IMoves Forward— Jumonville Skir- 
mish— Toki's Post at the Gn-at Meadows- 
Surrender— ram)jaiLni with Four Objects 
— Braddock to .Move Asoinst Fori Dii 
Qiicsne — Frtmklin Fiinjishes Wau'ons- 
Braddock Moves Leisarelv- Order of 
March— Ohservution of Franklin-Sickness 
of Washington— Indians in Camp— Bright 
Lightning— Indicationsof a Hostile Force 
:Menaciiig Inscriptions — Cross and Re- 
cross the River— A Militarv Pageant— 
Armv T^it in Battle Order— Enemy Com- 
manded bv Beaiiien— The War Whoop— 
Inilians Gain the Flank by a Wooded 
liaviiie-R-iiuiois Thrown into Confusion 
— Braddock .Mortally Wounded- Killed 
and Wounded- Washington Preserved- 
Great Spirit Protected Him — Braddock 
Buried — Dunbar Cowed — Enemy^s 
Strength— Washington's Losses-Gallantry 
Admired 130-148 

CHAPTER X.— Seven Years' War Opened 
—Indians Inspired by Defeat of Braddock 
—Terrible War upon Settlers — French 
Offer Rewards for Scalps— Line of Forts 
Along the Kittatinny Hills— Franklin in 
Command — Armstrong at Kittanuing — 
Lord Loudon Unsuccessful— William Pitt 
Comes to Power-Abercronibie and Bosca- 
wen — Ticonderoga Held, but Frontenac 
Lost by the French— General Forbes at 
Fort Da Quesne — Moravian Post Sent to 
the Indians— The Vicegerent of the Lord 



PAGE. 

-Indians Superstitious— Indian Siethods 
—Fort Du (Juesne Occupied— Amherst in 
Command— Ticonderoga iiiid Crown Point 
and Niagara Takeu-Wolf on the Plains 
ofAbraham-Quebec Defended— Montreal 
Captured — The French Expelled from 
North America East of the Mississippi- 
Pitt's Vigorous Policy Everywhere Crown- 
ed witli Success— But at a cost of $.0(10,- 
000,000— English Speaking and not French. 
148-168 

CHAPTER XL— Mind of Indian Poisoned 
—The Red and White Man Live Together 
— Pontine — His Conspiracv — Game of 
Baggatiwa— Gladwin at Detroit— Indian 
GirPDiscloses the Plot— Pontiac Foiled— 
Concealed Mtlskels— Attacks the Fort— . 
Gladwin Secures Stipplies— Pontiac's Or- 
ders for Supplies JIade on Birch Bark— 
Dalzell Sent for Succor-Boldly Ofl'ers 
Battle— Repulsed, Death— Settlers Driven 
from th.ir Homes, Pitiable Condition— 
Presque |sle-Le liienf and Venango Full 
—Fort Pitt Attacked— Commander Sum- 
moned to Surrender— Eoquet SeniforEe- 
lief— Battle of Bushy Run— Won by Strat- 
etrv- Raise the Siege— Boquet Enters— 
£11)0 Offered for Pontiac— Colonel Brad- 
street— Deceived by the Indians— Boquet 
Firm— Demands Prisoners and Hostages 
— Is Stern — Makes Terms — Caiitives 
Brought in— Not Recotruized -Many Pre- 
fer to Stay with the Indians— Lovers Brave 
all forTlieir Loves— Song of the German 
Mother — Pontiac Yields — Miserable 

Death 1B9-M3 

CHAPTER XII. -First Settlers — Lands 
Must be Acquired of Indians — Kind's 
Proclamation — Lands West of the 
AUeghanies — " Fair Play " Court — 
Two Roads Leading West — Procla- 
mation of Governor Penn— Little Heed to 
Them— Sachems Complain— Settlers Pla- 
cate the Local Tribes bv Kindness- Gage 
to Penn and Repiv— Law Passed Giving 
the Settlers to Death Who do not Move 
Off— Notice Given— Indians Interfere — 
Settlers Willingto Remov tliouLdi Encour- 
aged to Ueinain-I'ostserii.t to Keport— 
Names ol Seli'ers--Iuili,iii Coufev.-nce at 
Fort Pitt- Miirderof liidi.iiis. S;iti-fiedby 
Presents -Indians A-ree i" W'irii otTthe 
Settlers- Finally Declii"' le i- 'ii — Plan 
to Secure the Hemov:ii ■ l! ' i;i; ~ in the 
Interest of Philadel|dii;i sp.., i:liitors— 
Hillsborough Attemiit,- in lir-tioy Vir- 
ginia Claim— EaL'eniess to Secure Blocks 
of these Western Lands by Siiccnlators— 
Great Gatherings at Fort Stnnwix— Treaty 
Made— Lands A(|uirod — Peunsylvanni 
Land Oftice Opened— Rush of Applicants- 
Case of Henry Taylor— Testimony— Dis- 

honest ClairaantB 192-209 

CHAPTER XIII.— Treaty of 1784— Cumber- 
land County Seat at Carlisle^Bedford 
County— Piii and Springhill Townships- 
Assessments- Names of Ta.x-Payers — 
Westmoreland County Formed- Hanna- 
lown— Arthur St. Clair— Road Laid Out 
from Mouth of Fishpot Run Eastward- 
Important Thorousrhfare— Case of Eliza- 
beth Smitli— Delegates Assume all Author- 
ity over the Colon\'— Convention to Form 
aNew Government, -Franklin President— 
Coinmitlee of Siifety — Governor John 
Penn Relieved — The' Fonnder Eemem- 
beredGratefully—NewConetitntion, Thom- 
as Wharton, Preeideiit— Assembly Legal- 
ized all Acts of Preceding Courts and Pro- 



CONTKNTS. 



vidocl for Completiiis Unsatisfied CiiBcs - 
ReiDetating Civil OfHcors— Thread of Au- 
thority was Taken Up by the New Peo- 
ple's Government just as Dropped by 
that Acting under Royal Authority 2Ui-^'-21 



ud 

rH~'''\Vi-t<t and Northwest' 

J^eltlers Innocent— Writ of (Juo Warranto 
—King's Proclamation— Virginia only a 
lUiyal Colony— Mason and Dixon's Line 
Continued — Walpole Grant Covered an 
Empire— Correspondence of Governors— 
Frv had Ascertained Latitiideof Logslown 
— Build a Fort— ProiM>se Commissioners- 
Civil Commotion — Wilson's Letter— Set- 
tlers Oppose I'enn's Laws and Ask for a 
Vir;;ini>i Court— Material of Fort Pitt Sold 
— liovernor Dunmore— Connollv's Procla- 
mation— Connolly Arrested— Sheriff Proc- 
tor Arresteil--<'orri*s])oiidence of Govern- 
ors—Formal Notiec of Peun — Connolly 
Comes with a Dcta. Iiment of Militia-llis 
Position -Court's Answer-Connolly Ar- 
rests Justices— better of MacknyTilghman 
and Allen Sent to Vircinia— Dunmore Ar- 
bitrary— Peun Counseled Peace- Claims 
Complicate— Dunmon:'s War— Needless- 
Logan's [{evenge on Ten-Mile Creek— Set- 
tlers Flee— Armies of Lewis und Dunmore 
-—Proclamation of Dunmore— I'l'uu's Coun- 
ter Proclamation— Virginia Court at Pitts- 
burg- Arrests and Counter — Lexington 
and Concord— Patriotism— Advice of Con- 
gressmen—Fate of Connolly Si!-349 



CHAPTER XV — VirL'inia Militia Sent to 
Piii»biir^'-\V-st AuL'u^^ta Countv— Ohio, 
YoliiiL-imiii. all.! McuouL-halia Counties— 
Vii;;iuia Sends Auimnuition to Pittsburg 
—Troops On;ani/.ed~ linns Sent-Govern- 
or Patrick Heurv of Virginia Urges a 
stout Defence of Fort Pitt— Manv Names 
of Early Settlers Among Militia OfHcers— 
Defend" to the Last Extremitv— A New 
State to be Called Westsylvania Petitioned 
for to Continental Congress to be the F.mr- 
teiAith- Strong Language of the Petition- 
Bounds of Proposed New Slate— S4(J Miles 
in Length by 70 to 8;) in Breadth, Equal in 
Extent to an Empire -"Vandalia" and 
"Walpole" Proposed — Virginia Opens 
Land Offices, Fixes Price of Land— Titles 
to the Greater Part of Southwestern Pan 
of Pennsylvania Held by Patents Granted 
by Virginia 2.->a-2r>4 

CHAPTER XVI.-Attrnctions in this Sec- 
tion forihe SetIl.■r^— \ali(lilv i.f the Ohio 
and Wal)iiile Coinpinivs TIMik in Doubt- 
Continental Cougress -One Weakness in 
Pennsylvania Charter— Pennsylvania, Pub- 
lication — Propositions for Settlement — 
Commissioners Meet at Baltimore— To the 
41°— To the 40°— To Mason and Dixon's 
Line — Western Boundary Extend West- 
ward into Ohio— To the :W°, W, with a 
Western Corresponding^ to the Meander- 
ings of the Delaware River— To the :«», 
30 , with a Meridian Line for the Western 
Boundary- Mason and Dixon's Line with 
a Meridfan Line for the Western Bound- 
ary Settles the Controversy- Virginia 
Sends Land Commissioners to Redstone 
and Issues Patents for Vast Tracts— Re- 
monstrance Sent to Congress — Recom- 
mendation of Congress Unheeded— Joint 
Addressof Council ami Assemblv of Penn- 
sylvania-Pennsylvania Becomes Belliger- 
ent-Proposition of Virginia Accepted— 



PAUE. 

Commissioners Appointed to Kun and 
Mark the Line -Jetrerson Advises a Tem- 
por:in l,;Mr ^ "1. is Rise up in Arms to 

Opi ''im: : me— Cry Against Tuxes 

and! :.' w State, Final Report 
of I'iMiin;!-- MM r> Made— Meridian Line 
Fouiui hy Asti-oiioiuical Observations — The 
Long Sought Southwest Comer of the 
Stale PiniiUy Found and Marked— Western 
Line of Pennsylvania Run and Marked — 
The Vexed Question of the True Limits of 
the State Finally Settled SiT-SOS 

CHAPTER XVII.-Titles to Lands Largely 
Derived from Virginia Authority — Criim- 
rine Gives Entries— Petitions for a New 
County- Washington County Organized — 
County Officers — 'Tribulfltions — George 
Rogers Clark's Expedition— To Advocate 
New State Treason— Conn tyOftices—llenry 
Taylor First Judjje — Alleghany County 
Erected- Portion Taken from Washington 
County — Boundary of Tract Taken from 
Washington Countv, which Forms the 
Southern Part of Alleghany '-.'esi-a'a 

CHAPTER XVIII.— Curtailments of Wash- 
ington County— County Seat Not Central 
— Act Creating Greene County — Name 
Given— Notice of General Greene- Where 
Buried — Acquire Land for County Seat- 
Land of Thomas Slater— Deed — Named 
Eden— Streets Named -Cider and Whisky 
—Name of the Now Town— GenerulWayne, 
Notice of— Incident Described by Whit- 
man—Purchasers of Lots— Prices Paid- 
Commissions Issued to County Officers — 
Court of Common Pleas, Five 'Districts- 
Judge Addison— Notice of his Life— Im- 
peached and Removed— Charges Preferred 
Against Him — Sentence of Court--As8o- 
ciate Justices-- Judge Roberts--Thoma8 
H. Baird over the New Fourteenth District 
—Notice of Judge Baird— National Road- 
Nathaniel Ewing in IKW— Term Ten 'i'cars 
—Notice of Judge Ewing— Samuel A. Gil- 
more in 1848— Notice of Judge Gilmore— 
James Liudscy in 18BI — Notice of Judge 
Lindscy — Minute of Fayette County 
Court a7i-291 

CHAPTER XIX.— Value of Edueation— 
"Enoch Flower" First Teacher— Friends' 
School — C'oUegi! Academy and Charity 
School — Founding Colleges — Founding 
Academies— Men and Women Make Their 
Marks— Retarding ('ouBes— Instruct the 
•'Poor (tratis '—Speech of Stevens— Law 
of 1*14- Opposition of IS.I.I-Law of 1836 
—Governors Widfe and Ritner— Journey 
of Burrowes— First School Report— Oppo- 
sition where Least Expected — Greene 
County Slow in .\do))tiug — Showing of 
Greene in 18:J7-Utili7.mg School Property 
—Solicitude for its Safetv -1,000 Districts 
—TOO in Operation— Broad Plime of Bur- 
rowes— Progress of a Pupil Through the 
Whole— Defects Showu bv Fifteen Years' 
Trial— Revised Law of IS.'Vl— Opposition to 
County Superintendency—Non- Accepting 
Districts — Honorable Charles A. Black, 
Superinrendcnt — Independent Districts- 
True Sphere of County Superlntendentr— 
Circular Letter— Beneflcient Influence of 
Law— Hecoinmends Normal Schools— Nor- 
jnal School Law of 1R5T— Ten Schools- One 
%t California for the Tenth District — 
C.rowth— School Architecture- Edited by 
T. H. Burrowes- No Retrograde Steps— 
The People's Colleges— Sources of Bless- 
ings .292-810 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER XX.-Keiioil8 of Couuty Mipcr- 
intendentfl— John A. Gordon, Opiionjtiou 
to Common Schools— Assistance of Mcb- 
aenger and Eagle— Kcv. G. W. Baker— 
Waynesliurg and Carmicbaels Graded 
Schools— New Hoases and Increased At- 
tendance—A. G. McGlumphy — InHtitute 
Organized- John A. Gordon — Normal 
School at Greene jVcademy — Gordon a 
Soldier— Prof. A. B. Jliller— Prof. T. J. 
Teal for Twelve Ycar.s— New Bnilding at 
Wavnesburg— County Institute Under the 
New Law-lu 1870, 113 Frame, '33 Brick, 3 
Stone, di) Lo^— Array of Talent at County 
Institute— ilount Morris Graded School— 
Dr. A. B. Miller, Rev. J. B. Solomon, Prof. 
Lakin, Rev. Samuel Graham — Jaclvsou- 
villc Graded — Centennial Report — Earliest 
Schools— Qualilications of Early Teachers 
Meager- Teach to Double Rule of Three- 
Names of Early Teachers— Stone School- 
House in ^^■hiteley Township 311-: 



C H Al >TE I; XXI.— Charter for Greene Coun- 
ty Academy— 82,000 from the State— Prin- 
cipals Served a Useful Purpose— Pennsyl- 
vania Academies Unsatisfactory — Law to 
Transfer Property to Common School- 
Select Schools — Wayneshurg College — 
Origin— Value of the Small Colleges- Mad- 
ison and Beverly— Need of Such an Insti- 
tution—Pennsylvania Presbytery of Cum- 
berland Presbyterian Church- Waynes- 
burg Selected— Rev. J. Loughran Opened 
a Scliool— Charter Obtained— Supplements 
—Margaret K. Bell Opens School' in Bap- 
tist Church for Females— Now Building 
Opened— First Classes Graduate — Taken 
Under Pennsylvania Synod— Relations of 
the Church to the College — Miller Snc- 
ceedB Fish— Rev. J. P. Wethee, President 
-Insists on Classification of Males and 
Females Alike— Settled After Investiga- 
tion—John C. Flenniken— Rev. Alfred B. 
Miller President ia 1860— His Devoted La- 
■bors- Debt of SM.OOO— Struigles- Had Un- 
dertaken Too I\luch— Church to Support, 
Three Professors — Unselii.^h Devotion to 
Dr. Miller— Mrs. M. K. B. :Millrv -Untimely 
Death— Resolutions of TreMrrs -Itoiiou- 
gidiela College— Rev. Joseph Hmiih— Rev. 
H. K. Craig — Rev. J. B. Solomon- Scope 
of the College .324-342 

CHAPTER XXII.— The Wayncsburg Mas- 
sereffer- TheWaynesbnrg/Je^?<6Kcan— The 
Was-nesburg Independent — The Greene 
County Democrat 342-3^8 

CHAPTER XXIII.— The Cumberland Road 
— Recommended by Wasliington- Canal — 
Ohio Admitted in 1803— Act Authorizing 
Rond in 1800- Albert Gallatin— Refuses to . 
Interfere — President Madison— By Wash- 
ington — Finished in 1820— Specifications- 
Appeared Excellent — Material Defective — 
Traffic Immense — Speedy Repairs — Dcla- 
fleld and Cass — Limestone Renewal — 
Ceded to the States— Toll Houses— "Oys- 
ter Line" — Monkey Box Line — 1852 Penn- 
sylvania Railroad and Baltimore &> Ohio 
Opened- Baltimore & Ohio Pushed Out of 
Pennsylvania — Cause of Opj)osition — 
Washington & V.'aynesburg Railroad— B,v 
the Hills- Circuitous — Novel Experi- 
ence 348-S57 

CHAPTER XXIV. — Methodist Episcopal 
Church — The Cumberlaud Presbyterian 
Church— The Baptist Church- The Presbv- 
t.'riaii Church— The Wayneshurg Catholic 
Church .' 337-362 



CHAPTER XXV. — Introductory Note to 
Military History 363-364 

CHAPTER XXVI. — Company I, Thirty- 
Seventh Regiment of Infantky, Eigutu 
Reserve. — Organization — Battle of Me- 
chanicsville — Gaines' Mill — Charles City 
X Roads— Second Bull Run— South Moun- 
tain— Antietam— Fredericksburg — Wildcr- 
ness— Spottsylvania — Mustered Out — Rec- 
ord of Individual Members of Company .364-378 

CHAPTER XXVII. — CoMTANY F, Forty- 
Fourth Regiment, First Pennsylvania 
Cavalry, Fifteenth Reserve. — Organi- 
zation of Regiment — Camp Pierpont — 
Drainesville, Cross Keys and Port Repub- 
lic-Robertson's River— Cedar Mountain- 
Second Bull Rnu—Frcdericksburg— Death 
of Bayard— Mud itarch— Chancellorsville 
Campaign — Braudv Station — Aldie and 
Upperville-Geltysbiirg-Shepherdstown- 
Mine Run Campaign— Wilderness — Raid 
to Richmond— Hawes' Shop- Barker's Mill 
— St. Marv's Church — Reame's Station— 
Weldon Railroad— Mustered Out— Record 
of Men .378-389 

CHAPTER XXVIII.— Companies F and G, 
EiuHTY-FiFTH Pennsylvania Infantry 
Regiment.- Organization— Yorktown and 
WillianLsburg— Fair Oaks— Newbcme, N. 
C— West Creek— Kingston-White Hall— 
Goldsboro— Folly Island, S. C — Siege 
Operations Before Fort Wagner— Death of 
Col. Piuviance— Before Petersburg— Deep 
Bottom — Losses — Transfers — Mustered 
Out— Records of the Men 390^03 

CHAPTER XXIX.— Company A, One Hun- 
dred AND Fortieth Pennsylvania In- 
fantry Regiment. — Oranization — North 
Central Railway— Chancellorsville— White 
House— Gettysburg— The Wheat Field— 
Mine Run Campaign— The Wilderness— 
C.orbin's Bridge— Spottsylvania— Tolopo- 
tomy Creek— Death of Captain McCuUough 
—Cold Harbor— Before Petersburg— Jeiii- 
salem Plank Road- Deep Bottom— Ream's 
Station — Hatcher's Run — Southerland 
Station- Sailor's Creek— Farmville— Ap- 
pomattox Court House— Surrender of Lee 
—Muster Out— Record of Individual Sol- 
diers 404-414 

CHAPTBRXXX.— Company K, Fifteenth 
Cavalry, One Hundred and Sixtieth of 
THE Line. -Battle of Antietam— Disorgan- 
ized— s.iit to Kentucky- Stone River— 
Refusal to'Artvancc— Colonel Palmer Re- 

. lea.^^cd-drtMiiiz.uiou ( :omp)oled— Hatth- 
Of Clii.:k:iiii;al';;i- licseiTans Shul Up liv 
Brn:;- uV Clinllaiiooga-Griuit iu L oin- 
manil -A'ictniy -Army Rclicved-V.'illey of 
the French Broad-Ordered to Nashville 
to Recruit— Nashville— Pursuit of Hood 
—Pursuit of Davis— Capture of Bragg and 
Vast Sums of Money —Mustered Out- 
Individual Record 414-125 

CHAPTER XXXI.— Companies A, C, AND G, 
Eighteenth Cavalry, One Hundred 
AND Sixty-Three OF the Line.— Organ- 
izatiou— Mosby's Guerrillas — Hanover — 
Gettysburg — Round Top — Pursuit of 
Trains —Brandy Station and Upperville- 
Raid to Richmond — Wilderness— Yellow 
Tavern — Hanover Court House— Ashland 
— St. Mary's Church— Weldon Railroad — 
Silencer Rifles- Winchester— C'edar Creek 
— Mivstercd Out— Individual Records... ,426-437 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER XXXII. - County Okkices.- 
Sherifls— County TreaHururs — Clerk of 
Courts — Registere— Prottionotariop — Re- 
corders— Corbueis— Scalers of Weighte aud 
Measures— Notaries I'ublic — County Sur- 
veyors— Justices of the reaco — School 
Superintendents — District Attonieys — 
Commissioners- .Auditors — I'oor House 
Directors — Jury Commissioners — Bur- 
gesses of Waynesljurg 458-4V" 

CHAPTER XXXIII. - Aleito TowNsuir 
—Speculators — Boundaries— Outlook on 
the Highlands — Lewis Wetzel— Have u 
Scnlp or Lose My Own— Note of the 
Turkey Gobler— A Price Set on His Head 
-Put in Irous— Astilitv in Ituuninj; — 



"Conrad Mo 



-Schools— Directors . . .478- 18^ 

CHAPTER XXXIV.— Centke Township.- 
Location — How Watered — Productions 
—Osage Orange Hedge — Rogersville — 
Business— Churches— Clinton Marked for 
County Seat— Hunter's Cave— The Har- 
veys— Daniel Throckmorton— South Ten- 
Mile BaiJtist Church— Rutnn -Oak Forest 
—Schools— Thomas Pursley- Molly Sel- 
lers—Attacked by Indians -Thomas Hoge. 
483-485 

CHAPTER XXXV. —Cumberland Town- 
8UIP.— Boundaries— Fort Swan- and Van- 
moter— Rattle Snake Meat-^lohn Swan— 
Watered— Wife Loads Guns— Carmichaels 
—John McMillan— Schools 486-491 

CHAPTER XXXVI.— DuNKAKi) Townnhip. 

—Early Visitauts—Dunkard — Religion— 
Eckerline Brothers — Fate of Christina 
Sycks— Enix— Dogs Excited— Twentv-two 
and a half years a Captive— Satisliecl with 
the Red Men— Dr. W. Greene— Martin's 
Fort— Attack of Harrison's Fort-Massacre 

— Schools 49'.!-4!W 

CHAPTER XXXVII.-FnANKLiN Township. 
—Central Location— Surface— Sugar Majile 
— Drainage — Waynesburg — Cemetery — 
Robert \^^litehill— Court House- Site Pur- 
chased—Original Settlers— Jackson's Fort 

— How Arranged — Story of Jackson — 
Slater Friendly with Indians- Fate of 
Mathew Gray— Notes of Robert Slorris— 
Three Brotheri- Rinehart— Brown Mas- 
sacre— Schools— Directors 49t)-503 

CHAPTER XXXVIII. -GiiMORE Township. 
—Titles to Laud — Boundaries -- Well 
Watered — Fertile — Jolleytown — Con- 
ditions of Sale— Mason and Dixon Mon- 
uments— Schools— Dr. Smith Building the 
Cabin 503-507 

CHAPTER XXXIX.— GiraENE Township.- 
Original Extent— Present— Garnrd's Fort 
-Goshen Baptist Church — John Corbly— 
Corbly Massacre— Minutes of Redstone 
Baptist Association — Curious (Questions — 
Spiccr Massacre — Logan's Revenge- Cap- 
tivity— Boy Never Returned— Schools — 
Directors .'508-51* 

C11.\PTER XL. — Jackson Township- 
Agriculture— Baltimore and Ohio Road— 
Timber- White Cottage— Schools— Direc- 
tors— Habits of Settlers— Dr. Doddrigle's 
Reminiscenses — Dress — Moccasins — 
Clothing Hung on Pegs— Occupation of 
the Wivmcn— Of the Boys— Throwing the 
Tomahawk : ...blS-iie 



CHAPTER XLI.— jKFFERtON TOWNMIIP — 

Swan aud Hughes— Lindsej- Fauiilv— llia- 
ton's Mill- Jefl'erson and Hamilton- 
College — Rice's Landing — Boundaries - 
Schools— Directors— Teagarden rights foi 
His Claim— Manumission 51ti-51l) 

CHAPTER XLII.-MONONQAHELA ToiVTi- 

siiip. — John Minor - Mapletowu — Fir.si 
Flouriu" Mill — Morgan Built Forts — 
Clark's Flotilla— Greensboro-New Ueueva 
-Gallatin — Glass Works — StonecastJ<' — 
School— Directors— White Savages ... 5aO-5» 

CHAPTER XLIlI.-MoROAN Towvsnip.— 
Everhnrt Hupp — Indian Training— Only 
Fear— Mrs. IIupp. First White W omau— 
( 'oiiking— Boundary- Schools — Directors 
— Kecollections of iiu Old Settler— School- 
House— Shoeinakcr-FroEeu to Death. .sati-WS 

CHAPTER XLIV— MoRBis Township.— 
Miliiken- First Court House— Nineveh — 
Beulah Church— Methodist Church— Unity 
I'hurch— Carl Brothers Murdered 588-532 

CHAl'TER XLV.— Perry Township.- Sur- 
face — Soil — Productions — Boundaries — 
Mount Morris— Intelligence— Schools — Di- 
rectors — Jeremiah Glassgow — Personal 
H; Contest -First Settler— War Paths 533-535 

CHAl'TER XLVI.— RicHHiLi. Township.— 
Name Significant — Graysville — Jackson- 
ville-Thomas Leeper— Cameron Station— 
Ryerson's Fort— Old Sea Captain Searches 
for his Town— Fort— The Davis Massacre 
—David Gro.v— Braddoiks- Abuer Brad- 
dock Drowned — The Teagflrdeiis— Jacob 
Crow — Headless Hunter — Massacre of 
Three Sisters— Return of the Murderer- 
Schools— Directors 535-0-11 



CHAPTER XLVIII— Wayne Township.- 
Location — Boundaries — Well Watered- 
Dye's .Mill-Schools— Funiiture for u 
Cabin— Dress of Pioneers — Massacre at 
Stattler's Fort— Burial of an Infant — 5-14-.'>4i) 

CHAPTER XLIX.— Washington Town- 
ship.— Commercially Situated — Railroad 
—8(10 Subscribers— l-'ost $6,500 per Mile— 
In 1877 is heard the first Scream of the Lo- 
comotive — Surface — Boundaries — Early 
Settlers— Religions — First Sacrami-nt in 
178:J— Services in a Barn— Schools-Dircc; 
Hirs 547-i>lII 

CII.VPTER L. — WuiTKi-EY Township — 
CommcrciolAdvantages— Surface— Bound- 
aries— E.xperience of Dr. McMillan— Mr. 
Evans' Account of Mrs. Bozorth— Heroic 
Defense of Herself-Relicf 549-551 

cn.\PTER LI.— .MISCEU.ANE0U9— Excise 
Law— Held rnconstitutional— Transporta- 
tion DifHcull — Whiskv Easy— Law Re- 
sisted—Officers Abused— Law Modified— 
Still Resisted- Macfarlahe Killed— Militia 
Called— Gen. J.ee in Command— Washing- 
ton Moves with the .\rmy— Reviews it at 
Cumberland- Submit — Honest Whisky- 
No License— Three Stills Left— Religious 
E.xcitement— Sects — Slavery — Geology- 
Oil— Honored List 551-»:i8 



CONTENTS. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



ALEPPO TOWNSHIP. 

AiiMll, Asumy 361 

Chiuii be i-H, Benjamin 561 

CK'un.iiMiug, W. W 561 

Elliiii.J. t: 56^ 

KvauF, A/ni-iah 



Chr 



563 



lli-nrv. -fulm 

llincnulill, Lillrteiy BO.i 

Hill' riiinn, AudcTSou 564 

IlMiermnii, J. S 561 

JliMiHtdii, William 5(55 

M(.ps, Ilirum P 565 

;^Itirr!ly, Key. Jacol) M 566 

McCraclvun, Jonepll 566 

McrracRun, S. W. S 567 

McVMV.James B6T 

MoViiy, George 567 

Parry, Lewis SBS 

Parry, William M., M. D 56R 

Phillips, B. P 569 

Sammous, Rev. Lewis.; 569 

Sammons, Koeeell 569 

Smith, Lather A 570 

Tedrow. William .570 

Ullom, bn vid 571 

While,.]. M 571 

Wood, Joslina 571 

Woodrufl', George 573 

CENTER TOWNSHIP. 

Adamson, S, H 573 

Bavnrd, George A 573 

BoWler, Heury 573 

Burroughs, Thomas T 574 

Bnrroughe, H. S 571 

Call, James 574 

Carpenter, Thnniu? .T 575 

Clutter, Cephas .576 

Clutter, J. 51 .57B 

Church, G.Jt 57.5 

Church, R. B .575 

Cook, W. IT 577 

Crouse, IjavLon 577 

Eagon, S. B 577 

Fordyci^, A. G 578 

Fordycc, Siia,") 578 

Fordyce, Jesse ..' ,570 

Fordvce, S. R 57n 

Fry, 1). W 57!l 

Fry, W. C .5,sn 

Funk, , John S 580 

Gooden, Eagon .^8i 

Goodwin, !Sef h ,iSl 

Goodwiii, John T 581 

Graham, Samuel J 583 

Iloge, James 582 

Iloge, Levi sm 

Huge, Joseph 583 

Hoge, W i II inm .5&1 

Iloge, William 583 

lIutTman, T. J .584 

Uuirmnn, Reasiu 585 

Hufrman,S. B .585 

lams, Samuel , .585 

Jacobs, F. G .586 

Johnston, A. J .586 

Johnston, Columbus 58H 

KniL'ht, David .587 

Knight, Thomas .587 

Martin, LeviH 587 

Meek, John 587 



PAGE. 

Millikin, William '*'J 

Morris, -John ^^j! 

McClelland, A. B ^f 

McNecly. Jesse '°o 

McGIumphv, J. P 588 

Orudurf, Eii o* 

Orndoir, W. B 590 

Orndotr. Isaac 691 

Orudoff. D. S j9} 

Orndurf, Jesse Sill 

Owen, S. B., M. D 593 

Patterson, John =•'? 

Patterr'on, Jesse C ;™ 

™lliP^O-.S 5^ 

f'ortcr, Levi f-^ 

Reese W. P '^ 

Rush,'Phillip • • 5M 

Scott, C.W 595 

Scott, Thomas ?» 

Scott, Henry A ™'' 

Scott, GeorgeW 596 

Scott, Joshua 591) 

Sellers, AsaM j'-'J 

Smith.Thomas 51IJ 

Smith, JobC °f„ 

Smith,J.c J;;» 

Strawn, Stephen 598 

Thompson, Samuel 59B 

Throckmorton, James ^•i-J 

Throckmorton, Samuel 5^ 

l71lom, Jesee «» 

Watson, Robert ^ 

Wehster, Samuel '£}■ 

Woodruff, Benjamin L., M. D 601 

Wood, E.W 602 

CUMBEKLAND TOWNSHIP AND CAR- 
MICHAELS BOROUGH. 

Ailes, William A ^^ 

Armstrong, William "M 

Armstrong, Alfred T 6W 

.Armstrong, Jose-ph H 604 

Armstrong, Hori 6'" 

Bailey, J. K "^4 

Bailey, Rev. E. E 605 

■llailey, Joseph Taylor 6»' 

Bailey, Ellis B 606 

Bailey, J. E...... ^7 

Bailey, Georje E 60' 

Barclay, W. Il glj 

Barclay, G. A JlB 

Barns, James °'i° 

Biddle, Isaac T '"j" 

Biddle.N.H *'" 

Bunting, Samuel Jj; 

Bayard, S. S "1 

Cloud, Jeremiah 6ii 

Crec, Hiram H '<]i 

Crago, John MS 

Orago, J. N 613 

Crago, T. J f* 

Crago. Thomas J 614 

Crow. George G «\2 

Davidson, Jerry 61d 

Dowlin, .John M 616 

Eichcr, J. F 6lB 

Elliott, William C 616 

Flenniken, William.: 6'T 

Flenniken, W^illiam 617 

Frost, Alfred 6)V 

Gregg, George T 618 

Grooms, William 619 



CONTENTS. 



PAOE. 

Gwynn, Jopiah... till) 

Uwynii.J.F fi','0 

Harlmiiu, William ii!») 

Ilalliawiiy, J. W 6-Jl 

Hiimiltoii, Joseph (Bl 

.liu:k«in, I. K 83a 

K.Tr, Williiim liaa 

Kerr, James «*) 

Kerr, Jolin (.; 623 

Kerr, Arehihald (533 

Liiitllcy, Ncirvn) (JiM 

Laidley, J. B, M D .^ f.24 

Laidlev, Hou. T. H TTr:.^ 625 

Long, K. S rS 625 

Long, Milton tlili 

Minor Family 61» 

Miirdock, Jniiics 626 

Mcirdock, Wiilinm M 626 

Mori'dock, Simon 627 

JItUlintock, Hev. John 627 

McMillan, Rev. John 628 

N ickeson , Prof. W. iM 62!! 

Patterson, 1. B h.«) 

Patterson, J. Q 630 

Rea.J.H Ml 

Kca, Samnel W 631 

RcevcH, Joseph OT.' 

Rich, Daniel fiK 

Richcy, Albert M 6W 

Uiuehart, ThomaB am 

Rogers, 'J'hnmas W 634 

Shurpnack, A.J 6^-1 

Sharpnack, Levi X KV, 

Stewart, Tliomae L f<:V> 

Stone, Elins 635 

Stephenson, D. C 636 

Toppiu, Johnson 636 

Warne, T. P 637 

Wiley, Lem IT 687 

Youii'.', A. J 638 

Youni;, Morgan 6:,K 

DUNKARD TOWNSHIP. 

Beall,Emanncl Ii3il 

Coalbank, Thnrntou 639 

Dilliner, Ambrose 610 

Knotts, IraD., M. D 610 

Mason, John B 611 

Miller, George G Ml 

Miller, Asa 642 

Morris, LA 1543 

McCliip', James 643 

Roberts. 1'homas B 644 

Steele, Unvid 614 

Steele, Thomas B ii-14 

Sterline, .\ braham 64.') 

South, .Joseph 615 

South, Rev. Fr.mk 6l.^i 

V'anvoorhis, L. G tM6 

Vanvoorhix, Isaac r.iii 

FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP AND WAYNES- 
BURG BOROUGH. 

Artamson, Thomas 617 

Adamsoii. Cvrus 848 

Alliim, J. P.'. HIR 

Ankrom, ,\. I rii8 

Axtell. H. B iH9 

Barb, William H 649 

llcU, Jason M iioO 

Blachly, Stephen L, M. D 6,t0 

Black, non.C. A 6.S1 

Hlair, William (HI 

Boyd, James 052 

Brock, R. E., M. n ' prrf 

Bo\ver,C.E («S> 

Buchanan, James A.J H.52 

(.'all, Harvey 8-53 

Call, John ;.. ...".'.".".'.!.'.']"'.' ' "' 6.53 

Chapman, G. W 6.M 

Cooke, A. I ffii 



r.voE. 

Cole, Jacob . . . (l.'j.'i 

Crav.-ford, David o.'a.^ 

Cross, A. G., M. D 656 

Day, William G. W ii57 

Day, Uarvey tl.58 

Denny, B. B. W K» 

Donley, Hon. J. B lir,n 

Dougal, Thomas E 6.)!P 

^ Downey, R. F «iO 

Ely.J.'W., M. D at» 

Elv, Jonas 661 

Evans, W. W 6«l 

Funk. J. M »«2 

Garard, J. C .. 663 

Gordon, Captain John A 668 

Gordon, Solomon 664 

Gordon, Hon. Basil 661 

Gordon, lion. John B C64 

Goodwin, Thomas 6«m 

Grimes, H. M 665 

llainer.D. H 606 

Ilarvev. Samuel 61»6 

Hays, William Thompson 667 

Herlis, Joseph S (;«8 

Herrington, B. P WO 

Hill, Jesse 67(1 

Hose, Norval 670 

Ho^e, Asa B 671 

Ho^e, James M 671 

Ho'ipcr. Isaac 672 

■ Hook. W. A 67i ■ 

Hook, Thomas 672 

Hoskinson, Thomas 678 

Hughes, William R 673 

lame, John T., M. D 674 

lllig, Frederick 674 

Inghram, William 675 

• Inghram, Hon. James 675 

Jennings, Col. James S 675 

Johnson, William R 676 

.lordon. Rev. C. p 677 

Kent, Hiram 677 

Kent, Col. John M 678 

Kimber, Gapt. W. E 670 

Knox, I. H 87H 

Knox,P. A 680 

Lantz, W. T 6S0 

Lemley, J. S 681 

Levi no, Morris.... 681 

Lindsev, lion. James 681 

LindseV.H.n 6K 

Lippencott, W^illiam, Sr 682 

Lucas. H.C 6.S3 

Miller, A. B., D. D. LL. D 688 

Mitchell, Isaac «83 

M(.mtt, T. P 8™ 

Moore, John A ««6 

.Morris, William II 686 

M.c.nnell, n.m. Robert A 687 

Mcronnell, Joseph L «88 

McXmv. Samuel J «*« 

Orndoir. Jesse B 6^8 

Parehall, T'inthanicl 68'.1 

Patterson, W. W '""• 

Patterson, Rev. Albert K 689 

Patton, Hon. Alexander 690 

Pattern, Joseph 590 

Pauley, W. t. H 6«0 

Phelan, Zadock W 691 

Phelan, R. H 691 

KPipes, John R 692 ^ 

Pratt, D. B «»; 

Pnrman.A. A °^. 

Ragan.Z. C «"' 

Randolph, .lames F V'f 

Randolph, J. A. r ™ 

Kay, Joseph -.V ^ 

Rhodes, .Villiam 696 

-- Rinehar ',, S. S "Jj. 

Rineho.-t, James R ™J, 

Rinehi.rt, Prof. A. I. P "98 



CONTENTS. 



RitcWo, J. G 638 

KosB. Morgan . . B'J9 

Kop5, Joseph B 699 

Ross, Hon. Abner 700 

Eogers,J.H -700 

Kyan, Egv. W. M VOl 

^ Sarei-B, E. M 703 

Snyers, James B 703 

Sayers, Eoliert A 708 

~ Sayers, HcmyC 704 

Scott, J. M 7(14 

Scott, S.W 705 

Scott, W. G 705 

Sbipley. E. H 706 

SilveuB, A. F 706 

Simpaou, Eev. J. L 700 

Snialley, A. C 707 

Smith, J. M 707 

Smith, James B 708 

Spragg, D. A 708 

Sproat, T. Ross . 709 

Strosnider, M. L 709 

Stoy, Cpt. W. H VIO 

Taylor, George 710 

Temple, J. F. 711 

Teagarden, John P. 711 

Throckmorton, Jol3 713 

Throckmorton, P. B 714 

Ullom, J. T.j M. D 714 

Vnndniff.W.S 714 

Walton, D. S 715 

Wisecarver, George "W 715 

Wood, Eev. Joel J 717 

Wood, Hiram C 717 

Zimmerman, Henry 71.S 

Zollars.E. S ,. 718 

GILMOEE TOWNSHIP. 

Clovis, William 719 

Dye, Jeftersou 719 

Eakiu, Jacob M 730 

Pordyce, John G 731 

Gilmore, S. W 751 

Hagan, Hon. Jolm 73-^ 

Henncu, T. M 733 

Lantz, John 733 

Lcmmon, W. M 72,3 

Lemmou, Salem ....... 7SA 

Lcmmon, Salathiel 724 

Meighen, Peter 734 

Shnver, Jacoh L., M. D, .. 736 

Shough, Philip ;: ■;■'■ 733 

Taylor, Ahraham 7311 

GREENE TOWNSHIP. 

Bailey, W. C V-X' 

Deuny, B. W., M. D 727 

Plcnuilcen. W. C 728 

. Garnrd, Steplien.sou T>>H 

Keener, Charles yjjl 

Lantz, Hon. Andrew ' 73!! 

Lantz, John F ;^'i 

Lantz, Geor^ie W 7311 

MycrB,P. A '.... '." 730 

Et-amer, Jacob T-iV 

Eoherts, J. B 731 

Sedgewick, T. H., M.D. '..'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'"". 731 

South, Benjamin 7.32 

Vance, Joseph ,,.. , ' 733 

JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP AND JEFFERSON 
BOROUGH. 

Ammous, A. F 733 

Bane, N. M 73.t 

Bayard, Samuel., ' ,' 734 

Burson, J. C 735 

(^otterrel, William 735 

Cottcrrel, John, Sr ' . 735 

Cotterrel, John, Jr... 7,jfi 

Cree, HnghD. 



uree, HnghD.. 

Bowlin, JeHse 

Goodwm, William. 



PASB. 

Gwynn, Marshall 737 

Haver, John 738 

Haver, Jacob 733 

Haver, Charles H 738 

Hays, Isaac 739 

Hughes, Charles 739 

Hughes, John H 740 

Jordan, Robert H 740 

Kendall, John C 740 

Long, Eli 741 

Love. Martin J 741 

McCleary, Ewing 74S 

McGoveru, Michael 743 ■* 

McMiiin, ThomaB.R 743 

Moredock, Daniel 743 

Price, Jeremiah . 744 

Rex, George 744 

Einehart, S. P 745 

Scott, James 745 

Shape, Milton S 746 

Sharpnack, Tliomah 746 

Sharpiiiick, T. l-I., 31. D 747 

Shurpuack, Sticrs 747 

Shaw, Alva C 745 

Smith, Sylvanns, M. D 748 

Tilton, Eev. Charles W 749 

Wi6e,'P. B 749 

JACKSON TOWNSHIP. 

CarpenterjJames 750 

Graham, William 750 

Grimes, Harvey Allison 7.51 

Grimes, George W 751 

Grimes, P. M 751 

Groves, Jolm 752 

Huffman, William 753 

Johnson, N. H 753 

Keener, Lindsey 753 

Kiger, Alexander 753 

Kughn, Lester 754 

Kiiiihu, Jackson '('54 

Meek, .Tames 754 

Williken.W. E 755 

Mitchell, h. H 755 

Mitchell, Eufus C 736 

Mitchell, A. J 756 

Morris, Jacob 756 

Scott, Capt. John 757 

Smith, Hngh 758 

Smith, Johnson T 738 

Staggers, Abraham 758 

Weaver, Hiram 759 

Weaver, Jacob 760 

Weaver, David 759 

Webster, Joseph 760 

Wliite, Hiram 761 

Williams, T.T.,M.D 761 

Wood, Jame.^ 763 

MONOKG AHEL A TOWNSHIP AND GREENS- 
BORO BOROUGH. 

Atchitou, H. K 763 

Barb, John W 763 

Birch, George P., M. D 763 

DIatk, James A 764 

Black, J. S 764 

Blackshere, James E 765 

Bonghuer,A.V 765 

Cooper, O. P 763 

Donaway, A.B 766 

Dulany, J. H 766 

Dnulap, Samuel 766 

Evans, E.S 767 

FIcnniken, Elias A 7B7 

Gabler.A.K 76S 

Gabler, J. W 768 

Gray, J. E 769 

Greene, Wilson, M. D 769 

Jones, John 77O 

Kramer, T. P 77I 

Kramer, John C 773 

Kramer, John P 77s 



CONTENTS 



Xartin, Prof. George F TVii 

Mcstrczat, Joan Louis Guillanme '773 

MfBtrezat, Frederic "'3 

Millikiu, Robert 774 

MiUiliin, J. L^ M.D 774 

Minor, Otlio W 775 

Minor, John S 775 

Pennington, T. F 775 

ProvinSjJ.Y 77fi 

Ro8s, Silas V7fi 

Time, Eli N 777 

Titus, B. L 177 

Weltner, J. D 778 

Williams, llenjamin O 77S 

MORGAN TOWNSHIP. 

Adameon, Joseph ?7il 

Adomsou, Smith 7»a 

Bell.J R 78(1 

Bell, U. F 780 

Braden, s. II 780 

Buckin£;h;im, Henry 781 

Bnrsou, A. S 781 

Cary, Cephas 783 

Clayton, John 782 

Cox,John B 7*) 

Craj-ne, Miller 788 

Orayne, Stephen 7S4 

t'rayne, David 784 

Fulton, Samuel 784 

(Jrocnleo, James 785 

Oreenlee, James 785 

Grimes, Henry 78(i 

Harry.C.C 78t> 

Hataeld, William 787 

Hawkins, John C 787 

Hawkins, E. C 788 

Hawkins J. F 788 

Holder, Thomas J 788 

Horner. O. C 781t 

Keys, Henry 789 

Lewie, Samnel TOO 

Montgomery, Samuel 790 

Montgomery, Thomas H 791 

MuiTay, Samuel ; 791 

McCulloUKh, Able 791 

Pollock, J . C 792 

Pyle, William 79-.! 

Kniidolph, W. H. F 793 

Rogers, W. D., M. D 798 

Rose, John 7t)4 

Rush, Jacob.. ,^. TIM 

Rush, James ' 795 

Stewart, W. B .'■'.■ 795 

Vankirk, Edward, Sr 796 

Virgin, W.H : 791! 

Walton, Amos 797 

Watson, Henry 7<|;' 

MORRIS TOWNSHIP. 

Anld, Hugh 79g 

Bane, Jasper ,[ 79H 

Bradbury, Cyrus ...79H 

Brooks, Enoch 799 

Cary, Stephen C ■799 

Conklin, John M 80(1 

Drier, H 8qo 

Dunn, Joseph ..!..! 801 

Dunn, William 801 

Hays, Jesse L 8111 

Hopkins, Samuel ' " 80S 

Hopkins, D. W 802 

Huffman, Joseph .' ' . gOlJ 

lame,Otho '..'.'".. V.'.'.V.'. 808 

lams, J. L 80.3 

Liglitner, Henry ........!..!!".'! g04 

Loughmau, Daniel 804 

Loughman, William '. '. 806 

Loughman. Daniel 805 

JJ'^t'nllougii, Silas M .' 8«) 

McVay, Oliver 80U 



PAGE. 

Patterson, Thomas 806 

Pettit, Elymas 807 

Pctut, Matthias 807 

Ross, Thomas M 807 

Sanders, Reuben 808 

Shape, George 808 

Shoup, Jacob 809 

Simpson, Hugh 809 

Simpson, J. W 809 

Swart, Jacob 810 

Throckmorton, William S., M. D 810 

PERRY TOWNSHIP. 

Blair, Hon. .John. .. ., 811 

Boydstou, T. W 813 

BoydstoD, Thornton E 812 



Br( 



,vu, O. J. 



813- 



Rrown, Reuben., 813 

Cowell, S. A 814 

Donley, D. L 814 

Fo.\, Dennis 815 

Gutnric, Samuel 815 

Guthrie, George W 815 

Haines, Cvrenius 81fi 

Hatfield, Jacob, M. D Slfi 

Hcadlev,G.P 817 

Headleo, W. 818 

lieadlee, Joseph 818 

Hoy, J. S 819 

Lemley, Morris 819 

Lcmley, Clark 819 

Lemley, Asberry 830 

Long, J. W 820 

Lont;, William 820 

Luellen, Coleman 821 

Morris, Spencer, M. D 831 

Morris, Levi 823 

Patterson, .Toseph 838 

Reamer, Minor N 823 

Shultz, Z. T 834 

Snider.A 834 

Spit/.nagel, Jesse 834 

Stephens, Spencer 825 

Whitlatch, Lewis 825 

RICHBILL TOWNSHIP, 

Baldwin, F. W 82H 

Bane, Ellis 82ti 

Barnett, A. B, .'"27 

Bcbout, John 827 

Booher, I. C 827 

Braddock, James H ■ 828 

Braddock, Newton H 828 

Braddock, F. M 829 

Braddock,D.A 829 

Bristor, Robert 829 

Clutter, Abraham 8;<0 

Clutter, William 831) 

Coukev, J. M : 881 

Conkey, James Harvey 831 

Day, lliram SJl 

Drake, W.S. 8.S2 

Fenell, George W. .i 8.82 

FIctclu-r, H. 8 833 

Fouuer, William R 8.83 

Goodwin, A.J 8;54 

Goodwin, Daniel &84 

Grav,ThomasL 8:15 

Grihben, Elias K 835 

Grim, Capt. Samuel 8.86 

Ilauna,Rcv. William 836 

Hughes, .1 ames 8.87 

Jacobs, William 887 

Knights 888 

Lazear, Jesse 838 

Leslie. JohnJ 839 

l.oar, .Jacob 8.89 

Longbridge, J. K - 810 

Marsh, I'liillip 841 

Milliken, William G 841 

.Murray, John M . 843 



CONTENTS. 



McCleary.T J 84^- 

McNay,B.H 8« 

Ornaoff, John «« 

Pari-v H II •• • °** 

Patterson,J. E., M. D Hj4 

Scott, Mason JJS 

Scott, Hiram °*? 

Smith, Eolrert ^« 

Smith, James L wb 

Supler, Martin e*!; 

Wright, John M »*' 

Wright, GW W 

White, P.J *■' 

SPEINGHILL TOWNSHIP. 

Ayevs,J.K 848 

Barger,Johii 848 

Burdine, Jnmes 84a 

Biirge.W.L.. ^. 8.>0 

Carpenter, Thomas M 8jU 

Diusmore, P. C, M. D 8d1 

Ferrell, James M «-_'l 

Griffith, F. II..., 8p-3 

Griffith, Snmuel o.i. 

Hamilton, Lewis W 8.i- 

Ilamiitou, Enoch hM 

IIoBkinson,W. P *)J 

Isimiiigcr, Josephus 8o4 

Isimiuger. Jacob 854 

Miller, Jolm U., M. U 8.)4 

Miller, John 85.t 

Morford, J. L ^ 

McNeely, John ^ 8nb 

Kinehavt; J. H., M. D 8.% 

liinehart, W. II >:* 

Stiles.Jaraes o5( 

Stropc, Thomas »;» 

White, W-T 8.iS 

Whitlaich, Joseph ^« 

Wiklmun, William ooJ 

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP. 

Barnes, Silas ••• 8S9 

Boyd, James »WJ 

Bristor, Robert .- ™l) 

Cary, Sylvester 8W 

Closser.J. W 8H 

Craig, Jesse 81.^ 

Durliiu, Enoch 8b3 

Dnrbiu, G. W 86d 

Edgar, John 8fi'T 

Fulton, Stephen 863 

Garner, Spencer B ...804 

Huffman, T. J 8B4 

Huffman, G. W 8(1.5 

Hughes, Andrew 8b5 

Johnson, Zephaniah KC5 

Johnson, George W Sfilj 

Johnson, Zenas 8tiB 

Joins, D.W 8«T 

Jol ne, Jacob »t>7 

Keigley, George 8tis 

Martin, John M ous 

Meek.L. W 8bK 

Meek, Cephas... 8li9 



Mitchell, Asa 8(59 

McClelland, M. M 870 

Pettit, John 870 

Pettit, JosephH 8.0 

Hoss, John 



Roes. Tho 



, 871 



Shirk, Benjamin 872 

Smith, J. H 8.2 

Walker, John 873. 

WAYNE TOWNSHIP. 

Bell, George W 874 

Brant, Hon. Matthias 874 

Brant, Kendall J 875 

Calvert, Kichard T 875 

Coen,JohnF 8;^5 

Cole,Ephraim 876 

Cole, James L 87() 

Cole, Henry 877 

Conldin, Iienry 87i 

Cumberledge, A. J '■ 877 

Frechind, John 8^8 

Headlev, Sam H 878 

Johnson, A\'illiaml£... 879 

Kent, J. S 87? 

Knight, James 



881 
881 



Lautz, William 

Moore, George W 

Phillips, Hon. Jesse 

Phillips, William D oo^ 

Phillips, .John Mc 883 

Spragg, David 883 

S piiigS; calub A 883 

Slirn^'ff, UeiirvM 8b4 

Ste«-;,rt, L.'raM 8R4 

Tiistiu, Abraham 884 

White, Keasin 885 

Worley, John 1 885 

Zimmerman, Robert 886 

WHITELEY TOWNSHIP. 

Bailey, A. M 887 

Bare, David 887 

Bowers, Henry 888 

Brant, M.C 88S 

Cowell, David L 889 

Cowell, John M 889 

Cummins, John A 890 

Pox, John 890 

Fuller, Johns 891 

Gump, Abraham 891 

Guthrie, Solomon . . 892 

Hattteld, G. W 893 

John, Christopher 898 

Moss, G. W., M. D 893 

Morris, Henry 894 

Morris, Elijah 8!)4 

Patterson, Rufus 894 

Shriver, Arthur 895 

Smith, A. J 895 

Staggers, Lisbon 895 

Stephens, Liudsey 890 

Strosuider, Simon E 897 

Temple, A. M «97 

Zimmerman, James R 898 



PORTBAITS. 



PAGB. 

Adamson, Thomas 365 

Barnes, J anScs i« 

Beall, Emanuel •"!; 

Biddle, N. H I'jj 

Black, Hou. 0. A „f,' 

Braddock, F. M 3.% 

Clayton, John »> 

Conkliu, John M *'l 



PAOE. 

Donley, D. L 375 

Fordyce, A. G .«5 

Fox, Dennis 35f 

Fuller, John S U.= 

Gordon, Hon. John B IC 

Grimes, P. M 34'> 

Hfttlield, Jacob, M. D l.W 

Hiucrman, Liudsey 4;ir 



(;oNTKNTS. 



Hughes, James 3ir> 

lams, Hon. Thomas 105 

Johns, Jacob, Sr Sit.') 

Lindsey, Hon. Jamus 55 

Lippeucott, William 3*> 

Long,Eli 325 

Loughridge, J. K 505 

MeeK, James 365 

Mestrczat, John Louis Gaillaumi; 135 

Miller, Aen.... 3r. 

Millikm, John L., M. D 375 

Morris, Isaac A 415 

Moss, G. W., M. D 1«5 

McClelland, M. M 345 

McCouuell, Robert A 185 



PAGE, 

McMiim.T.K 255 

McVay, James 295 

Parry, W.M.,M.D 4'<7 

I'bilhps, O. S 4«'J 

Sayers.E.M 35 

Scott, Capt. John 75 

Scott, James 2S5 

Spragg, David 145 

Swart, Jacob 305 

Thompson, Samuel 215 

Tilton, Rev. C. W 95 

Throckmorton, W. S.,M. D . 1"5 

Wisecarvor, George W 45 

Worlev, John I. 115 

Young,A. J 405 



Map of Greene County 15 



1r t^^^ ^^ ir 



V^A. S H I >- c 




>VE S T 



History of Greene County, 

PENNSYLVANIA. 



CHAPTER I. 



PiCTUKESQUE BeAUTY OI' CtHEENE CofNTV — ^WoEDS OF ALEXANDER 

Campbell — Its Location — 389,120 Square Acres — Streams 
Deainikg It^Water-siiej) — Trend of the Hills — Fertility 

OF the Sou Limiostdne — Forests — Remarks upon Forestry 

— A Girdled Forest — Cdnsequence of War upon the For- 
ests — JuDxcioi'S Planting — The Sioar Maple — As Seen in 
Southern Italy — (Questions Touching its Early Occupation. 

AN English nobleman of tlie last "generation, scliooled by travel in 
many lands, in a book which he wrote descriptive of an extended 
tour in the United States, deliberately declared that of all the lands 
which had gladdened his vision by their picturesque beauty in any 
part of the globe, none excelled those along the upper waters of the 
Ohio and its tributary streams. Indeed, so fascinated were the early 
French visitants, accustomed in their own land to scenes of enchant- 
ing natural beauty, that when they beheld the Ohio, they designated 
it, and ever after called it in all their books and writings, Ixi Belle 
Reviire. 

Of that portion of country, which, by its lines of beauty and 
grace, has justly won these generous and just encomiums, to none 
can they more fairly l)e applied, than to that territory included within 
the limits of Greene County; for it will be remembered that the 
French knew less of what is now designated the Ohio River, than 
its two principal tributaries, to which they applied the one common 
name. To the traveler who passes on over its network of higlnvays, 
winding among its crown of hills, or by the margin of its sparkling 
streams, on every side are presented the elements of beauty; and the 
artist who seeks for worthy subjects of his brush, cannot tail to find 
them here. The monotony which plagues the traveler in a prairie 
land, and in many portions of the Atlantic shores, is unknown to 



18 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

him here. Scarcely one field in all its broad domain is like another. 
Nor is there here the other extreme, — the bald and shaggy mountain 
with its inaccessible summits, forbidding intercourse from its op 
posing sides, given up to barrenness and sterility. 

But everywhere is pleasing variety. In spring time the whole sur- 
face of the landscape is gladdened with the vei-dure of the fast spring- 
ing wheat, and rich pasturage links the margins of the quick flowing 
streams to the summits of the farthest hills. In summer time num- 
berless flocks and herds lick up the morning dew of the valley, repose 
at the heated noontide beneath ample shade, or slake their thirst at 
the cool and abundant fountains, and find rest at night-fall on some 
breezy knoll or sheltered nook. In autumn shocks of well ripened 
grain gladden all the valleys, and along the hills are ridges of golden 
corn. When winter comes with its hoary breath, and river, and creek, 
and brooklet are bound in icy adamant, and the great clouds of snow- 
flakes come whirling over hill-tops and down the valleys, wrapping 
all the earth in a drapery of white, the sun, though with far-off 
slanting rays, peers into happy homes, sheltered from the biting 
blast by massive hills that rise up in giant form on every side, like 
trusty sentinels to keep back and break the force of the blizzards that 
come with their deathly embrace to torment the dwellers on the 
western plains. 

That I may not seem extravagant in my estimate of the beauties 
of a Greene County landscape, or the fertility of its soil, I quote the 
language of one who well knew of what he was writing, and was not 
accustomed to speak in terms of exaggeration, — the Memoirs of Alex- 
ander Campbell. "As we follow the descending waters, the hills and 
upland regions, which in reality preserve pretty much the same 
level, seem gradually to become higher, so that by the time we ap- 
proach the Ohio and Monongahela Kivers, their sides growing more 
and moi-e precipitous, rise to a lieight of four or five hundred feet. 
These steep declivities inclose the fertile valleys, through which the 
larger streams wind in graceful curves. Into these wide valleys 
small rivulets pour their limpid waters, issuing at short intervals upon 
each side from deep ravines formed by steep hillsides, which closely 
approach each other, and down which the waters of the springs, with 
which the upland is abundantly supplied, fall from rock to rock in 
miniature cascades. Upon the upland not immediately bordering 
upon the streams, the country is rolling, having the same general 
elevation, above which, however, the summit of a hill occasionally 
lifts itself, as though to afl'ord to lovers of beautiful landscapes most 
delightful views of a country covered for many miles with rich 
pasturages, with grazing herds or flocks, fruitful grain-fields or orch- 
ards, gardens and farm-houses, while upon the steeper sides of the 
valleys still remain some of the ancient forest growths of oak and 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 19 

asli, walnut, hickory and maple. Frequently as the traveler passes 
along the roads upon the upland, he sees suddenly from some dividing; 
ridge, charming valleys stretching away for miles with their green 
meadows, rich tields of corn, and sparkling streamlets. At otiier 
times, as he advances, he admires with delight in the distance, the 
ever varying line of tlie horizon, whicii on all sides is formed by the 
summits of remote ridges and elevations, sometimes conical in form, 
hut mostly defined liy various arcs of circles, as regularly drawn as if 
a pair of compasses had traced the lines upon the sky. Every- 
where around him he sees lands abounding in limestone, and all the 
necessary elements of fertility, and producing upon even the highest 
summits abundant crops of all the cereal grains. To enhance the 
natural resources of this picturesque country, its hills conceal im- 
mense deposits of bituminous coal, which the descending streams 
here and there expose. * * * Such for nearly two hundred miles 
west of the Alleghanies, is the general chai-acter of this region especial- 
ly of that portion of it lying along the Monongahela and Ohio, a region 
whose healthfulness is not surpassed by that of any country iu the 
world." 

We have thus far considered only the general aspects of the 
county. Its location and topographical features can be briefly 
stated. Greene County is situated in the e.xtreme southwest corner 
of Pennsylvania, and is bounded on the north by AVashington County, 
on the east by the Monongahela River whicli separates it from Fayette 
County, on the south by West Virginia, the western extremity of 
Mason and Dixon's line forming the dividing boundary, and on the 
west by West Virginia, known as the Panhandle, the western merid- 
ian line of five degrees measuring the length of the State constitut- 
ing the line of demarkation. It contains within these limits three 
hundred and eighty-nine thousand, one hundred and twenty square 
acres (389,120) of surface, or about six hundred and eight square 
miles (608). W^ere it in the form of an absolute square it would be 
nearly twenty-live miles on each side, or a hundred miles in circuit; 
but as the length is to the breadth as five to three, the average length 
may be set down as thirty-two Tuiles and breadth nineteen. The 
surface is drained by the Monongahela River, which unites with the 
Allegheny at Pittsburg and forms the Ohio proper, and by the 
Wheeling River which also falls into the Ohio, and forms part of the 
great Mississipj ' system. The water-shed which separates the 
waters of the Monongahela from the W^heeling system, commences 
at a point on the W^ashington County line a little north and east of 
the Baptist church, near the northern extremity of Morris Township, 
and pursues a southwesterly course cutting a small section of the 
eastern portion of Richhill Township, striking Jackson Township at a 
point near the intersection of Jackson with Centre, dividing Jackson 



20 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

from north to south very nearly at its center, catting off the north- 
west corner of Gilmore, and the southwest corner of 8pringhill Town- 
ships, and passes on into A¥est Virginia near the center of the 
southern houndary of the latter township, thus forming as it were, 
the back-bone of the county, and sending the waters on its eastern 
slope through innumerable and devious channels to the on-moving 
waters of the Monongahela, and those njjon the western slope to the 
Wheeling. 

Of the streams which drain the eastern slope, Ten Mile Creek is 
the most considerable, draining with its tributaries a full third of the 
entire territory; the second in magnitude, and nearly the equal of the 
former, though receiving a considerable portion of its volume from 
West Vi]'ginia, is Dunkard Creek. Of lesser magnitude are Muddy 
Creek, Little Whiteley and Whiteley. On the western slope are Ens- 
low's and North Forks of Wheeling Creek and Pennsylvania Fork of 
Fish Creek. 

Ten Mile Creek, which forms the northern boundary of Jefferson 
Township, and the northern limit of the county and is something less 
than four miles in length, is formed by the junction of the North 
and South Forks. The North Fork is forthe most part in Washing- 
ton Connty, draining its southeastern section. The South Fork which 
drains the central and northeastern portion of Greene County, has for 
its tributaries on the left bank, Casteel Run, Euff's Creek, Wylies Eun, 
Brown's Fork, Bates' Fork, Brushy Fork, Gray Eun and MirandaEun, 
and upon the right bank, McCourtney's Eun, Hargus Creek, Pursley 
Creek, Smith Creek, Laurel Eun and Coal Lick Eun. Pumpkin Eun is 
the next stream south of Ten Mile Creek and empties into the 
Monongahela at the point where is located the village of Patton and 
Hughe's Ferry. Muddy Creek drains for the mostpmrt Cumberland 
Township, passes through the village of Carmichaels and enters the 
river where has been established Flenniken's Ferry. Whiteley Creek 
which is fed by Frosty, Lantz and Dyer's Euns from the north, 
drains Whiteley, Greene and Monongahela Townships, passes through 
the villages of Kirby, Lone Tree, Whiteley and Mapletown, and 
falls into the Monongahela Eiver at Eoss' Ferry. Dunkard Creek, 
which has for tributaries West's, Culvin's, Shannon's, Eandolph's 
Eobert's, Eush's Hoover's, Fordyce's, Tom's and Blockhouse Euns 
from the north, and numberless confluents from West Virginia 
from the south, has upon its banks the villages of Mt. Morris, Fair 
Chance and Taylortown and is the last of the considerable streams 
that flow into the Monongahela Eiver on the south in Pennsylvania. 
The North Fork of Wheeling Creek, Avhich drains the western slope 
of the county is fed upon the left bank by Whorton's, Llewitfs, 
Chamber's and White's Euns, and on the right bank by Stonecoal, 
Crabapple, Laurel, Kent's, Wright's and White Thorn Euns, and has 



IIISTOKY OF CtREENP: COUNTY. 21 

tlie \illages ot'Bristoria, Kyerson and Crow's Mills, located \ipon its 
banks. Fish Creek is fed by Hart's, Waggon-road, Laurel and 
Herod's Runs, and has the villages of Freeport and Deep Valley. 

The general trend of the hills throughout the county of Greene 
is troin northwest to southeast, and the roads which follow the val- 
leys l)y which the hills are bordered, follow the same general direc- 
tion, being for the most part parallel to each other and connected at 
intervals by cross roads leading over the hills, or through intersecting 
valleys. The only exception to this general law is the tract embracing 
the three western townships, comprising the valley of Wheeling 
<'i-eek, where the course is from north to south or bearing some- 
what from northeast to southwest. Eveiy part of the surface is well 
watered by abundant springs and streams, and tlie soil is deep and 
fertile, being tillable even to the very summits of the highest hills. 
In many portions the hillsides, though ver}' abrupt, are capable of 
being cultivated, and yield good returns for the labor liestowed. In 
the western section of the county are beds of limestone, which, on 
lieinc reduced and applied to the soil, stimulates it to great fertility. 
When first visited by the white man, this whole stretch of country 
was covered with one vast forest, the trees of giant growth, consist- 
ing of white oak, red oak, black oak, and in many sections of sugar 
maple, chestnut, black walnut, hickory, butternut, ash, poplar, locust, 
cherry, ironwood, laurel and bay. In the rich bottoms, along the 
Monono-ahela River, in the southeastern section of the county, were, 
originally, vast tracts of pine and hemlock and spruce. These liave 
l)eeu swept away for use in building, and the arts, until scarcely a 
vestige remains of the pristine forests, and few if any of a new growth 
have been permitted to spring up in their places. As a consetpience, 
all tJie rough timber and sheeting boards used in building, are of 
the different varieties of oak. Poplar and hard-woods have now to be 
used as a finishing wood, or if pine is employed it has to be imported. 

The observation may be permitted in this connection, though 
not strictlv in place here, that the subject of forestry has been too 
much overlooked by the inhabitants of Greene County. In a former 
generation the deep, dense forest was looked ujion as the worst 
enemy of the settler, standing in the way of his improvements, and 
shutting out the sunlight from his vegetables and growing crops. 
Hence, to get the heavy growths out of his way, and prevent future 
o-rowths was his greatest care. In what way this could be ac- 
complished with the least labor and most speedily, was his chief 
concern. Hence the hardy axmen went forth at the first breaking 
of the rosy tinted morn, and we can realize as he attacks, 

" some stately growth of oak or pine, 

Wliich nods aloft and proudly spreads ber shade, 

The sun's defiance and the flock's defence; 

How by strong strokes tough fibers yield at length, 



22 IIISTOltY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

Loud groans her last, and rushing from her height, 
In cumbrous ruin thunders to the ground. 
The concious forest trembles at the shook, 
And hill, and stream, and distant dale resound. " 

This is but the history of what was transpiring in every portion 
of the county, day after day, and year after year, through all the 
early generations. It was too laborious and troublesome to chop the 
monster trunks into sections fit for handling, so, fire was brought 
into requisition, and at convenient intervals burnings were made, 
when tlie dissevered parts could then be swung around into piles and 
the torch applied. All tlirough the dry season vast volumes of smoke 
would ascend heavenward, and at night the sky would be illumined 
by the flames leaping upward and standing like beacon lights on 
every hill-top and down every valley. And when the settler was in 
too much haste to cut and burn the cumbersome forest, he would rob 
the innocent trees of their life by girdling the sap, thus cutting olf 
the health giving currents. By this process the foliage was forever 
broken, and the light and genial warmth of the sun Avas let in upon 
the virgin mould of centuries, which was quickened into life as the 
husbandman dropped his cherished seed. But there stood the giant 
forest still, torn and wrenched by lightning and storm, stretching- 
out its massive arms to heaven, bleached and whitened by sun and 
shower, like the ghosts of their departed greatness, and as if implor- 
ing mercy still. One can scarcely pass one of these lifeless forests, 
without a sigli of pity for the decaying monarchs. 

But they subserve a purpose. The constant droppings from their 
decaying limbs engender moisture, and give nourishment to the rich 
pasturage which springs, like tufts of velvet, beneath them; and, 
when at length they yield to the blows of the elements, and the cor- 
oding tooth of time, they are reduced to ashes, and finally disappear 
from sight. They were sometimes fired while still standing, and 
scarcely cananiore sublime sight be imagined tlian a forest of lifeless 
trees in full blaze. The ashes from a burned forest were some- 
times gathered up and converted into potash, which always com- 
manded ready sale in the eastern market, and was exchanged for salt 
and otlier necessaries of life not produced in the vicinage. 

But what will be the consequence of this indiscriminate war upon 
the forests ? In a few generations the hills, being entirely denuded 
of shade, will be parched by the burning suns of summer, and the 
streams will become less copious in the heated term and will eventual- 
ly become entirely dry. On the other hand, in the spring time, with 
no forests to hold the moisture, and yield it up gradually through 
the burning months when needed, the rains and melting snows will 
descend in torrents, and flood the viJlleys. The fertility of the soil 
will be soaked and drained out of it, the hillsides will be gashed and 



IIIHTOKV OF (iKKKNK fOUNTY.- 23 

seamed by the descending torrents, and thns all the hills, burned in 
summer and Hooded in winter, will become barren. The tiller of 
the soil will wonder at the scantiness of his crops, and his Hucks and 
herds will bleat and call in hopeless starvation. 

Of late years an attempt has been made to excite an interest in 
forestry. Mr. Northnp, in Connecticut, has secured some legislation 
upon the subject in that State and by lecturing before teachers' in- 
stitutes, and on pulilic occasions, has called attention to the subject, 
so that we have our forestry day in this State, to which the governor 
annually calls attention by a special proclamation. I'ut the manner 
in whicli it is acted upon, instead of resulting in a pulilic good, 
will l)e a positive injury. In the appeals of Mr. Xorthup and 
others, the call is to have trees planted about school-houses and 
dwellings. Now what will be the consequence ? In a few years, 
when the trees have become grown, there will be excessive shade 
and moisture. Moss will accumulate upon the roofs, the sunlight 
will he entirely shut out, and the children will be pale and sickly in 
consequence. The school-room will become unhealthj' for lack of 
sunlight, and the dwelling will lie damp and gloomy. One tree for 
a school ground not exceeding one acre, is ample shaile. Excessive 
shade must always prove injurious to health, while sun light is a 
better medicine for failing strength than ever hnnian ingenuity com- 
pounded. 

l>ut what is the remedy for the evil complained of; The forester 
should commence his work upon the far-oif hill tops, and with dili- 
gent hand should crown them with forests most useful and valuable 
to man, — the Hue maple, comely in shape, challenging the painter's 
most gaudy pigments for color, close-grained and unyielding in fiber 
for lumber; the walnut, cherry and ash, unrivalled for furniture and 
tinishing; the chestnut, valualjle for its nuts and for fencing, and 
pine and birch and hemlock, useful all. For holding moisture, and 
tempering the heats of summer, none are more useful than the ever- 
greens. All the waste places, the ravines and rugged hill-sides, 
unsuitable for cultivation, should be planted. The sugar from a 
thousand good trees will bring to any farmer a bigger income than 
the whole produce of his farm in other ways. The price of a good 
black walnut log is almost fabulous. A white ash of twenty years' 
growth will yield a timber unsurpassed fir carriages; and pine of 
tifteen years' growth will produce lumber which will be much sought 
for, and is year by year becoming more and moi'e scarce. A good 
field of planted trees, or sprout land, should be fenced and protected 
from the browsing of cattle, as carefully as a field of corn. It may 
seem an unyjalatable doctrine to preach, that the forests, which our 
fathers worked themselves lean to banish, should be protected, and 
nurtured, and brought back to their old places. But it is a true 



24 lUSTOIIY OF GP.EKNE COUNTY. 

gospel, and if we look carefully at it in all its bearings, we shall re- 
ceive it and recognize it as possessing saving grace. 

Along the hills of southern Italy may be seen, to-day, an aspect 
which, in a few years, will be presented in the now fertile lands uf 
Greene County. The Italian hills for centuries have been swept 
bare of forests. As a consequence, the soil is parched in summer 
time, and has become bare and barren; the streams, which in other 
days were deep and ran in full volume to the sea, and were the theme 
of extravagant praises by the Latin poets, are now for months together 
entirely dry, not a gush of water gladdening their baked and parched 
beds. Of the innumerable streams which fall into the Mediterranean 
on the western coast, from Genoa to the Straits of Messina, there are 
only a very few, like the Anio and the Tiber, that do not, in July and 
August, cease to flow, the husbandman being obliged to resort to 
artesian wells to feed his vegetables and growing crops. 

We have now considered the general features of the territory 
known as Greene County. But before entering npon a more particu- 
lar description of the settlement, and growth of its civil and religious 
institutions, it will be proper to consider several very interesting 
questions vitally touching its early occupation. The manner in 
which the original inhabitants became dispossessed of the inheritance 
of their fathers, and were driven towards the setting sun; why the 
dwellers in this valley are English, and nat a French-speaking peo- 
ple; how it has transpired that we are the subjects of Pennsylvania 
rule, and not of A''irgiuia or Maryland, and, finally, why we are not 
the constituent parts of a new State formed out of western Pennsyl- 
vania and portions of West Virginia and eastern Ohio, — these were 
living questions which plagued our fathers, and were not settled 
without des[jerate struggles, marked with slaughter, which may 
justly give to this county of Greene the title of the "dark and 
bloody ground."' , 



IIIST01;Y of (iUEKNK COUXTV, 



CllAl'TEJi II. 

Why Called Indiaws — The Guanukatheus, uk Delawakes— Shaw- 
XEES — Six JMations ok lKocn:ois, oi: Minooes — The Tuscaeokas 
— Delawakes Vassals — Indians' Shemitic Okigin — Api-lioa- 
TioN oE Bible Pkoi-hecv — The Indian Sui Genekis — Chakac- 
TEKisiirs — Indolent — Position of Woman — The Indian a Law 
TO IIimselk — His Occupations — Thievish — Patient ok Toil 
to T'eed IIkvenue — View ok Columbus — Amida's and Bak- 

LOW'S EXPEUIENCE — PkNn's TESTIMONY BaNCKOKt's ViEW TuE 

Stealth Pkacticed in Hunting Sekved them in Seeking the 
Victims ok theiu Savai^e Ckuelty — Brebeuk Describes an 
Instance ok theik Bakbakity which he Beheld — Cruelty a 
Delight — Greene County the Scene ok this SavacSe Bak- 
bakity. 

"llfHEN Cohunbus, ufter liaving deHioiistrated tlic rotundity of the 
*V earth in liis sciiolar's cell, had \eritied the ti'utli of liis theory 
by sailing westward in search of the farthest east, and had actually 
reached and discovered the shores of the New World, he believed 
that he had found the famed Cathay. Though he made several voy- 
ages, and lived a number of years, he still thought that it was the 
Indies he had found, and died in ignorance of the grandeur' of his 
discovery. To the inhabitants whom he found in the new country 
he gave the name of Indians, and. though wholly inappropriate in 
view of til", historical facts, it has clung to them through every vicis- 
situde of fortune, and when the last of their race shall have disap- 
ijeared forever from the earth, they will be recorded as Indians. 

The natives who occupied tlie greater portion of that jiart of the 
North American continent now designated Pennsylvania, were known 
as the Lenni Lenape, the original people, or grandfatliers. They 
were by nature fierce and warlike, and there was a tradition among 
them that the Lenapes, in ages quite remote, had emigrated from be- 
yond the Mississip))!, exterminating or driving out, as they came 
eastward, a race far more civilized than themselves, numerous, and 
skilled in the arts of peace. That this country was once the abode 
of a more or less civilized jieople, accustomed to many of the com- 
forts of enlightened communities, that they knew the use of tools, 
and were numerous, is attested by remains, thickly studding western 
Pennsylvania and the entire Ohio valley; but whether their extcruii- 



28 HISTOKY OF GREKNK COUNTY. 

nation was the work of fiercer tribes tlian themselves, or whether 
they were swept oiY by epidemic diseases, or gradually wasted as the 
fate of a decaying nation, remains an unsolved problem. The three 
principal tribes of which the Lenapes were composed, — the Turtles or 
Unamis, tiie Turkeys or Unalachtgos, the Wolfs or Monseys, — occu- 
pied the eastern portion of Pennsylvania, and claimed the territory 
from the Hudson to the Potomac. They were known to the Englisli 
as the Delawares. The Shawnees, a restless tribe which had come 
up from the south, had been received and assigned places of habita- 
tion on the Susquehanna, bj' the Delawares, and finally become a 
constituent part of the Delaware nation. 

But the Indian nationality which more nearly concerns the sec- 
tion of country of which we are treating, is the Six Nations, or as 
they were designated by the French, tlie Iroquois. They called 
themselves Aquanuschioni or United Tribes, or in oiir own parlance, 
United States, and the Lenapes called them Mingoes. They origi- 
nally consisted of live tribes, and hence were known as the Five 
Nations, viz: the Senecas, who were the most vigorous, stalwart and 
numerous; tlie Mohawks, who were the first in numbers and in rank, 
and to whom it was reserved to lead in war; the Onondagas, who 
guarded the council fire, and from among whom the Sachem or civil 
head of the confederacy was taken ; the Oneidas, and the Cayugas. 
Near the beginning of the eighteenth century, the Tuscaroras, a 
large tribe from central North Carolina and Virginia, having been 
expelled from their former dwelling place, were adopted by the Five 
Nations, and thenceforward were known as the Six Nations. Tlicy 
occupied tiie country stretching from Lake Champlain to Lake Erie, 
and from Lake Ontario and the river St. Lawrence on the north, to 
the head waters of the Delaware, the Susquehanna and the Allegheny 
rivers on the south. It was a country well suited for defence in 
savage warfare, being guarded on three sides by great bodies of water. 
They were quick to learn the methods of civilized warfare, and 
securing fire-arms from the Dutch on the Hudson, the}' easily over- 
came neighboring hostile tribes whom tiiey held in a condition of 
vassalage, exacting an annual tribute, but protected them, in return, 
in the possession of their rightful hunting grounds. The Lenapes. or 
Delawares, were held under subjection in this manner, whicli gave 
to the Six Nations semi-authority over the whole territory of the 
State of Pennsylvania, and reaching out into Ohio. This humili- 
ating vassalage to which the Lenapes or Delawares were subjected, 
had been imposed upon them by conquest of the Iroquois; but the 
former claimed that it was assumed by them voluntarily, that "they 
had agreed to act as mediators and peace-makers among the other 
great nations, and to this end they had consented to lay aside entirely 
the implements of war, and to hold and to keep bright the chain of 



IIKSTOKY OF GKEENE COUNTY. 29 

peace." It was the office, when tribes had weakened themselves by 
desperate conflict, for the women of those tribes, in order to save 
their kindred from utter extermination, to rush between the contend- 
ing warriors and implore a cessation of slaughtei'. It became thus 
tiie office of women to be peace-makers. The Delawares claimed 
that the}' had assumed this office from principle; but the Iroquois 
declared that it was a matter of necessity, and applied the epithet 
•'women" as a stigma, thus characterizing them as wanting in the 
quality of the braves. The pious Moravian missionary, Ileckewelder, 
who spent much time among them, and knew their chai'acter well, 
believed that the Delawares were sincei-e in their claim, and from the 
fact that the}' had a great admiration for William Penn, with whom 
they associated much, and imbibed his sentiments of peace, it may be 
that they came to hold those principles, even if they had formerly 
been conquered in war, and l)een compelled to accept terms of de- 
pendence. Gen. Harrison, afterwards President of the [Tnited States. 
in a discourse on the aborigines of the valley of the Ohio, observes: 
"Even if Mr. Ileckewelder has succeeded in making his readers be- 
lieve that the Delawares, when the}- submitted to the degradation 
proposed to them by their enemies, were influenced, not by fear, but 
by the benevolent desire to put a stop to the calamities of war, he 
has established for them the reputation of being dupes. Tliis is not 
often the case with Indian sachems. They are rarely cowards, but 
still more rarely are they deficient in sagacity or discernment to de- 
tect any attempt to impose upon them. I sincerely wish I could 
unite with the worthy German in removing this stigma from the 
Delawares. A long and intimate knowledge of them in peace antl 
war, as enemies and friends, has left upon my mind the most favor- 
able impressions of their character for bravery, generosity and fldelity 
to their engagements." But whatever may have been their original 
purposes, or their subsequent convictions, after their associations 
with Penn, they did demand complete independence of the Iroquois 
in 1756, and had their claims allowed. 

Of the origin of the Indian race little is definitely known. The 
Indians themselves had no tradition and they had no writings, coins 
or monuments by which their history could be preserved. Ethnolo- 
gists are, hovrever, well assured that the race came originally from 
eastern Asia. Without reciti"g here the arguments which support 
this theory, it is sufficient for our present purpose to state, that it 
seems well attested that the race has dwelt upon this continent from 
a period long anterior to the Christian era, oljtaining a foothold here 
within Ave hundred years from the dispersion of the race, and that 
their physical and mental peculiarities iiave become fixed by ages of 
subjection to climate and habits of life. Mr. Schoolcraft, who has 
written much tipon Indian history, and has given inuch study and 



33 TIISTOKY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

thought to the subject, adduces the following considerations as proof 
of the fultillnient of that prophecy of scripture recorded in the ninth 
chapter of Genesis: "And the sons of jS'oah that went forth of the 
Ark were 8heui, Ham, and Ja'pheth. God shall enlarge Japheth 
[Europeans] and he shall dwell in the tents of Sheni [Indians] and 
Canaan [Negro] shall be his servant." 

"Assuming," says Schoolcraft, "the Indian tribes to be of Shem- 
itic origin, wliich is generally conceded, they were met on this conti- 
nent in 1492, by the Japhet-ic race, after the two stocks had passed 
around thb globe by directly dift'ereut routes. Within a few years 
subsequent to this event, as is well attested the humane influence of 
an eminent Spanish ecclesiastic, led to the calling over from the coast 
of Africa, of the Ilam-itic branch. As a mere historical question, 
and without mingling it in the slightest degree with any other, the 
result of three centuries of occupancy has been a series of movements 
in all the colonial stocks, south and north, by which Japhet has been 
immeasurably enlarged on the continent, wliile the called and not 
voluntary sons of Ham, have endured a servitude, in the wide 
stretching valleys of the tents of Shem." 

The Indian, as he was found upon this continent when first vis- 
ited by the European, was very diiferent in form, features, mental 
constitution, and habits from the latter, and apparently unalterably 
different from any other race. But while they were thus unlike 
other races, there was found to be a strong resemblance in all essen- 
tial elements in all the various tribes and nationalities of their own 
race. The color of the skin was of a reddish brown, their hair was 
black, straight, stiff, not plentiful, and the males had scarcely any 
beard ; the jaw-bone was large, the cheek-bone high and prominent, 
and the foi-ehead high, square and prominent above the eyes, show- 
ing a large development of the perceptive faculties; but narrow, and 
sloping backward at the top, showing defective reasoning powers. 
The person, unincumbered with the clothing common to a fashionable 
age in civilized countries, was erect, well developed, and in movement 
quick, lithe, and graceful. 

-Dr. Spencer, in his chapter on the characteristics of the Indians, 
has given the following graphic account of them: " Their intellect- 
ual faculties were more limited, and their moral sensibilities, from 
"want of cultivation, less lively. They seemed to be characterized by 
an inflexibility of organization, wliich rendered them almost incapa- 
ble of receiving foreign ideas, or amalgamating with more civilized 
nations — constituting them, in short, a people that might be broken, 
but could not be bent. This peculiar organization, too, together 
with the circumstances in which they were placed, moulded the 
character of their domestic and social condition. Their dwellings 
were of the simplest and rudest character. On some pleasant spot 
by the hanks of a river or near a sweet spring, they raised their 



HISTOUY OF GREENK COUNTY. 31 

groups of wigwams, constructed of the barks of ti-ees, and easily 
taken down and removed to another spot. The abodes of tlie cliiefs 
were sometimes more spacious, and constructed with care, but of the 
same materials. Their villages were sometimes surrounded by de- 
fensive palisades. Skins taken in the chase, served them for repose. 
Though principally dependent upon hunting and fishing, its uncer- 
tain supply had led them to cultivate around their dwellings some 
patches of maize; but their exertions were desultoi'y, and they were 
often exposed to the severity of famine. Every family did every- 
thing necessary within itself; and interchange of articles of commerce 
was hardly at all known among them." 

The Indian is by nature and habit indolent — as -'lazy as lie can 
be." To take up a tract of land, build himself a liouse with tl\e 
conveniencies and privacies of civilized home life, clear away the 
heavj^ forests whicli incund)er it, plough and cultivate the sodden 
acres, fence in the many fields, dig for him.self a well, get and care 
for flocks and herds, and lay up for himself and family abundant sup- 
plies of the products of the soil, would ha\e been to entail upon 
him insufferable misery, and rather than undertake the first sti'oke of 
such a life of toil, he would rather end it at once. He l^elieved that 
the fish of the stream, the fowls of the air, the beasts of the field, 
and the land where he should stretch his wigwam, were as free and 
open to approi:)riation as the air we breathe, or the w^aters that run 
sparkling in abundance to the sea. They ridiculed the idea of 
fencing a field, and depriving any who desired the use of it. The 
strong dominated over the weak. The male assumed superiority over 
the female, and made her in reality his slave. Ilis grunt was law to 
her, and if he started upon a journey she must trot after, bearing the 
infant, if she have one, and the burdens. If crops were to be planted, 
and cultivated, and gathered, it was by the sw-eat of her lirow' that it 
must be done. She must gather the fuel for the fire, weave the mat 
on which to set and sleep, fashion the basket and decorate it with 
fanciful colors. She was in short little less than the abject and 
degraded slave. 

Of the more special occupations of the men Dr. Spencer has 
given the following interesting picture: "In cases of dispute and 
dissension, each Indian held to the right of retaliation, and relied on 
himself almost always to effect his revenge for injuries i-eceived. 
Blood for blood was the rule, and the relatives of the slain man were 
bound to obtain bloody revenge for his death. This principle gave 
rise, as a matter of course, to innumerable and bitter feuds, and wars 
of extermination, where that was possible. War, indeed, rather than 
peace, and the arts of peace, was the Indian's glory and delight; war, 
not conducted on the scale of more civilized, if not more Christian- 
like people; but war where individual skill, endurance, gallantry and 



32 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

cruelty were prime requisites. For such a purpose as revenge the 
Indian was capable of making vast sacriiices, and displayed a patience 
and perseverance truly heroic; but when the excitement was over, he 
sunk back into a listless, unoccupied, well-nigh useless savage. The 
intervals of his moi'e exciting pursuits the Indian tilled up in the 
decoration of his person with all the reiinements of paints and feath- 
ers, with the manufacture of his arms — the club, the bow and ar- 
rows — and of canoes of bark, so light that they could easily be car- 
I'ied on the shoulder from stream to stream. His arnusements were 
the war dance and song, and athletic games, the narration of his ex- 
ploits, and listening to the oratoiy of the chiefs. But, during long 
periods of his existence, he remained in a state of torpor, gazing 
listlessly upon the trees of the forest, and the clouds that sailed far 
above his head; and this vacancy imprinted an habitual gravity and 
even melancholy upon his aspect and general deportment." 

The Indian was thievish to the last degree, indeed this seems to 
have been as much a temper of his mind as indolence was of his 
body. The disposition to take that wliicli did not belong to him 
may have in a measure resulted from his belief in the common prop- 
erty of water and air, and land, the beast and fowl that swarm upon 
its surface, and the iish that dart in its streams. It seems to him no 
sin to steal. Among the first colonies sent out from England to 
colonize the American coast an Indian was discovered to have stolen 
a silver cup. The punishment inflicted by the inconsiderate colo- 
nists of burning their villages, and destroying their growing crops, 
provoked a revenge which resulted in the utter annihilation of the 
colony and engendered a hatred which many subsequent colonists 
felt the force of, and which inherited from generation to generation, 
seems never to have been worn out of the savage mind. 

The Indians of IMorth America, as they were found upon the 
arrival of Europeans, could not be said to have been under the gov- 
ernment of law. If an Indian had suffered an injury or an insult, 
he took it upon himself to avenge without the forms of proof to fix 
the guilt, and if he was killed in the quarrel his nearest relatives 
felt themselves obliged to take up the avengement. Thus from the 
merest trifle the most deadly feuds arose by which the population 
was visibly diminished. The warrior chiefs among them became 
such by superior skill or cunning, and not by any rule of hereditary 
decent, or majority of voices. Mattel's of public interest were dis- 
cussed in public assemblies of the whole people, in which all were 
free to join. Decisions were generally in favor of him who could 
work most powerfully upon the feelings of his audience, either by 
his native eloquence or by appeals to their superstition, by which 
they were easily moved. The man who pretended to be the repre- 
sentative of the Great Spirit, had a great influence over them, and 



IIISTOKV OF (iUEKNE COUNTY. 33 

in cases of sickiijiss he was appealed to as a last resort. It has been 
observed above that the Indian was naturally lazy. To tliat assertion 
one exception should be made. To carry out his purpose of re- 
venge tlie Indian was capable of making sacrifices, enduring liardships, 
and undei-going sufferings unsurpassed by the most daring of the 
human race. To gratify liis tliirst for revenge, lie M'ould make long 
and exhausting marches, with scant food, subsisting upon the bark 
of trees, the roots of the forest, and such random game as he might 
come upon, would lie in wait for liis victims for hours and days 
enduring untold suffering. 

It is curious to observe the impression which tlie natives made 
upon the first I^uropean visitants to these shores. Columbus in his 
report to Ferdinand and Isabella after his first voyage, said: "I 
swear to your majesties, that there is not a better people in the world 
than these, more affectionate, affable, or mild. Tliey love their 
neighbors as themselves; their language is the sweetest and the 
softest, and the most cheerful, for they always speak smiling, and 
although they go naked, let your majesties believe me, their customs 
are very becoming, and their king who is served with great majesty, 
has such engaging manners, that it gives great pleasure to see hiiii, 
and also to consider the great retentive faculty of that people, and 
their desire of knowledge, which incites them to ask the causes of 
things." If these were the real sentiments of Columbus, we are 
forced to believe that he had never seen an Indian in liis war-paint 
and feathers, and that he had seen tlie Shylock who had mone}' to 
lend, and not the Shylock who was exacting the penalty of the for- 
feited bond. 

The adventurers whom Sir Walter Italeigh sent out for discovery 
and settlement, Aniidas and 15arlow, gave a graphic report of their 
impressions of the natives upon their return, which Ilakluyt has 
preserved in his annals: >'The soile is the most plentifull, sweete, 
fruitfuU and wholesome, of all the worlde; there are above fourteene 
severall sweete smelling timber trees, and the most part of their 
underwoods are bayes and such like; they have such oakes that we 
have, but farre greater and better. After they had l)een divers times 
aboard our shippes inyselfe, with seven more went twentie mile 
into the river that runneth towards the citie of Shicoak, which river 
they call Occam; and the evening following we came to an island, 
wliich they call Roanoke, distant from the harbor by wliicli we entered 
seven leagues; and at the north end thereof was a village of nine 
houses, built of cedar, and fortified round about with sharpe trees to 
keep out their enimies, and the entrance into it made like a turnpike 
very artificially; when we came towards it, standing neere unto the 
waters' side, the wife of Cranganimo, the king's brothei', came run- 
ning out to nieete us very cheerfully and friendly; her husband was 



34 HISTORY OF GHEENE COUNTY. 

not then in the village; some of her people shee commanded todrawe 
onr boate on shore, for the beating of the billoe, others she appointed 
to carry ns on their backes to the dry ground, and others to bring 
our oares into the house for feare of stealing. When we were come 
into the ntter room, liaving iive rooms in her house, she cansed us to 
sit down by a great fire, and after tooke off our choathes, and washed 
them, and dried them againe; some of the women plucked off our 
stockings, and washed them, some washed our feete in warm water, 
and she herself tooke great paines to see all things ordered in the 
best manner she could, making greate haste to dresse some meate for 
us to eate. After we had thus dried ourselves she bronght us into 
this inner roome, where shee set on the boord standing along the 
house, some wlieate like fermentie; sodden venison and roasted; fish, 
sodden, boyled, and roasted; melons, rawe and sodden; rootes of 
divers kinds; and divers fruits. Their drink is commonly water, 
but while the grape lasteth, they drinke wine, and for want of caskes 
to keepe it, all the yere after they drink water, but it sodden with 
ginger in it, and black sinnamon, and sometimes sassaphras, and 
divers other wholesome, and medicinable hearbes and trees. We 
were entertained with all love and kindnesse, and with as much 
bountie, after their manner as they could possibly devise. We 
jound the people most gentle, loving, and faithfull, voide of all guile 
and treason, and such as live after the manner of the golden age. 
The people onely care to defend themselves from the cold in their 
short winter, and to feed themselves with such meat as the soile 
afforeth; their meat is very well sodden, and they make broth very 
sweet and savorie; their vessels are earthen pots, very large, white, 
and sweete; their dishes are wooden platters of sweet timber. With- 
in the place where they feede was their lodging, and within that 
their idoll, which they worship, of whom they speak incredible things. 
While we were at meate, there came in at the gates two or three 
men with their bowes and arrowes from hunting, whom, when we 
espied, we began to looke one towards another, and offered to reach 
our weapons; but as soone as she espied our mistrust, she was very 
miTch moved, and cansed some of her men to runne ont, and take 
away their bowes and arrowes and breake them, and withall beate the 
poore fellowes out of the gate againe. When we departed in the 
evening, and would not tarry all night, she was very sor}', and gave 
ns into our boate our supper half dressed pottes and all, and brought 
us to our boateside, in which we lay all night, removing the same a 
prettie distance from the shore; she perceiving our jelousie, was 
much grieved, and sent divers men and thirtie women, to sit all 
night on the bank-side by iis, and sent into our boates live mattes to 
cover us from the raine, using very many wordes to entreate us to 
rest in their houses; biit because we were fewe men, and if we had 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 37 

jniscarried the voyage liad beeiie in very great danger, we durst nut. 
adventure anything, althougli there was no cause of doubt, for a more 
kinde and loving people there cannot be found in the worlde, as far 
as we have hitherto had triall." 

Though given here at some length, this passage from the records 
of the faithful JIakluyt is very valuable as picturing the life of the 
simple Indians, and their temper towards the early European voy- 
agers, before their minds had been soured by injury and wrong which 
careless and lirutal colonists subsequently visited upon them; and it 
may well be questioned whether, they would not have remained friend- 
ly and loving as here descriljed had they recei\ed loving and Chris- 
tian treatment in return. It is possible that such relations might 
have been preserve(l with the natives, that the tales of blood and sav- 
agery which form a dark page in the early histury of Greene County 
would never have had occasion to be recorded. Certain it is that 
the redmeii have had great provocation, antl have received most in- 
human and unchristian treatment at the haiuls of the pale face. 

The relations of Williani Penn with the savages was different from 
those of any other European. He really believed them brethi'en in 
tiie true scripture sense, and treated them as sucii. Hence his view 
of the Indian character wotdd naturally be more favorable to them 
tlian if regarded through prejudiced eyes. ''For their persons," he 
says, "they are generally tall, straight, well Iniilt, and of singular 
proportion. They tread strong and clever, and mostly walk with a 
lofty chin. Their language is lofty, yet narrow; but, like the Ile- 
lu-ew, in signitication, full. If an European comes to see them, or 
calls for lodging at their house or wigwam, they give him the best 
place and first cut. If they coine to visit us, they salute us with an 
'Itah!' which is as much as to say 'Good be to you I' and set them 
down, which is mostly on the ground, close to their heels, their legs 
upright. It may be they speak not a word, but observe all jiassages. 
If yon give them anything to eat or dritdc, well, for they will not 
ask; and be it little or much, if it be with kindness, they are well 
pleased; else they go away sullen, but say nothing." 

"In liberality," he says, "theye.vcel; nothing is too good for 
their friend; give them a fine gun, coat or other thing, it may pass 
twenty hands before it sticks; light of heart, strong affections, l)ut 
soon spent. The most merry creatures that live, feast and dance per- 
petually; they never have much nor want much; wealth circulateth 
like the blood; all parts partake; and though none shall want what 
another hath, yet exact observers of property. Some kings have 
sold, others presented me with several parcels of land; the pay, or 
presents I made them were not hoarded by their particular owners; 
but the neighboring kings and their clans being present when the 
goods were brought out, the parties chieHy concerned consulted what, 



38 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

Mud to wlioui, they M'oiild give tliem. To every king then, by the 
Jiauds of a perscjn for that M'ork appointed, is a pj'oportion sent, so 
sorted and folded, and with that gravity that is admirable. Then 
the king subdivideth it, in like manner, among his dependants, they 
hardly leaving themselves an equal share M'ith one. of their subjects; 
and 1)6 it on such occasions as festivals, or at their common meals, 
the kings distribute and to themselves last. They care for little be- 
cause they want little, and the reason is a little contents them. * * * 
We sweat and toil to live; their pleasure feeds them; I mean their 
hunting, fishing and fowling, and their table is spread everywhere. 
They eat twice a day, morning and evening; their seats and table are 
the ground. Since the Europeans came into these parts, they are 
grown great lovers of strong liquors, rum especially, and for it ex- 
change the richest of their skins and furs. If they are heated with 
liquors, tliey are restless till they have enough to sleep; that is their 
cry, 'Some more and I will go to sleep;' but when drunk, one of the 
most wi-etched spectacles in the world." 

Bancroft, in iiis elaboi'ate chapter on the habits and customs of 
the Indians, says: "During the mild season there may have been 
little suffering. But thrift was wanting; the stores collected by the 
industry of the women was squandered in festivities. The hospitality 
of the Indian lias rarely been questioned. The stranger enters his 
cabin, by day or by night, without asking leave, and is entertained 
as freely as a thrush or a black-bird that regales himself on the 
luxuries of the fruitful grove. He will take his own rest abroad, 
that he may give up his own skin, or mat of sedge, to his guest. 
Nor is the traveler questioned as to the purpose of his visit; he 
chooses his own time freely to deliver his message." 

We may gather from the testimony of those who earliest 
encountered them, what were some of the most marked of the charac- 
teristics. Of the stealth of the Indian in creeping upon his victim 
unawares, and the laying in wait for him in some well-chosen am- 
buscade, we may look for the cause in the necessity he was under of 
practicing these qualities in the pursuit of his game. From child- 
hood he was taught to move noiselessly through the forest lest by 
the breaking of a twig he put to flight the coveted game for lack of 
which he was perhaps starving. The same noiseless tread with which 
he approached the pool M"here sported the finny tribe, and came un- 
noticed upon the wild fowl, was practiced in seeking out the victims 
of his revenge, or putting to the torture his prisoners of war. Of 
the barbarit}' practiced upon the latter, in no part of the liuman race 
is it equalled. Brebeuf has described it in all its horrors, as recorded 
by Bancroft: "On the way to the cabins of his conquerors, the 
hands of an Iroquois prisoner were crushed between stones, his 
fingers torn ofi' or mutilated, the joints of his arms scorclied and 



iiis'idiiv OK <m;eexk rocN'rv. 39 

gaslied, while he himself preserved his tranquility, and sang the 
songs of his nation. Arriving at the homes of his conquerors, all 
the cabins regaled him, and a young girl was bestowed upon him, to 
be the wife of his captivity and the companion of his last loves. 
-X- « -A 'jy j.],g (-rowd of his guests lie declared: 'My brothers, 1 
am going to die; make merry around me with good heart; I am a 
man; I fear neither death nor your torments;' and he sang aloutt. 
The feast being ended, he was conducted to the cabin of blood. They 
place him on a mat, and bind his hands; he rises and dances around 
the cabin, chanting his death song. At eight in the evening eleven 
tires had been kindled, and tliese are hedged in by tiles of spectators. 
The young men selected to be the actors are exhorted tn dc) well, for 
their deeds would be grateful to Areskoui, the powerful war god. A 
war chief strips the prisoner, shows him naked to the people, and 
assigns their office to the tormentors. Then ensued a scene the most 
horrible; torments lasted till after sunrise, when tlie wretched victim, 
bruised, gashed, mutilated, half roasted and scalped, was cari'ied out 
of the village and hacked in pieces." 

From the veneral)le sachem to tlie infant in arms, the aged mother 
to the tender maiden, by all the tribe was this torture of the captive 
beheld. It was an occasion of feasting and rejoicing. The greater 
the j)0wer of enduraiu-e of the victim and the more fierce and tei- 
rible the torture invented the more e.xquisite the enjoyment of the 
spectators. To add a pang to the sutierer was a subject of congratu- 
lation to the one who inflicted it. Often the greatest retineinent of 
cruelty was devised and inflicted by the women. And when the last 
pang had been endured and all was over they feasted upon the 
victim's rtesh. 

Further on in this work some account will be given of deeds of 
blood perpetrated by the savages in this county. From the evidence 
which has now been adduced some conception of the jirimary char- 
acter of the natives can be formed, and an i<lea entertained of those 
qualities of mind and heart which could prompt them to the mid- 
night murdering and deeds of savagery which were to them a favorite 
trade. 



40 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 



CHAPTER 111. 



Orujinal Settlement Upon the Continknt by Europeans — Ponce 
DE Leon in Florida — Vasquez de Ayllon Seizing Natives foe 
Slaves — De Soto DiecovEES the Mississippi — Voyages of Vee- 
EAzzANi — Jaques Oaetee — Champlain IN Canada — IIis Ex- 
pedition Against the Ieoquois — Maequette and JoLirrr 
Voyage to the Mississippi — Map of Countey — Death of 
Marquette — EemaeksofHildeeth and Ciiaelevoix — La Salle 
Pushes Exploeatioks on the Mississippi — Takes Foemal Pos- 
session OF THE PiVER and LaNDS IT DeAINS POSSIBILITIES OF 

Geeene County — England Colonizes — Early Attempts Aboe- 
TivE — Ctrants of James I — Settlement of Jamestown and Ply- 
jtouTii — The Dutch on the Delawaee — By What Right PIad 
European Possessions on This Continent — A Fruitful Countey- 
Unused — A Savage and Barbaric Peoit.e Encumber It — 
Observations of Justice Stoey — Decision of Chief Justice 
Maeshall — The In.iustice Rankled in the Breasts of the 
Savages. 

Aroused by the roseate accounts given by Columbus and the com- 
panions of his voyage of discovery in 1492, which was spread 
broadcast over Europe by the art of printing jnst then brought into 
use, the Sovereigns of three European nations, at that time most 
puissant, encouraged their subjects to make voyages of discovery and 
issued patents empowering them to take possession of such portions 
of the main land in the ISew World, and the contiguous islands of 
the sea, as they might visit and explore. Spain, having through 
Ferdinand and Isabella, patronized the great discoverer, took the lead, 
assuming a preemption right to the continent, by virtue of discovery, 
and Cortes and Pizzaro did their work of slaughter and extermination 
upon weaker and inoffensive peoples, innocent of any crimes against 
their oppressors. 

Juan Ponce de Leon, who had been a companion of Columbus, 
having heard of a miraculous fountain upon the mainland whose 
waters could impart life and perpetual youth, eager to bathe in the 
healincr stream, sailed on the 3d of March, 1512, in quest of it. It 
was the season, when, in that far southern clime, the whole land was 
bursting into blossom, and, as he coasted along a great country pre- 
senting one mass of bloom, lie thought indeed, he had found the 
land of .perpetual life, and, accordingly, named it Floi'i<la. But tlie 



IIISTOUY (»K (iKKp:XK COUNTY. 41 

weather was tempestuous, and retni'iiins;- to the West Indies, he 
souglit, and obtained from Charles Y., of Spain, autlioj'ity to take 
and govern tiie country; but upon liis second expedition lie found the 
natives liostile, and upon giving battle was mortally wounded and re- 
turned to tlio Islands to die. 

Vasquez de Ayllon, in quest of slaves to work in the mines of 
Mexico, came upon this coast, and having enticed numbers of 
natives on board his vessels, perlidionsly sailctl away; but one of his 
ships was lost in a storm, and the natives, who survived, disdaining 
to work, refused to eat, and died miserably of starvation. Not satis- 
tied with his experience, de Ayllon obtained authority from Charles 
Y. to conquer and go\erii the country, and in 1525 again set sail 
with his colonists. Jjut now he found his tactics reversed; for the 
natives were the enticers, and having invited the body of the visitants 
to a feast gave them to slaughter and destruction. Again in 1528, 
Pamphilo de Narvaez with Alvar de Vacca and four hunilred colon- 
ists sailed for Tampa Bay; but after fruitless wanderings by sea and 
land in which the leader was lost, de Vacca made liis escape with 
but four of his comjtanions alive, having spent ten years in fruitless 
search for gold and Ijoot}'. In his adventures he had traversed the 
Avhole southern border of what is now the United States, crossed the 
Mississippi, bent his steps onward to the Iloeky Mountains, gladly 
performing the offices of a slave for sustenance and the poor boon of 
life, and arrived at last in Mexico, whence he returned to Spain. 
Undismayed by the ill-fortune of others, and thirsting for riches, 
which he might have for the seizing, Hernando de Soto, invested 
with the patent of power and the title of Governor General of Cuba 
and Florida, with about a thousand followers in ten vessels, set 
sail in 1539 well armed, and provided with the implements of mining, 
even to bloodhounds for capturing slaves, and chains for securing 
them. The first night on shore he was attacked by the Indians 
lying in wait for him, and driven in disgrace to his ships. Return- 
ing to the land he commenced even wider search than de Vacca , and 
after three years of toilsome and fruitless wanderings, and incessant 
conflicts with Indians, having crossed the Mississippi and reached 
the great plains where grazed the countless herds of bufi'alo, final- 
ly, broken and dispirited at finding neither the wealth of gold which 
he sought, nor the empire which he coveted, he died, and the waters of 
the Mississippi roll jwrpetually above his bones. Having but one 
purpose, that of escape from this hated country, his surviving fol- 
lowers floated down the river, and retired tt) Spanish settlements in 
Mexico. Thus ended miserably the greatest expedition hitherto 
attempted upon the Florida coast. For a score or more of years 
religionists from Spain and France attcmpte<l p;'rmanent lodgement 
upon this territory, in which the town of St. Augustine was founded, 



42 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

at present the oldest town in the United States. But instead of 
practicing the mild and gentle precepts of their Master, they were 
torn by mortal feuds, and a large propoition perished in their deadly 
and treacherous conflcts. 

Thus, of the vast sums of money expended and hardships en- 
dured, in which the greater portion of the southern half of our 
country was overrun, and perpetual and wasting warfare for a 
quarter of a century was prosecuted with the natives, nothing good 
or lasting was the result, though there was exhibited a resolution and 
unconquerable spirit by those proud cavaliers who went forth clad in 
their habiliaments of silk, rejoicing in their trailing plumes and 
glittering armor, truly worthy of a better cause. They expected to 
lind great nations overflowing with gold and precious treasures, whom 
tliey could easily overcome and despoil, where they might set up a 
kingdom. Unhappily for them they found no such people; the gold 
they coveted existed only in their own lieated imagination, and the 
empire which they hoped to fond vanislied like the mists of the valley 
liefore the breath of a summer morn. Their cause was the cause of 
tlie gambler and the freebooter in every country and in every age, 
and the lesson is one which the race may well take to heart. 

Of the great European nations. France was the next to send out 
colonies to take possession of, and settle the American continent. 
Moved by a knowledge of tlie misfortunes which had attended Span- 
ish settlements far to til e south, the French sought a far northern 
latitude, and though on the same parallel as Paris, was swept by 
blizzards, aiid bound in icy fetters such as were wholly unknown in 
sunny France. This very circumstance may have defeated the en- 
tire French plans of colonization,, and changed the wliole course of 
empire upon this continent. Foi- the French possessed, in an eminent 
degree, the spirit of colonization, and were eager to push plans of 
empire. Had the first adventurers seated themselves upon, the Po- 
tomac or the James, or along the shores of the Carolinas, they would 
have found so genial a climate and similar to their own, that they 
would have gained so firm a foothold and so long in advance of the 
English, that they would probably not have been supplanted. 

The state of navigation at this time was .so ci'ude, the vessels so 
small and imperfect in construction, that a voyage on the open ocean, 
across the Atlantic, was attended with deadly perils, and solemn re- 
ligious services marked the departure of the venturesome voyagers 
as they went down upon the seas, a large proportion of whom nevei- 
emerged from the waves. Fishermen from Brittany, in France, as 
early as 1504-, had discovered the rich fishing grounds on the Banks 
of Newfoundland, and liad visited and named Cape Breton, a name 
which it still retains. Francis I. of France, a sovereign not un- 
mindful of the growth of his kingdom, seeing the activity of neigh. 



IIISTOKY OF GREENE COUNTY. 48 

boring nations in sending out their subjects for voyages of discovery 
and colonization, dispatclied Juan Yerrazzani, a Florentine navigator, 
in 1524, ill a single vessel, the Dolphin, to discover and take posses- 
sion, in the name of France, of lands in the famed New World. 
After '-as sharp and terrible a tempest as ever sailors suffered,'" Yer- 
razzani arrived upon the coast, touched at the Caroliuas, at Long 
Island, at Newport, and skirted the coast to the fiftieth degree north, 
■when he returned without making a settlement. Ten years later, in 
1534, Jaques Cartier was dispatched by Chabot, Admiral of France, 
on an expedition to the Northwest, and arrived at the month of the 
St. Lawrence. Returning to France with extravagant reports of the 
excellence of the country and the climate, he was dispatched on the 
following year with three large ships, and njwn his arrival on St. 
Lawrence-day, gave that name to the (4ulf which he had entered, and 
the river which drains the great lakes. Ascending the river, he 
visited Hochelaza, now Montreal, and wintered at the Isle of Orleans. 
The cold was intense, in marked contrast to his fornrer visit, which 
was in the heat of summer, and his followers, suffering from scurvy 
and the severity of the climate, clamored to be led back to France. 
In 1540, Cartier was again sent out, and now with five ships, and 
Francis de la Tloqne as Governor of Canada. Rut strife ensuing, the 
attempt at colonization was abortive. This put an end to further 
attempts at settlement in this latitude for upwards of half a century. 
In 1598, the great Sully, under Henry lY. of France, dispatched 
the Marquis de la Roche, of Brittany, to take possession of Canada 
and other countries "not possessed liy any Christian Prince." The 
expedition, however, failed utterly, thougli the enterprise of private 
individuals in trading with the natives for rich furs had in the mean- 
time proved succes.sfnl. In 1603, Samuel Cham plain was sent out, 
who carefully explored the river St. Lawrence, and selected the site 
of Quebec as a proper location for a fort. At about the same time 
De Monts, a Huguenot of the King's honsehold, was granted a com- 
mission to assume tlie sovereignty of Acadie, from the fortieth to the 
forty-sixth degree of north latitude, which meant from the latitude 
of Delaware l.ay to the north pole, — a glorious empire if it could be 
held and peopled, i'ut the trouble with all the European sovereigns 
in drawing patents for slices of the New World, was that they did 
what was charged upon the greedy countryman when offered tobacco 
— bit off more than he could chew. The expedition of De Monts, 
consisting of four ships, sailed in 1604, and the right of trade proving 
lucrative, the monopoly was revoked. But Chaihplain continued his 
explorations, embracing the St. John's River, Bay of Fundy and 
Island of St. Croix. By the advice of Champlain. Quebec was 
founded in 160S by a company of merchants from Dieppe and St. 
^lolo. In the following year Champlain explored the lake which 



44 HISTOEY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

bears his name, and, that he might secnre the good will of the natives 
of Canada, he accompanied the Algonqnins on a hostile campaign 
against the Five Nations, or Iroquois. But this proved a fatal mis- 
take; for it provoked the implacable hatred against the French of 
that powerful Indian confederacy which held in an iron grasp what 
is now the States of New York and Pennsylvania. Thus, by an 
inscrutable Providence, was France again cut off' from taking that 
course of empire, which would doubtless have given that nation pre- 
ponderance upon this continent. Champlain was devoted to his re- 
ligion, regarding "the salvation of a soul of more consequence than 
the conquest of an empire." Flis chosen servants, the Franciscans, 
but later the Jesuits, assumed control of the missions to the Indians, 
and for a score of years threaded the mazes of the forest for new con- 
verts, pushing out along the great lakes by tlie northern shore, even 
to Huron, Michigan and Superior; but ia all their efforts to reclaim 
the Iroquois meeting with little success, and suffering, at the hands 
of these savages, whippings, and torments, and death. With the 
tribes of the north and west, even to tiie Chippewas, Pottawatamies, 
Sacs and Foxes, and Illinois, they had better fortune, and with them 
made alliances against the Iroquois. From the Sioux they learned 
that there was a great river to tlie south, and this they were seized 
with a desire to explore. 

In -the spring of 1673, Jaques Marquette and il. Joliet, with 
attendants, embarked in two bark canoes at Mackinaw, and passing- 
down the lake to Green Pay, entered the Fox Piver. Toilsomely 
ascending its cnri-ent to its head waters, they bore with difficulty 
their canoes across the ridge which divides the waters of tlie great 
lakes from tlie gulf, and having reached the sources of the Wisconsin 
River, launched their frail lioats upon its turbid waters, and ffoated 
onward upon the current, the stream studded with islands and the 
shores adorned with goodly trees and creeping vines, until, on the 
17th of June, with "inexpressible joy and thankfulness to God for 
his mercies," they entered the Mississippi. Marquette was fre- 
. quently warned by the natives not to expose himself to the dangers 
of the voyage, and to desist from the further prosecution of his jour- 
ney; but the reply of the pious priest was characteristic: " I do not 
fear death, and I would esteem it a liappiness to lose my life in tlie 
service of God." 

Passing, in turn the Des Moines, the Missouri, witli its turbid 
stream, the Ohio gently rolling, they proceeded as far south as the 
Arkansas. Here they were fiercely attacked by the natives. But 
Marquette boldly presented the pipe of peace, and called down the 
blessing of heaven upon liis enemies, in I'etnrn for which the old 
men received liim, and called off" their braves who were intent upon 
blood. But now the dangers seemed to thicken as they descended. 





-H-^^'. ^^-//4^ 



y 



iiisToitY (IK (;i:kkne county. 47 

Fearing tliat they might hazard all by proceeding further, and 
being now satisfied that the river ninst empty into the Gulf of Mex- 
ico, having made a complete map of the portion thus far explored, 
Marquette determined to return and report his great discoveries to 
Talon, the intendant of France. With incredible e.xeition they forced 
tlieir way against the cun-ent of the Mississippi, up the Illinois, 
across the portage, down the Fox by the same course that they had 
come, and reached Green Day in safety. Though filled with satis- 
faction at the importance of his discovery, and extravagant in praise 
of the country which he liad seen — '•such grounds, meadows, woods, 
stags, buffaloes, deer, wildcats, bustards, swans, ducks, paroquetts, 
and even beavers," as lie found on the Illinois Iliver being nowhere 
equalled; — yet he apparently felt a more serene and heartfelt satis- 
saction, in the fact that tlie natives had brought to him a dying infant 
to be baptized, which he did about a half an hour before it died, 
which he asserts God was thus pleased to save, tluxn in all the far 
reaching consequences of his expedition. On the IStliof May, 1675, 
as he was passing up Lake Michigan with his boatmen upon the 
eastern shore, he proposed to land and perforiu mass. With pious 
and devoted steps leaving his attendants in the boat, he ascended the 
iianks of a fast flowing stream to ]>erform the rite. Not returning 
as lie had indicated he would, his followers, recollecting that he had 
spoken of his death, went to seek him, and found liim indeed dead. 
lloUowing a grave for him in the. sand, they buried him on tlie very 
spot which his prayers had consecrated. 

In commenting upon the devotion and loyalty of these pious men 
— Marquette, and his associates. Ilildreth justly remarks, '"Now 
and then he would make a voyage to Quebec in a canoe, with two or 
three savages, paddle in hand, exhausted with rowing, his feet naked, 
his breviary hanging about his neck, his shirt unwashed, his cassock 
half torn from his lean body, but with a face full of content, charmed 
with the life he led, and inspiring by his air and his words a strong 
desire to join him in his mission. " And Charlevoix, in his annals, 
even more vividly describes the character of these devoted men. "A 
peculiar unction" he says, '' attached to this savage mission, giving 
it a preference over many others far more brilliant and more fruit- 
ful. The reason no doubt was, that nature, finding nothing there to 
gratify the senses or to flatter vanity — stumliling blocks too common 
even to the holiest — grace worked without obstacle. The Lord, who 
never allows himself to be outdone, communicates himself without 
measure to those who sacrifice themselves without reserve; who, dead 
to all, detached entirely from themselves and the world, possess their 
souls in unalterable ]ieace, perfectly established in that childlike 
s])iritiuility which .Fesus Ghrist has recommended to his (lisci])les, as 
that which outrht to bo the most marked trait of their character. 



48 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

* * * Such is the portrait of the missionaries of New France 
drawn by those who Icnew them best. 1 myself knew some of them 
in my youth, and I found them such as I have painted them, bend- 
ing under the labor of a long apostleship, with bodies exhausted by 
fatigues and broken with age, but still preserving all the vigor of the 
apostolic spirit." It should be added to this picture of the labors of 
the priests, that of all the heathen in any part of the world to whom 
the gospel has been sent, none were more difHcult to reach and in- 
doctrinate in its mild and gentle spirit, than the North American 
Indians. 

The report of the discovery of a great river to the west, draining 
boundless territory, and opening a highway to the gulf, aroused 
cupidity, and the desii'e to enlarge the dominion of France. Robert 
Cavalier de La Salle, who had already manifested remarkable enter- 
prise in his explorations along the shores of Ontario and Erie, and in 
his mercantile enterprises with the natives, was seized with the de- 
sire to follow the course of the Mississippi to its mouth. lietnrning 
to France he sought and obtained from Colbert authority to proceed 
with his explorations, and take possession of the country in the name 
of France. Returning to Fort Frontenac with the Chevalier Tonti, 
and a picked band, he ascended to the rapids of Niagara, passed 
around the falls with his equipment, built a vessel of sixty tons which 
he named the Grifiin, and began his voyage up the great lakes, now 
for the first time gladdened by so pretentious a craft, the forerunner 
of a commerce whose white wings has come to enliven all its ways. 

Arrived at Green Bay, he sent backhis craft forsupplies with which 
to prosecute his voyage down the great valley of the prince of streams. 
Caught in one of those storms which lurk in the secret places of 
these lakes, the little vessel was lost on its return voyage. Waiting 
in vain for tidings of his supplies he crossed over to the Illinois 
River, and in the vicinity of the present town of Peoria, he erected 
a fort, which, in consonance with his own disappointed spirit, he 
named Creve-ccjeur, the Broken Heart. Leaving Tonti and the Recol- 
lect, Hennepin, to prosecute the explorations of tlie valley, La Salle 
set out with only three followers to make his way back through the 
sombre forests which skirt the lakes, to Fort Frontenac at the mouth 
of Lake Ontario. In the meantime Hennepin explored the Illinois 
and the Mississippi to the Falls of St. Anthony, accounts of which 
on his return to France he published. Gathering fresh supplies and 
men, La Salle started again upon his arduous and perilous voyage; 
but upon his arrival at Fort Crevecceur, upon the Illinois, he found 
it deserted and his forces scattered, Tonti, whom he had left in 
charge, having been forced to flee. Not dismayed, again he returned 
to Frontenac, having fallen in witli Tonti at Macinaw. Again pro- 
vided with tlie necessary supplies, but now with ics.s cumbers<ime 



msTOKY OF GREENE COUNTY. V.) 

oiitlit. lie started again, after liaviiit; encountered discouragements 
that would have broken the s]iirit of a less resolute man, in August, 
1(381, and proceeded on his devious way. But now instead of the course 
which they had before j)ursued he moved up the Chicago River on 
sledges, and, having passed tiie portage, found Fort Crevecceur in 
good state of preservation. Having here constructed a barge of suf- 
ficient dimensions for his party he commenced his voyage down the 
Mississippi, and reached the Gulf without serious incident. Over- 
joyed at iinally having brought his projects to a successful consum- 
mation he took possession of the river, and all the vast territory 
which it drained, — large enough to constitute several empires like 
France, — with a formal pomj) and ceremony which was sufficient, if 
it were to depend on pomp and ceremony, to have insured the pos- 
session of the country in all time to come. They thoroughly ex- 
plored the channels which form the delta at the mouth of the stream, 
and having selected a place high and dry, and not liable to inunda- 
tion, which the}' found by the elevation of the north star to be 
in latitude twent3'-seven degrees north, they erected a column 
and a cross to which they atHxed a signal bearing this iiiscrip- 
tinn, "Louis le Grand, Uoi de France et de Navarre, regne, le 
neuvieme, Avril, 1682." Then chanting the Te Deum, Exandiat, 
and the Domine salvum fuc Uegem, and slu)Uting Vive le Roi to a 
salvo of arms. La Salle, in a loud voice, read his process verbal, as 
though all the nations of the world were listening: '■ In the name 
of the most high, mighty, invincible, and victorious prince, Louis the 
Great, by the grace of God Iving of France, and Navarre, l^'our- 
teenth of tlie name, this ninth day of April, 1082, I. in virtue of the 
commission of his majesty, which I hold in my hand, and which may 
be seen by all whom it may concern, have taken, and now do take, 
in the name of his majesty and of liis successors to the crown, pos- 
session of this country of Louisiana." And here follows a descrip- 
tion of the rivers, and countries drained by them, which he claims; 
and that all this is by the free consent of the natives who inhabit 
these lands, a statement which would probably have been difficult of 
verification, and in his verbal jirocess he inserts the name Colbert, 
the king's minister, in place of Mississippi, lie claims besides that 
they are the first Europeans who have ascended or descended the 
stream, on the authority of the peoples who dwell there, a statement 
which would also be uncertain of vei'ification, and thus ends his pro- 
cess, "hereby protesting against all those who may hereafter under- 
take to invade any or all of these countries, people or lands above 
described to the prejudice of the riglit of his majesty, acquired by 
the con.sent of the nations herein named. Of which, and of all tliat 
can bo needed, 1 hereby take to witness those who hear me. and de- 
mand an act of the notary, as re(juired bylaw." In addition to tiiis. 



50 HISTORY OF GKEENE COUNTY. 

he caused to be buried at the foot of the cross a leaden plate with 
this inscription in Latin: " Ludovicns, magnus Reget. Nono 
Aprilis MDCLXXXII. llobertns Cavellier, cum Domino de Tonty 
Legato R. P. Zenobi Menibre, Recollecto, et viginti Gallis primus 
hoc flumen, inde ab Ilineorum Pago, Enavigavit, ejusque ostium 
fecit pervivum, nono Aprilis, Anni MDCLXXXIL" 

By the terms of the law, recognized by all civilized nations, the 
nation whose subjects were the discoverers of the mouth of a river, 
could rightfully lay claim to ail the territory drained by that river, 
and all its tributaries even to their i-emotest limits. Had this claim 
been successfully vindicated, Louis-iana would have been bounded 
by the Alleglianj' Mountains on the east, the Rocky Mountains on 
the west, and would have embraced the bulk of the territory now the 
United States, and thus Pennsylvania would have been despoiled of 
a large proportion of its proud domain, and Greene County been a 
vicinage of France. Rut the claim of La Salle was not well founded, 
he not having been the original discoverer. For de Soto, a hundred 
and forty years before, had discovered the river, and, through his 
followers, had traced it to its mouth, and had taken possession of the 
river in the name of the King of Spain, with even greater pomp and 
ceremony than La Salle, setting up the cross and performing 
religious rites which the well known painting i-epeated on the 
greenbacks of our national currency has commemorated. Had the 
claim of Spain been maintained by force, and followed hj settlement, 
the people of Greene County would to-day be under the dominion of 
Spain, or of a Spanish speaking people. But if, by the failure of 
Spain, the French had been successful in establishing their claims, 
then the Bourbon lilies vvoiild have succeeded to power here, and 
French would have been the language. As we shall soon see, the 
chances by which it escaped that sway, were, for a time, quite evenly 
balanced between the French and the English. 

La Salle returned to France with great expectations of empire 
for his country. "With a fleet of thirty vessels, and people for a large 
colony, he set sail for the new possessions, four of which under his 
immediate command steered direct for the Gulf of Mexico, with the 
intention of entering the mouth of the Mississippi River; l)ut he 
failed to find the entrance, and, after suffering untold hardships and 
privations on the coast of Texas by shipwreck, dissension among his 
followers, and the tireless hostility of the savages, his expedition 
came to an ignoble end, he himself fortunate in escaping with his 
life. May we not believe that Providence had other designs for tiiis 
continent? 

The third, and last of the European nations to engage in active 
colonization on the North American coast, was England. Vnv, 
though Holland, Denmark, and other European nations sent out col- 



]iistoi;y ok (;i:kknk coitntv. 51 

onies, tliey all liecaiiii' subject, tu the English. Henry ^'I1., who liad 
turned a deaf ear to the appeals of ("ohimlms, saw witli envy what 
he tiioiight were great advantages being secured to neighboring 
uatioiis through the discoveries of the great navigator. lie accord- 
ingly lent a ready ear to the Cabots, of Bristol, his cliief port. As 
early as 141)7 they set out to share in New World enterprise, and in 
their voyages explored the coast from Labrador to the ('arolinas, and 
subsecpiently South America, giving name to the great river of tlie 
south, Rio de la Plata. Forbisher followed, and Sir Humphrey Gilbert, 
liaif-lirother of Sir Walter lialeigh, who aided Gilbert with his for- 
tune and iii.s powerful influence at Court, but perished by shipwreck 
without effecting a foothold upon the virgin soil. Under the patron- 
age of Haleigh, Amidas and Harlow in 1584 were sent, wdio made a 
lodgment on the shores of the Carolinas; but instead of observing 
seed-time and harvest, they wasted their energies in the vain search 
for gold, which they probably lioped to pick up in great nuggets, 
and their attempt at settlement came to naught. Not discouraged 
Jialeigh titted out another expedition under Sir Uichard Grenville, 
and exhausted his great fortune in the enterprise. A lodgment was 
made at Koanoke, but tlie colony planted held a sickly existence for 
a short time, when, after incurring vast expense, it was forever 
abandoned. Hendrick Hudson, under the patronage of London 
merchants, and subse(juently of the Dutch, made voyages of dis- 
covery, and in 1609 entered Delaware Bay, and made a landing on 
the soil of what is I'ennsylvania, entered New York I'a}', and 
ascended the Hudson River, to which he gave his name, and took 
possession of all this country in the name of the l)utcli, in whose 
employ he was then sailing. As yet nothing pernuiiient by way 
of settlement had been acheived. 

But the English having explored most of the coast from Halifax 
in Nova Scotia, to Cape Fear in North Carolina, laid claim to all 
this stretch of the coast, and indeiinitely westward. In the reign of 
the feeble and timid .James L, this immense country was divided into 
two parts, the one extending from New York Bay to Canada, known 
as Nortli Virginia, which was granted for settlement to the Ply- 
mouth Company organized in tlie west of England, and the other 
reaching from the mouth of the Potomac southward to Cape Fear, 
was called South Virginia, and was bestowed upon the London 
Company composed of residents of that city. It will thus be seen 
that a belt of some two hundred miles was left between the two grants 
so that they should have no liability to encroach upon each others 
settlements. The language of these grants by James was remarkable 
for every qnality of style but clearness and perspicuity. The London 
Company were to be limited between thirty-fourth and forty-first de- 
grees of north latitude, and the Plymouth Company between the 



53 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

thirty-eighth and forty-fifth degrees. It will thus be seeu that the 
two grnnts overlap each other Ijy three degrees; bnt as neither com- 
pany was to begin settlements within a liundred miles of the terri- 
tory of the other, it practically left the limits as given above. 
Previous to the active operations inaugurated by these companies, 
frequent attempts had been made by the English at colonization; but 
hitherto, beyond a few fishing stations, and the fort which the Span- 
ish continued to maintain at St. Augustine, no foothold had been 
gained by them along the whole stretch of the Atlantic, now occupied 
by the States of the Union. The London Company, in 1607, sent 
one hundred and five colonists in three small ships under command 
of Christopher Newport, to make a settlement in South Virginia. 
Among the number was Bartholomew Gosnold, who was the real 
organizer of the company, and tlie renowned Captain John Smith, by 
tar the ablest. They entered Chesapeake Bay, giving the names 
Charles and Henry, the names of King James' two sons, to the op- 
posite capes at the entrance, and having moved np the James River, 
they selected a spot upon its baid<s for a capital of the future empire, 
which in honor of the king, they called Jamestown. The seat here 
chosen became the seed of a new nation. The encounter with the 
powerful war chief Powhatan, and the romantic story of his gentle 
and lovely daughter Pocahontas, will ever lend a charm to the early- 
history of Virginia. 

The Plymouth Company having made fruitless attempts to get a 
foothold upon their territory, applied to the king for a new and more 
definite charter. Forty of "tlie wealthiest and most powerful men in 
the realm " associated themselves together under the name of the 
Council of Plymouth, which superceded the original Plymouth Com- 
pany, and to them James granted a new charter embracing all tlie 
territory lying between the fortieth and the forty-eighth degrees of 
north latitude and stretching away to the Pacific — a boundless grant, 
little comprehended by the king and his ministers, they believing 
that the South Sea, as tlie Pacific was designated, which had been seen 
by Balboa from a high mountain upon the isthmus, was close at hand. 
In 1620, a band of English J-'uritans, who had been persecuted and 
harried for non-conformity to the English church, having escaped to 
Holland, and there heard flattering accounts of the New World, 
conceived the idea of setting up in the new country a home for 
freedom. Having obtained from the new Council of Plymouth 
authority to make a settlement upon their grant, and having received 
assurance that their non-contbrmity would be winked at, a company 
of forty-one men with their families, one hundred and one in all, 
" the winnowed remnants of the Pilgrims," embarked in the May- 
flower, and after a perilous voyage of sixty-three days, landed on the 
shores of Massachusetts, at Plymouth Rock, and made a settlement 



HISTGKY OF GREKNE COUNTY. 53 

wliii'li they failed New Plyinoutli. Ueloi'e leaving the sliii) they 
drew lip, and the whole coloiij- signed, a t'orni of government, and 
elected .John Carver governor. Tlie elder IJrewsterhad accompanied 
them as their spiritual guide, and here in a inid-wiiiter of almost 
arctic fierceness, they suffered and endured; but sang the songs of 
freedom. By spring the governor and his wife and forty-one of their 
numher were in their graves; l)ut not dismayed they observed seed- 
time, and gathered in harvest; other pilgrims joined them; it became 
the seed of a state. 

In the meantime, the Dutch had planted upon the Hudson and 
tlie Delaware by virtue of the discoveries of Hudson in 1609. And 
now in succession followed the planting of Maryland in 1634-5, 
Connecticut in 1632, Khode Island in 1636, New Ilampsliire in 
1631, Pennsylvania in 1682, the Carolinas in 1680, and Georgia in 
1733. 

But has it ever occurred to the reader when unfolding the 
charters conveying unlimited possession of vast sketches of the new 
found continent, by the great sovereigns of Europe, to ask by what 
right or by what legal authority they assumed to apportion out, and 
give away, and set up bounds in this land? Here was a people in 
possession of this country whose right to the soil could not be 
questioned. True, it was not so densely peopled as the continent of 
Europe; but the population was quite generally distributed, and they 
were organized into tribes and confederacies, and were in actual pos- 
session — a claim fortilied by long occupancy. The European sover- 
eigns were careful to insert in their charters, " not heretofore occupied 
by any Christian prince." But the Indians believed in a Great 
Spirit whom they worshipped. 

The answer to this question, whether satisfactory or not, has 
been, that the civilized nations of Europe, on crossing the ocean, 
found here a vast country of untold resources lying untouched and 
unstirred, the Indians subsisting almost exclusively by hunting and 
fishing, the few spots used for cultivation lieing small in proportion 
to the whole and consequently their right to the soil as being un- 
worthy of consideration. They found a people grossly ignorant, 
superstitious, idle, exhibiting the fiercest and most inhuman passions 
that vex the human breast, their greatest enjoyment, their supreme 
delight being the infiiction upon their victims such refinements of 
torment, and perpetrations of savagei'y, as makes the heart sick to 
contemplate. Europeans have, therefore, held that they were justified 
in entering upon this practically unused soil, and dispossessing this 
scattered barbaric people. 

Mr. Justice Story, in his familiar exposition of the constitution, 
in commenting upon this siibject says: " As to countries in the 
possession of native inhabitants and tribes, at the time of the 



54: HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

discovery, it seems diliicult to perceive what ground of right an}' 
discovery could confer. It would seem strange to us, if, in tlie 
present tiiiies, the natives of tiie south sea islands, or of Cochin 
China, should, by making voyages to, and discovery of, the United 
States, on that account, set up a right to the soil within our bounda- 
ries. The truth is, that the European nations paid not the slightest 
regard to the rights of the native tribes. They treated them as mere 
barbarians and heathens, whom, if they were not at liberty to extir- 
pate, they were entitled to deem mere temporary occupants of the 
soil. They might convert them to Christianity; and, if they refused 
conversion, they might drive them from the soil as unwortliy to inhabit 
it. They affected to be governed by the desire to promote the cause 
of Christianity, and were aided in this ostensible object by the whole 
influence of the papal power. But their real object was to extend 
their own power and increase their own wealth, by acquiring the 
treasures, as well as the territory of the new world. Avarice and 
ambition were at the bottom of all their original enterprises." 

This may be a just view of the moral and primary estimate of the 
case, yet the Supreme Court of the United States passed upon the 
question. Chief Justice Marshall delivering the opinion, holding that 
" the Indian title to the soil is not of such a character or validity as 
to interfere with the possession in fee, and disposal of the land as the 
State may see tit." In point of fact, every European nation, has, by 
its conduct, shown, that it had a perfect right to seize and occupy any 
part of the continent, and as much as it could by any possibility get 
its hands upon, could with perfect impunity' steal and sell into slav- 
ery the natives, drive them out from their huntin<)f grounds, burn 
and destroy their wigwams and scanty crops on the slightest pretext, 
and inflict upon them every species of injury which caprice or lust 
suggested. It is no wonder, therefore, that the Indians felt aggrieved, 
and that tlicir savage instincts were whetted for their fell work of 
blood, and many of the massacres which were perpetrated within the 
limits of Greene County, which will form the subject of a future 
chapter, may be traced to a bitterness thus engendered. Generations 
of ill usage could be scarcely expected to bear other fruitage. 




Mlm^J^u^d^UY 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 57 



CHAPTER IV. 



The Dutch and Swkdes ufun the Delaware — The English Supj;k- 

CEDE THEM 1n 1677 CaME THE EnGUSH QuAKEKS WiLLIAM 

Penn Interested in IVew Jersey — Admiral Penn — The Uncer- 
tain Bounds — King Charles II. Grants Penn a Liberal 
Domain — Charter of Pennsylvania — Ltiseral Terms — Spell- 
ing — Penn had ilEDiTATEo OF A Fkee Comjionweath — Re- 
ceives HIS (trant in an Humble Spirit — Bitter Experiences 
IN THE Life of Penn — Disinherited — Father Relents on his 
Death-bed — Urges his Son Not to Wrong his Conscience — 
Seeks a Deed of Quit-claim from James, and Buys the Lower 
Counties — Perplexed in Devising a Form of Government — 
Secures Freedom to the Subject — Published Abroad — Letter 
Showing Abundance of Products — Penn Warns All to Con- 
sider Well before Embarking the Pkivations they Must 
Endure — Tender of Rights of the Natives — Sends a Notice 

TO THEM of his PURPOSES — AlL AlIKE AnSWEKABLE TO GoD 

Will Take no Land Except by Their Consent — Might have 
Become Citizens — Four Hundred Years of Intercourse has 
not Changed Their Nature — Snow no Lkvitv ix Their Pres- 
ence — "They Love Not to be Smiled On." 

rpiIE Colony of Peuusylvaiiia was later in being permanently 
_L settled than most of the others upon the sea-board. It is true 
that the Dutch, who originally settled New York, had effected a 
lodgment upon the Delaware, and maintained a fort there for 
trading purposes, soon after its discovery by Hudson, in 1(')09, the 
Dutch claiming all the territory which the Delaware and the Hudson 
drain b}' reason of Hudson's discoveries. Dutch colonies increased 
upon the Delaware, and made settlements on both sides of the river, 
and Dutch governors were sent to rule there with justices of the 
peace, constables, and all the apjiurtenances of civil government. 
In 1638 came the Swedes, the representatives of the great monarch, 
Gustavus Adolphus, and for several years there was divided authority 
upon the Delaware, the Dutch and the Swedes contending for the 
mastery. In 1664, upon the accession of Charles II. to the English 
throne, came the English with a patent from the King covering all 
the territory between the Connecticut and the Delaware Rivers, or in 
short, all the territory occupied by the Dutch. Seeing themselves 



58 HISTOKY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

likely to be overcome by force, the JJutch quietly surrendered, and 
the colony upon the Delaware passed under iMiglish rule. The list 
uf taxables between the ages of sixteeu .lud sixty, made in the year 
1677, in the colony upon the Delaware, contained 443 names, which 
gives a population of 3,101. In this same year came three ship-loads 
of emigrants, for the most part English Quakers, who settled on 
eitlier side of the Delaware, but the greater part in West Jersey. 
Some of this religious sect had preceded them, and in 1672 George 
Fox, the founder, had traveled through the Delaware country, "ford- 
ing streams in his course, camping out at night, and visiting and 
counseling with his followers on the way." In 1664 Lord Berkeley 
and Sir George Carteret received from tiie Duke of York a grant of 
territory between the Delawai-e and the ocean, including the entire 
southern portion of New Jersey. After ten years of troublesome 
attempts to settle their country, with little profit or satisfaction, 
Berkeley and Carteret sold New Jersey for a thousand pounds to John 
Fenwick, in trust for Edward Byllinge, both Quakers. - But the 
affairs of Byllinge were in confusion, and upon making an assignment, 
Gawin Lawrie, William Penn and Nicholas Lucas, became his 
assignees. Upon settlement of his affairs Byllinge cajne into pos- 
session of West New Jersey, as his share of the province. In the 
discharge of his duty as trustee for Byllinge, William Penn, who was 
himself a convert to the doctrines of Fox, became greatly interested 
in the colonization of the Quakers ni the New World, they having 
suffered grievous persecution for religious opinions' sake. In his 
devotion to their interests he had spent much time and labor in 
drawing up a body of laws for the government of the colony, devised 
in a spirit of unexampled liberality and freedom for the colonist. 

We, who are accustomed to entire freedom in our modes of woi'- 
ship, can have little idea of the bitterness, and deadly animosity of 
the persecutions for religious opinion's sake, which prevailed in the 
reigns of bloody Marjf and her successors. Even as late as the acces- 
sion of James II. to the English throne, over fourteen hundred 
Quakers, the most learned and intelligent of that faith, mild and 
inoffensive, were languishing in the prisons of England, for no other 
crime than a sincere attempt to follow in the footsteps of their 
Divine Master, for Theeing and Thouing as they conceived He had 
done. To escape this hated and hai-assing persecution first turned 
the mind of Penn to the New World. 

Penn had reason to expect favor at the hands of James II. His 
father, who was a true born Englishman, was an eminent admiral in 
the British navy, and had won great lionor upon the seas for his 
counti'y's Hag. He had commanded the expedition which was sent 
to the West Indies by Cromwell, and had reduced the island of 
Jamaica to English rule. When James, then Duke of York, made 



HI.STOKY OK UKKKXK COITNTY. 59 

liis expedition against tlie Dutch, Admiral Peun couiniauded the 
tieet wliicli descended upon the Dutcli coast, and gained a great 
naval victory o\er the combined forces led by Van Opdam. For his 
gallantry in this canifjaign " he was knighted, and became a favorite 
at court, the King, and his brother the Duke, holding him in cherished 
remembrance." It was natural, therefore, that tiie son should seek 
favors at court for his distressed religious associates. Upon the death 
of Admiral Penn, the {British government was indebted to him in the 
sum of sixteen thousand pounds, a part of it mcniey actually advanced 
by the Admiral in fitting out the fleet which had gained the great 
victor}'. In lieu of this sum of money, which in those days was 
looked upon as a great fortune, the son, William, proposed to the 
King, Charles II., who had now come to the English throne, that lie 
should grant him a province in America, " a tract of land in America, 
lying north of Maryland, bounded east by the Delaware Ri\fer, on 
the west limited as ilaryland, and northward to extend as far as 
plantable." These expressions, " as far as plantable," or, " as far up 
and northward as convenient," and the like, were favorite forms of 
expression, in cases where the country had been unexplored and no 
maps existed for the guidance of the royal secretaries, and were the 
cause of much uncertainty in interpreting the royal patents, ami of long 
and wasting controversies over the just boundaries of the colonies, 
and were really the cause which made it possible for this County of 
Greene to have been subject to Virginia, or Maryland, or even to 
Massachusetts, or Connecticut. 

King Charles, who liad trouble enough in meeting the ordinary 
expenses of his throne witiiont providing for an old score, lent a 
ready ear to the application of the son, and the idea of paying off a 
just debt, with a slice of that country which had cost him nothing, 
induced him to be liberal, and he gave I'enn more than he had asked 
for. Already there were conflicting claims. The Duke of York 
held the grant of the three counties of Delaware, and Lord Baltimore 
held a patent, the northern limit of which was left indefinite. The 
King himself manifested unusual solicitude in pei'fecting the title to 
his grant, and in many ways showed that he had at heart great 
friendship for Penn. All conflicting claims were patiently heard by 
the Lords, and that the best legal and judicial light upon the subject 
might be had the Attorney General Jones and Chief Justice North 
were called in. Finally, after careful deliberation, the Great Cliarter 
of Pennsylvania, conveying territory ample for an empire, holding 
unexampled resources upon its surface, and within its bosom, glad- 
dened on every hand by lordly streams, and so diversified in surface 
as to present a scene of matchless beauty, was conveyed to Penn in 
these liberal, almost loving words: "Charles II., by the grace of 



60 History of greene county. 

God, King of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, defender of tlie 
faith, etc., To all to whom these presents shall come greeting." 

" Whereas our triistie and well beloved subject, William Fenn, 
Esquire, sonn and heire of Sir William Penu, deceased, out of a 
commendable desire to enlarge our English Empii-e, and promote 
such usefuU commodities as may bee of benetitt to us and our do- 
minions, as alsoe to reduce the Savage Natives by gentle and just 
manners to the love of civill Societie and Christian Eeligion hath 
humbley besought leave of us to transport an ample colonie unto a 
certain countrey hereinafter described in the partes of America not 
3'et cultivated and planted. And hath likewise humbley besought 
our Eoyall majestie to give, grant and coniirme all the said countrey 
with certaine priviledges and jurisdiccous requisite for the good 
Government and saftie of the said Countrey and Colonie, to him and 
his heires forever. Know yee, therefore, that wee, favoring the peti- 
tion and good purpose of tlie said William Penn, and having regard 
to the memorie and meritts of his late father, in divers services, and 
particulerly to his conduct, courage and discretion under our dearest 
brother, James, Duke of Yorke, in the signall battell and victorie, 
fought and obteyned againste the Dutch fleete, commanded by Heer 
Van Opdam, in the year one thousand six hundred sixty-live, in con- 
sideration thereof of our special grace, certain knowledge and meere 
motion. Have given and granted, and by this our present Charter, 
for us, our heires and successors, Doe give and grant unto the said 
William Pen, his heires and assigns, all that tract or parte of laud in 
America, with all the islands therein conteyned, as the same is 
bounded on the East by Delaware River, from twelve miles distance, 
Northwarde of New Castle Towne unto the three and fortieth degree 
of Northern latitude, if the said Eiver doth extend so far Northwards; 
But if the said River shall not extend soe farre Northward, then by 
the said River soe farr as it doth extend, and from the head of the 
said River the Easterne bounds are to bee determined by a meridian 
line, to bee drawn from the head of the said River unto the said 
three and fortieth degree, the said lands to extend Westwards five 
degrees in longitude, to bee computed fi-om the said Easterne Bounds, 
and the said lands to be bounded on the North by the beginning of 
the three and fortieth degree of Northern hititude, and on the South 
by a circle drawn at twelve miles, distance from New Castle North- 
wards, and Westwards unto the beiginning of the fortieth degree of 
Northernc Latitude, and then by a straight line Westwards to the 
limit of Longitude above menconed. 

" Wee doe also give and grant unto the said William Penn, his 
heires and assignes, the free and undisturbed use, and continuance 
in and passage into and out of all and singular. Ports, harbours, 
Bayes, waters, rivers, Isles and Inletts, belonging unto, or leading to 



rtlSTOKV OF OKEENK COUNTY. 61 

and from the Country, or Islands af6resaid; and all the sojle, lands, 
lieldd, woods, underwoods, inountaines, hills, fenns. Isles, Lakes, 
Jiivers, waters, rivuletts, Eajs and Inletts, scituate or heing within or 
belong-ing unto the Liniitts and bounds aforesaid, together with the 
fishing of all sortes of fish, whales, sturgeons, and all Royall and 
other fishes in the sea, l)ayes, Inletts, waters, or Rivers within the 
premises, and the fish therein taken, and alsoe all veines, mines and 
quarries, as well discovered as not discovered, of Gold, Silver, 
(iemms and pretious Stones, and all other whatsoever stones, 
metals, or of any other thing or matter whatsoever found or to be 
found within the Countrey, Isles or Liniitts aforesaid; and him the 
said William Penn, his heires and assignes, Wee doe, by this our 
Royall Charter, for us, our heires and successors, make, create and 
constitute the true and absolute proprietaries of the Countrey afore- 
said, and of all other, the premises, saving always to us, our lieires 
and successors, the faith and allegiance of the said William Penn, 
his heires and assignes, and of all other, the proprietaries, tenants 
and Inhabitants that are, or shall be within the territories and pre- 
cincts aforesaid; and saving also unto us, our heirs and Successors, 
the Sovreignity of the aforesaid Countre}', To Have, hold and pos- 
sesse and enjoy the said tract of Land, Countrey, Isles, Inletts and 
and other the premises, unto the said AVilliam Penn, his heires and 
assignes, to the only proper use and behoofe of the said AVilliam 
Penn, his heires and assignes forever." 

Such is the introduction and deed of conveyance of the great 
charter by which Penn came into possession of that royal domain, 
Pennsylvania. But as it was to be in the nature of a sale, to make 
this deed of transfer binding according to the forms of law, there 
must be a consideration, the payment of which could be acknowledged 
or enforced, and the King, in a juerry mood, exacted the payment thus, 
"yielding and paying therefor to us, our heires and successors, two 
Beaver Skins to bee delivered att our said Castle of AVindsor, on the 
first day of January, in everey yeare." The King also added a fifth 
of all gold and and silver which might be found. But as that was 
an uncertain thing, and as in point of fact none ever was discovered, 
the sale of this great State was made, so far as this instrument shows, 
for two beaver skins, to be annually paid to the King. And as a 
sequence to this condition the King says, " of our further grace cer- 
tain knowledge and nieer mocon have thought fitt to Erect the 
aforesaid Country Islands, into a province and Seigniorie, and do call 
itt Pensilvania, and soe from henceforth wee will have itt called, and 
forasmuch as wee have hereby made and ordeyned the aforesaid 
AVilliam Penn, his heirs and assignee, tlic true and absolute Proprie- 
taries of all the lands and Dominions aforesaid." 

Penn had proposed that liis province be called Kew AVales, but 



62 HISTORY OF GREENE COUWTT. 

the King objected to this. Peun then proposed Sylvania, as the 
country was reputed to be overshadowed by goodly forests. To this 
the King assented provided the prefix Penn should be attached. 
Penn vigorously opposed .this as savoring of his personal vanity. 
But the King was inflexible, claiming this as an opportunity to 
honor his great father's name, and accordingly, when the charter was 
drawn, that name was inserted. Following the provisions quoted 
above are twenty-three sections providing for the government and 
internal regulation of the proposed colony, and adjusting with great 
particiilarity and much tedious circumlocution, the relations of the 
colony to the home government. It is not on this account thought 
best to quote the entire matter of the charter here, but any who may 
be curious to consult the document in its entirety will find the orig- 
inal, engrossed on parchment with an illuminated border, in the 
executive office at Hai-risburg, and a true copy printed in the first 
volume of the Colonial Records, page seventeen. If anything is 
wanting to show the heartfelt consideration of the King for Penn, it 
is found in the twenty-third and last section, " And if, perchance, it 
should happen hereafter, any doubts or questions should arise con- 
cerning the true sense and meaning of any word, clanse, or sentence, 
contained in this our present charter. We will ordaine, and command, 
that aft all times and in all things such interpretacon be made thereof 
and allowed in any of onr Courts whatsoevei-, as shall be adjudged 
most advantageous and favorable unto the said William Penn, his 
heires and assignes." 

It will be noticed that the spelling of the royal secretary seems 
peculiar at this day, and that the capital letters and the alphabet 
generally are used with a freedom and originality which would have 
taxed the utmost stretch of ingenuity of so acknowledged an expert 
as Artemus Ward himself; but in the matter of composition it fol- 
lowed the legal forms prevalent in the courts of England of that day, 
and was drawn with a particularity and minuteness of detail scarcely 
paralleled in similar documents, apparently with a sincere desire to 
make the pi-ovisions so clear that there should be no chance for future 
dispute or misunderstanding, and the authority given to Penn as the 
proprietary was almost unlimited. In the matter of the boundaries 
the terms wei'o such that there could be no possibility of mistake, 
the boundary lines being fixed by actual measurement and mathe- 
matical calculation, or by the observation of the heavenly bodies. 
The Delaware river formed its eastern limits, and all the others were 
lines of longitude and latitude. In this respect this portion of the 
charter was drawn with less equivocal terms than ati}^ other similar 
document. And yet the authorities of Pennsylvania had more 
difficulty in establishing its claims — for reasons wl]ic'li ^yill jiereafter 
be explained^ — than all the others together. 



IIISTOKY OF GREENE COUNTY. 63 

It was a joyful day for Peiiii when be received, at the hands of 
tlie King, tlie great charter, drawn with such liberality, conferring 
almost unlimited power, and with so many marks of the kindness of 
lieart and personal favor of his sovereign. He had long meditated 
of a free commonwealth where it should be the study of the law- 
giver to form his codes with an eye to the greatest good and happi- 
ness of his subjects, and where the supreme delight of the subject 
would be to render implicit obedience to its requirements. Plato's 
dream of an ideal republic, a land of just laws and happy men, >' the 
dream of that city where all goodness should dwell, whetlier such has 
e\ei- existed in the infinity of days gone by, or even now exists in 
the gardens of the Ilesperides far from our sight and knowledge, or 
will perchance hereafter, which, though it be not on earth, n)ust have 
a pattern of it laid up in heaven," — such a dream was ever in the 
mind of Penn. The thought that he now had in a new country an 
almost unlimited stretch of land, where he could go and set up his 
republic, and form and govern it to his own sweet will, and in con- 
formity to liis cherished ideal, thrilled his soul and filled him with 
unspeakable delight. But he was not pufted up with vain glory. 
To his friend Turner he writes: "My true love in the Lord salutes 
thee, and dear friends that love the Lord's precious truth in those 
parts. Thine epistle I have, and, for my business here, know that 
after man}' waitings, watchings, solicitings and disputes in council, 
this day my conntry was confirmed to me under the great seal of 
England, with large powers and ]>rivileges. by the name of Pennsyl- 
vania, a name the king would give it in honor of my father. - * * 
Thou mayest communicate my grant to Friends, and expect shortly 
my proposals. It is a clear and just tiling, and my God, that has 
given it me through many difficulties, will, I believe, bless and make 
it the seed of a nation." And may we not cherish the belief that 
the many and signal blessings which have come to this common- 
wealth in succeeding years, have come through the devout and pious 
spirit of the founder.' 

He had seen the companions of his religions faith sorely treated 
throughout all England, and for them he now saw the prospect of a 
release from their trilnilations. Penn himself had come up through 
l)itter persecution and scorn on account of his religion. At the age 
of fifteen he entered Oxford University, and for the reason that lie 
and some of his fellow-students practiced the faith of the Friends, 
they were admonished and finally expelled. Peturning to his home 
in Ireland, where his father had large estates, his serious deportment 
gave great oflFence, the father fearing that his advancement at court 
would thereby be marred. Thinking to break the spirit of the son, 
the boy was whipped, and finally expelled from the family home. 
At Cork, where he was employed in the service of the Lord Lieu, 



64 mSTORY OF GREENE COTJISrTY. 

tenant, he, in company with others, was apprehended at a religious 
meeting of Friends, and cast into prison. While thns incarcerated 
he wrote to the Lord President of Munster, pleading for liberty of 
conscience. On being liberated he became more devoted than before, 
and so impressed was he with a sense of religious duty that he be- 
came a minister of the gospel. Keligious controversy at this time 
was sharp, and a pamphlet, which he wrote, gave so much offense to 
the Bishop of London that Penn was thrown into the Tower, where he 
languished for eight and a half months. But he was not idle, and 
one of the boohs which he wrote during his imprisonment, — " No 
Cross, No Crown," — attained a wide circulation, and is still read 
with satisfaction by the faithful in all lands. Fearing that liis 
motives might be misconceived, he made this distinct statement of 
his belief, " Let all know this, that I pretend to know no other name 
l)y which remission, atonement and salvation can be obtained but 
Jesus Christ, the Savior, who is the power and wisdom of God." 
Upon his release he continued to preach and exhort, was arrested 
with his associate Mead, and was tried at the Old Bailey. Penn 
plead his own cause with great boldness and power, and was acquitted ; 
but the court imposed a fine for contempt in wearing his hat, and, 
for non-payment, was cast into Newgate with common felons. At 
this time, 1670, the father, feeling his end approaching, sent money 
privately to pay the fine, and summoned the son to his bedside. 
The meeting was deeply affecting. The father's heart was softened 
and completely broken, and, as would seem from his words, had be- 
come converted to the doctrines of the son, for he said to him with 
his parting breath, " Son William, I am weary of the world! 1 
would not live over again my days, if I could command it with a 
wisli; foi' the snares of life are greater than the fears of death. This 
troubles me, that I have offended a gracious CTod. The thought of 
that has followed me to this day. Oh ! have a care of sin ! It is 
that which is the sting both of life and death. Let nothing in this 
world tempt to wrong yonr conscience; so you will keep peace at 
home, which will be a feast to you in the day of trouble." Before 
his death he sent a friend to the Duke of York with a dying request, 
that the Duke would endeavor to protect his son from persecution, 
and use his influence with the King to the same end. 

Tiie King liad previously given James, Duke of York, a charter 
for Long Island, with an indefinite western boundary, and, lest this 
might at some future day compromise his right to some portion of 
his territor}', Penn induced the Duke to execute a deed for the same 
territory covered by the royal charter, and substantially in the same 
words used in describing its limits. But he was still not satisfied to 
have the shores of the only navigable river communicating with 
the ocean under the dominion of others, who might m time become 




4^^^^ 0/ f^.tA/LAj 



HISTORY OK GREENE COUNTY. G7 

liostile and interfere witli tlie free navigation of the .stream. He 
accordingly induced the Duke to make a grant to him of ^e\v Castle 
and New Castle County, and on the same day a grant of the territory 
stretching onward to the sea, covering the two counties of Kent and 
Sussex, the two grants together embracing what were designated the 
territories, or the three lower counties, wliat in after years becaine 
the State of Delaware; but by whicli acts became and long remained 
component ])arts of Pennsylvania. No such colony as Delaware ever 
existed. This gave Penn a considerable population, as in these three 
counties tlie Dutch and Swedes since 1609 had been settling. 

Penn was now ready to settle his own colony and try his schemes 
of governmejit. Lest there might l)e a misapprehension respecting 
his purpose in obtaining his charter, and unwoi'tliy persons with un- 
worthy' motives might be induced to emigrate, he declares repeatedly 
his own sentiments: "For my country I e^'ed the Lord in obtaining 
it; and more was I drawn inwards to look to Him, and to owe to His 
liand and power than to any other way. I have so obtained and 
desire to keep it, that I may not be unworthy of His love, but do 
tliat which may answer His kind providence and people." 

In choosing a form of government he was much perplexed. He 
had thought the government of England all wrong, when it bore so 
heavily upon him and his friends, and he, doubtless, thought in his 
earlier years, that he could order one in righteousness; but when it 
was given him to draw a form that should regulate the atiairs of tlie 
future state, he hesitated. " For particular frames and models, it 
will become me to say little. 'Tis true, men seem to agree in the 
end, to wit, happiness; but in the means, they differ, as to divine, so 
to this human felicity; and the cause is much the same, not always 
want of light and knowledge, but want of using them rightly. Men 
side with their passions against their reason, and their sinister in- 
terests have so strong a bias upon their minds that they lean to them 
against the things they know. I do not find a model in the world, 
that time, place, and some singular emergencies ha,ve not necessarily 
altered; nor is it easy to frame a civil government that shall serve 
all places alike. I know what is said of the several admirers of 
Monarchy, Aristocracy, and Democracy, wdiich are the rule of one, of 
a few, and of many, and ai'e the three common ideas of government, 
when men discourse on that subject. But I propose to solve the 
controversy with this small distinction, and it belongs to all three; 
any government is free to the people under it, whatever be the 
frame, where the laws rule, and the people are a party to those laws, 
and more than this is tyranny, oligarchy, and confusion." 

" Put when all is said, there is hardly one frame of government in 
the world so ill-designed by its first founders, that in good hands 
would not do well enough; and story tells us, the best in ill ones can 



68 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

do nothing that is great and good; witness the Jewish and the 
Roman states. Governments, lilve clocks, go from the motion men 
give tlieni, and as governments are made and moved bj men, so by 
them are they mined too. Wherefore governments rather depend 
upon men, than men upon governments. Let men be good, and the 
government cannot be bad, if it be ill, they will cure it. But if men 
be bad, let the government be never so good, they will endeavor to 
warp and spoil to their turn." 

'' I know some say let us have good laws, and no matter for the 
men that execute them; but let them consider, that though good 
laws do well, good men do better; for good laws may want good men, 
and be abolished or invaded by ill men; but good men will never 
want good laws, nor sufler ill ones. 'Tis true, good laws have some 
awe upon ill ministers; but that is where they have not power to 
escape or abolish them, and the people are generally wise and good; 
but a loose and depraved people, which is to the question, love laws 
and an administration like themselves. That, therefore, which makes 
a good constitution, must keep it, viz., men of wisdom and virtue, 
qualities that because they descend not with worldly inheritances, 
must be carefully propagated by a virtuous education of youth, for 
which after ages will owe more to the care and prudence of founders, 
and the successive magistracy, than to their parents for their private 
patrimonies." 

These considerations, which stand as a preface to his frame of 
government, are given at some length here, in order to show the 
temper of mind and heart of Fenn, as he entered upon his great work. 
He seems like one who stands before the door of a royal palace, and 
is loth to lay his hand upon the knob, whose turn shall give him en- 
trance, for fear his tread should be unsanctified by the grace of 
Heaven, or lack favor in the eyes of his subjects. For he says in 
closing his disquisition : " These considerations of the weight of 
government, and the nice and varied opinions about it, made it un- 
easy to me to think of publishing the ensuing frame and conditional 
laws, forseeing both the censures they will meet with from men of 
differing humours and engagements, and the occasion they may give 
of discourse beyond my design. But next to the power of necessity, 
this induced me to a compliance, that we have (with reverence to 
God, and good conscience to men), to the best of our skill, contrived 
and composed the frame and laws of this government, to the great 
end of all government, viz.: To support in reverence with the peo- 
ple, and to secure the people from the abuse of power ; that they may 
be free by their just obedience, and the magistrates honorable for 
their just administration; for liberty without obedience is confusion, 
and ol)edience without liberty is slavery. To carry this evenness is 
partly owing to the coiistitiitjon, and partly to the magistracy; where 



HISTORY OF oi:ekt^e county. fi'J 

either of these fail, government will be subject to confusion; but 
where both are wanting, it must be totally subverted; then where 
both meet, the government is like to endure. Which I humbly pray 
and hope God will please to make the lot of this of Pennsylvania. 
Amen." 

In sucli temper, and with such a spirit did our great founder ap- 
proach the work of drawing a frame of government and laws for his 
jjroposed community, iusigniticant in numbers at tirst; but destined 
at no distant day to embrace millions. It is not to be wondered at 
that he felt great solicitude, in view of the future possibilities. AVitli 
great care and tenderness for the rights and privileges of the in- 
dividual, he drew tlie frame or constitution in twenty-four sections, 
and the body of laws in forty. And who can estimate the power for 
good to this people, of the system of government set up by this pious, 
God fearing man, every provision of wliich was a subject of Ills 
])rayers, and tears, and tlie deep yearnings of a sanctified heart. 

The town meeting works the destruction of thrones. Penn's 
system was, in effect, at the outset, a free Democracy, where the in- 
dividual was supreme. Had King Charles foreseen, when lie gave his 
charter, what principles of freedom to the iiulividual would be em- 
b()die<l in tlie government of tlie new colony, and would be nurtured 
in the breasts of tlie oncoming generations, ifhe had held the purpose 
of keeping this a constituent and obedient part of his kingdom, he 
would have witheld liis assent to it, as elements were implanted there- 
in antagonistic to arbitrary, kingly rule. But men sometimes con- 
trive better than they know, and so did Charles. 

When finished, the frame (if government was published, and was 
sent out, accompanied with a description of the country, and especial 
care was taken tliat these should reach the members of tlie society of 
Friends. Many of the letters written home to friends in England 
by those who had settled in the country years before, were curious 
and amusing, and well calculated to excite a desire to emigrate. Two 
years before this, Mahlon Stacy wrote an account of the country, 
which the people of our day would scarcely be able to match. " I have 
seen," he says, "orchards laden with fruit to admiration; their very 
limbs torn to pieces with weight, most delicious to the taste, and 
lovely to behold. I have seen an apple-tree, from a pippin-kernel, 
yield a barrel of curious cider, and jieaches in such plenty that some 
yjeople took their carts a ]ieach-gatliering. I could not but smile at 
the conceit of it; they are very delicious fruit, and hang almost like 
our onions, that are tied on ro])es. I have seen and know, this sum- 
mer, forty bushels of bold wheat of one bushel sown. From May 
to Michaelmas great store of very good wild fruit as strawberries, 
cranberries and hurtleberries, which are like our bilberries in Eng- 
land, only far sweeter; the cranberries, much like clierries for color 



70 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

and bigness, which may be kept till fruit comes again; an excellent 
sauce is made of them for venison, turkeys, and other great ibwl, 
and they are better to make tarts of than either gooseberries or 
cherries; we have them brought to our houses by the Indians in great 
plenty. My brother Robert had as many cherries this year as would 
have loaded several carts. As for venison and fowls we have great 
plenty; we have brought home to our countries by the Indians, seven 
or eight fat bucks in a day. We went into the river to catch her- 
rings after the Indian fashion. We could have tilled a three-bushel 
sack of as good large herrings as ever I saw. And as to beef and 
pork, here is a great plenty of it, and good sheep. The common 
grass of the country feeds beef very fat. Indeed, the country, take 
it as a wilderness, is a brave country." 

If the denizens of England were to accept this description as a 
true picture of the productions and possibilities of the New World, 
they might well conclude with the writer that "for a wilderness" it 
was a " brave country," and we can well understand why they flocked 
to the new El Dorado. But lest any might be tempted to go with- 
out sufhcient consideration, Penn issued a pronunciamento, urging 
every one who contemplated removal thither to consider well the in- 
conveniences of the voyage, and the labor and privation required of 
emigrants to a wilderness country, "that so none may move rashly 
or from a fickle, but from a solid mind, having above all things an 
eye to the providence of God in the disposing of themselves." 

And that there should be no deception or misunderstanding in 
regard to the rights of property, Penn drew up "Certain Conditions 
and Concessions" before leaving England, which he circulated freely, 
touching the laying out of roads and highways, the plats of towns, 
the settling of comnjnnities on ten thousand acre tracts, so that 
friends and relatives might be together; declaring that the woods, 
rivers, quarries and mines are the exclusive property of those on 
whose purchases they were found; for the allotment to servants; that 
the Indians shall be treated justly; the Indians' furs should be sold 
in open market; that the Indian shall be treated as a citizen, and 
that no man shall leave the province without giving tliree weeks' 
public notice posted in the market-place, that all claims for indebted- 
ness might be liqiiidated. These and many other matters of like' 
tenor form the subject of these remarkable concessions, all tending to 
show the solicitude of Penn for the interests of his colonists, and 
that none should say that he deceived or overreached them in the 
sale of his lands. He foresaw the liability that the natives would be 
under to be deceived and cheated by the crafty and designing, being 
entirely unskilled in judging of the values of things. He accordingly 
devotes a large proportion of the matter of these concessions to secniv 
and defend the rights of the ignorant natives. If it was possible to 



IITSTOUV OK (JTIKKNK OorXTV. 71 

make a liuinaii being eoiifurm to tlie riglits and ju'ivileges ul' civilized 
society, and make him truly an enlightened citizen, Penn's treatment 
of the Indian was calculated to make him so. He treated the natives 
as his own people, as citizens in every important particular, and as 
destined to an immortal iidieritance. He wrote to them: "There is 
a great Goil and power that hath m;ide the world and all things 
therein, tu whom you and 1 and all peojile owe their being and well- 
being; and to whom you and I must one day give an account for all 
that we do in the world. This great God hath written His law in 
our hearts, by which we are taught and commanded to love, and help, 
and do good to one another. Kow the great God hath l)een pleased 
to make me concerned in your part of the world, and the king of the 
country where I live hath given me a great jiroviuce therein; but I 
desire to enjoy it w'ith your love and consent, that we may always 
live together as neighbors and friends; else what would the great 
God do to us, who hath made us not to devour and destroy one 
another, but to live soberly and kindly together in the world? Now 
I would have you well observe that 1 am very sensible of the un- 
kindness and injustice that have been too much exercised towards 
you by the people of these parts of the world, who have sought them- 
selves, and to make great advantages by you, rather than to be ex- 
amples of goodness and patience unto you, which I hear hath been a 
matter of trouble to you, and caused great grudging and animosities, 
sometimes to the shedding of blood, which hath made the great God 
angn'. But I am not such a man, as is well known in my country. 
I have great love and regard toward you, and desire to gain your 
love and friendship by a kind, just and peaceable life, and the people 
1 send are of the same mind, and shall in all things behave them- 
selves accordingly; and if in anything any shall offend you or j-our 
people, you shall have a full and speed}' satisfaction for the same by 
an equal number of just men on both sides, that by no means vou 
may have just occasion of being offended against them. I shall 
shortl}' come to you myself, at which time we may more largely and 
freely confer and discourse of these matters. In the meantime I 
have sent my commissioners to treat with you about land, and form 
a league of peace. Let me desire you to be kind to them and their 
people, and receive these tokens and presents which I have sent you 
as a testimony of my good will to you, and my resolution to live 
justly, peaceably and friendly with you.'' Such was the mild and 
gentle attitude in which Penn came to the natives. 

Had the Indian character been capable of being broken and 
changed, so as to have adopted the careful and laborious habits which 
Europeans possess, the aborigines might have been assimilated and be- 
come a constituent part of the population. Such was the expectation 
of Penn. They could have become citizens, as every other foreij>-n 



72 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

race have. But tlie Indian could no more be tamed than the wild 
partridge of the woods. Fishing and hnnting were his occupation, 
and if any work or drudgery was to be done, it was shifted to the 
women, as being beneath the dignity of the free savage of the forest. 
Two hundred and lifty years of intercourse with European civiliza- 
tion and customs have not in the least changed his nature. He is 
essentially the savage still, as he was on the day -when Columbus 
lirst met him, four hundred years ago. 

But this fact does not change the aspect in which we should view 
tlie pious and noble intents of Penn, and they must ever be regarded 
with admiration, as indicative of his loving and merciful purposes. 
He not only provided that they should be treated as hnman beings, 
on principles of justice and mercy, but he was particular to point 
out to his commissioners the manners which should be preserved in 
their presence: "Be tender of offending the Indians, and let them 
know that yon come to sit down lovingly among them. Let my 
letter and conditions be read in theii- tongue, that thej' may see we 
have their good in our eye. Be grave. They love not to be 
smiled on." 



HISTORY OF GREKNE COUNTY. 73 



CIIAPTEIl V. 

Markham First Governor — Sails for New York and is Accokded 
Permission to Assume Control on the Delaware — Puechase 
Land of the Indians — Seek a Site of a Great City — Penn 
Sails for America — Advice to Wife and Children on Leav- 
ing — Love of Rural Life — Thirty Passengers Die on the 
Voyage — Calls an Assembly and Enacts Laws — Civil and 
Religious Liberty — Visits Site of the New City — Satisfied 
AViTH It — Visits Governor of New York and Friends in Loncj 
Island and Jersey — Discusses Boundary With Lord Balti- 
more — The Great Treaty — Method of the Indians — Terms 
OF the Treaty — Speeoh of Penn — Le(;al Forms Observed — 
"Treaty Tree" Preserved — Walking Purchase — Consider- 
ation OF Penn — Injustice of Later Governor — Rapid Increase 
— Penn Describes the New City — Distances From the 
Chief Cities — Latitude and Longitude — Designs River Bank 
for a Public Park — Disregarded — Names His City Phila- 
delphia — Growth of the Coi.oxv — Cojipared With Other 
Colonies. 

NOT being in readiness to go immediately to his province, Penn 
issued a uoinmission bearing date March 6, 1681, to his cousin, 
AVilliam Markham, as Lieutenant Governor, and sent him forward 
with three ship-loads of settlers to take possession of his province. 
Markham sailed directly to New York, where he exhibited liis com- 
mission to the acting governor of that province, who made a record 
of the fact, and gave Gov. Markham a letter addressed to the civil 
magistrates on the Delaware thanking them for their zeal and iidelity, 
and directing them to transfer their allegiance to the new Proprietary. 
Armed now with complete authority, Markham proceeded to the 
Delaware, where he was kindly received and all allegiance promptly 
accorded to him as the rightful governor. Markham was accompanied 
by four commissioners, who wei-e first to establish friendly relations 
with the Indians and acquire land by purchase, and second to select 
and survey and lay out the plot of a great city. Penn liad received 
a complete grant and deed of transfer of these lands, and had he fol- 
lowed the example of the other colonists he would have taken arbi- 
trary possession without consulting the natives. But he held that 
their claims to righti'ul ownership by possession for immemorial 



74 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

time, must first be satisfied. Accordingly, following the pacific in- 
structions of Penn, the commissioners found no difficnlty in opening 
negotiations with the simple inhabitants of the forest, and in pur- 
chasing long reaches of land on the south and west bank of the Del- 
aware and far beyond the Schuylkill. 

But it was not so easy to find a site for a great city to completely 
fill all the conditions which the founder had imposed. It must be 
on a stream navigable, where many boats could ride in safety and of 
sufficient depth so that ships could come up to the wharf and load 
and unload without " boating and lightening of it." " The situation 
must be high, at least dry and sound, and not swampy, wiiich is best 
known by digging up two or three earths and seeing the bottom." 
The site was to contain a block of 10,000 square acres in one square, 
and the streets to be regularly laid out. " Let every house be placed, 
if the person pleases, in the middle of its plat, as to the breadth- 
way of it, that so there may be ground on eacii side for gardens or 
orchards or fields, that it may be a green country town, which will 
never be burned, and always wliolesome." 

These instructions of Penn were most carefully observed, and for 
many weeks the commissioners searched for such a site as he had 
pictured, their investigations extending far up the Delaware. They 
finally fixed upon the present site of Philadelphia, which was settled, 
and has grown as then surveyed. It was between two navigable 
streams; it was dry, being one vast bed of sand and gravel and hence 
easily drained; and so high as not to be liable to overflow; it had 
ten thousand square acres; but there was not distance enough between 
the two rivers to allow it to be in a square block. ILrvever, as there 
was room for indefinite extension up and down the str^^ams, this was 
not regarded as fatal to the choice. The streets were laid with exact 
regularitj', crossing each other at right angles. Through the center, 
Market street extended from river to river, and so wide that origi- 
nally, and until within the memory of many now living, long, low 
market houses, or sheds stretched along its middle, and at its center 
it was crossed by Bi'oad street, a magnificent avenue. At their in- 
tersection a park was left, upon which the city has recently erected 
a structure of marble for the purposes of the city government, which, 
for beauty of architecture, convenience and solidity of structure is 
scarcely matched anywhere in the world. 

Having settled all things at home to his satisfaction, Penn pre- 
pared to depart for his new country. But before departing he ad- 
dressed farewell letters to his friends, and to his wife and children. 
From these we can gather what was really in his heart of hearts, 
what was his true character and the tenor of his inmost thoughts. 
To his fellow laborer, Stephen Crisp, he wrote, "Stephen, we know 
one another, and I need not say much to thee. * * * The Lord 




-O ccJl f ^r^-/^^ --J^g^TT 



niSTOK-r OF GREENE COUNTY. 77 

will bless that ground (Pennsylvania). '^ * * And truly, Stephen, 
there is work enougii, and here is room to work in. Surely God 
will come in for a share in this planting-work, and that leaven shall 
leaven the lump in time." As he was now about to depart on a voy- 
age over the treaciierous ocean, he wrote to his wife and children as 
though he might never return to them again. To his wife he said, 
" God knows and thou knowest it, I can say it was a match of 
.Providence's making, and God's image in us both was the first 
thing." In counselling her not to become involved in debt, he says, 
" My mind is rapt up in a saying of thy father's, 'I desire not riches, 
but to owe nothing;' and truly that is wealth, and more than enough 
to live is attended with many sorrowes." Of his children he says, 
"I had rather they were homely, than finely bred, as to outward be- 
havior; yet I love sweetness mi.xed with gravity. Religion in the 
heart leads into this true civility. * * * For their learning be 
liberal. Spare no cost; for by such parsimony all is lost that is 
saved; l)ut let it be useful knowledge, such as is consistent with truth 
and godliness, not cherishing a vain conversation or idle mind, but 
ingenuity mixed with industry is good for the body and mind too. 
I recommend the useful part of mathematics, as building houses or 
ships, measuring, STirveying, dialing, navigation; but agriculture is 
especially in my eye — let my children be husbandmen and house- 
wives; it is industrious, healthy, honest, and of good example; like 
Abraham and the holy ancients, who pleased God and obtained a 
good report. This leads to consider the works of God ar^d nature of 
things that are good, and diverts the mind from being taken up with 
the vain arts and inventions of a luxurious world. - * * Of 
cities and towns of concourse beware; tlie world is apt to stick close 
to tiiose who have lived and got wealth there; a country life and 
estate I like best for my children." To his children lie said, " First 
love and fear the Lord, and delight to wait on the God of your father 
and mother. * * * Next be obedient to your dear mother, a 
woman whose virtue and good name is an honor to you; for she hath 
been exceeded by none in her time for her plainness, integrity, in-- 
dustry, humanity, virtue, good understanding; qualities not usual 
among women of her worldly condition and quality. * * * Be- 
take yourselves to some honest, industrious course of life. * * * 
And if you marry, mind neither beauty nor riches, but the fear of 
the Lord, and a sweet and amiable disposition; and being married, 
be tender, affectionate and meek. * * * Be sure to live within 
compass; borrow not, neither be beholden to any. * * * Love 
not money nor the world; use them only, and they will serve you; 
but if you love them you serve them, which will debase your spirits 
as well as offend the Lord. * * * Be humble and gentle in your 
conversation; of few words, but always pertinent when you speak. 



78 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

hearing ont before you attempt to answer, and then speaking as if 
you would pursuade not impose. Affront none, neither revenge the 
affronts that are done to you; but forgive and yon shall be forgiven 
of your heavenly father. In making friends consider well first; and 
when you are fixed be true. Watch against anger; neither speak 
nor act in it, for, like drunkenness, it makes a man a beast. Avoid 
flatterers, for they are thieves in disguise. '" ■" '•" They lie to 
flatter, and flatter to cheat. * * * Be temperate in all things; 
in your diet, for that is physic by prevention; it keeps, naj', it makes 
people healthy, and their generation sound. * * * Avoid pride, 
avarice and luxury. Make your conversation with the most eminent 
for wisdom and piety, and shun all wicked men, as you hope for 
the blessing of God, and the comfort of your father's living and dying 
prayers. * * * Be no busy bodies. In your families remember, 
Abraham, Moses and Joshua, their integritj' to the Lord. * * * 
Keep on the square for God sees you." 

Of this remarkable letter, which is worthy to lay to heart and be 
made a frequent study l)y the rising generation, only a few brief 
extracts are given above, yet enough has been adduced to show the 
pious intent of the founder of our noble Commonwealth. In June, 
1682, Fenn set sail for America in tlie ship " Welcome," with some 
hundred passengers, of whom thirty died of small-pox on the voyage. 
He landed at JS'ew Castle, where he took formal possession of the 
country. At a public meeting called at tlie court-house he explained 
his object in coming, his plan of government, and renewed the com- 
missions of the magistrates. Proceeding to Uplands, which he named 
Chester, he called an assembly composed of an equal number from 
the province and territories, (afterwards Delaware), and proceeded to 
enact a frame of government and a body of laws. The convention 
was in session but three days, as it was in harvest, and the 
farmers could not afford to spend much time; but in that brief period, 
which in these days would scarcely sufiice for the speaker to make up 
his committees, the constitution was considered article by article, 
amended and adopted, and the laws in like manner, so that when they 
adjourned, after this brief session, it could be said that the great ship 
of State, Pennsylvania, was fairly launched, and the government, 
which, in this simple way, was there adopted in the town of Chester, 
has formed the basis of that system which has guided the State in 
safety through the more than two centuries of its growth, and brought 
it safely on in the voyage of empire, with its more than four millions 
of people. 

Penn's first and chief care was to establish civil and religious 
liberty so firmly, that it should not be in the power of future rulers 
to alter or destroy it. As he himself declarecl, " For the matter of 
liijerty and privilege, 1 purpose that which is extraordinary, and 



HISTORY OF GREENE fOlTNTV. 79 

leave myself and successors no power of doing miscliief, that the will 
of one man may not hinder tlie good of a whole country.". Having 
suffered sore persecution himself, as well as his religions associates, 
he ciierished a bitter hatred of any system which could impose or 
even suffer such injustice, and accordingly he placed at the head of 
his Fundamentals this, in that age, remarkable provision: "In 
reverence to God, the Father of light and spirits, the author as well 
as object of all divine knowledge, faith and worship, I do for me and 
mine, declare and estaldish for the lirst fundamental of the govern- 
ment of my province, that every person, that doth and shall reside 
therein, shall have and enjoy the free possession of his or her faith 
and exercise of worship towards God, in such way and manner as 
every such person shall in conscience believe is most acceptable to 
God." 

It would seem as if the new world was opened at a time when 
persecution in the old world was rife, that the oppressed people of 
all nations might have an asylum, where civil and religious liberty 
should forever be preserved. Having thus settled his form of gov- 
ernment, and set it fairly in operation, be began to make journeys 
into the distant parts of his country. He first visited the site which 
had been selected for the new city, proceeding in a barge from 
Chester, and landed at the mouth of Dock Creek, now Dock street. 
Forests covered the site, conies burrowed in the bank, and wild ani- 
mals dashed past iiim as Penn was pulled up the side. The situation- 
pleased him, and the conntry was even more inviting than he had 
been led to believe. " I am very well and mnch satisfied with my 
place and portion. * * * As to outward tilings we are satisfied; 
the land good, the air clear and sweet, the springs plentiful, and 
provision good and easy to come at, an innumerable quantity of wild- 
fowl and fisii; in fine, here is what an Abraham, Isaac and Jacob 
would be well contented with, and service enough for God; for the 
fields are white for harvest. Oh how sweet is the quiet of these parts, 
freed from the anxious and troublesome solicitations, heresies and 
perplexities of woful Europe." 

Penn understood well the proprieties of social life, as well as the 
advantage of politeness to good fellowship. He took early occasion 
to visit New York, and pay his respects to the Governor and his 
associates there. But wherever he went, he never divested himself 
of his character as a laborer in the vineyard of the Lord. Accord- 
ingly, after having taken his leave of the Governor, he paid visits 
to the members of the society of Friends living on Long Island, and 
in east New Jersey, which had previously come into the possession of 
a company of which he was one, and everywhere did " service for the 
Lord." He also visited Lord Baltimore, in Maryland, that they 
might confer together upon the subject of the boundaries of the two 



80 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

colonies. As the weather became intensely cold, precluding the 
possibility of taking stellar observations or making the necessary 
surveys, it was agreed to adjourn the conference to the milder weather 
of the spring. 

The founder took great care to secure the friendship and interest of 
the Indians in the new State. He accordingly took early occasion to 
summon a council of all the neighboring tribes, that he might make 
a formal treaty of peace with them, and secure a legally executed 
deed for their lands. The meeting was held beneath the shade of a 
giant elm at Kensington, ever after known and held in veneration as 
the " Treaty tree." The Indians from far and near had come, as it 
was an event that had been widely heralded, and the desire on the part 
of the natives to see and liear the great founder, who had addressed 
them the year before in such loving words, was doubtless intense. 
Penn came with his formal treaty all drawn up, and engrossed on parch- 
ment, as well as a deed for their lands. In his letter to friends in Eng- 
and lie describes the manner of the Indians in council, which was 
doubtless the method observed on the occasion of concluding the great 
treaty. " I have had occasion," he says, " to be in council with them 
upon treaties for land, and to adjust the terms of ti-ade. Their order 
is thus: the king sits in the middle of a half-moon, and has his 
council, the old and wise on each hand. Behind them, or at a little 
distance, sit the younger fry in the same figure. Having consulted 
and resolved their business, the king ordered one of them to speak to 
me. He stood up, came to me, and in the name of his king saluted 
me; then he took me by the hand, and told me that he was ordered 
by his king to speak to me, and that now it was not he but the king 
who spoke, because what he should say was the king's mind. Hay- 
ing thus introduced his matter, he fell to the bounds of the land they 
had agreed to dispose of, and the price; which now is little and dear, 
that which would have bought twenty miles, not buying now two. 
During the time that this person spoke, not a man of them was 
observed to Avhisper or smile, the old grave, the young reverent, 
in their deportment. They speak little but fervently, and with ele- 
gance. I have never seen more natural sagacity, considering them 
without the help (I was going to say, the spoil of tradition) and he 
will deserve the name of wise, who outwits them in any treaty about 
a thing they understand." Penn now responded to them in a like 
sober and reverent spirit, assuring them that the red man and the 
white man are equally the care of the Great Spirit, and that it is his 
desire to live in peace and good fellowship with them. " It is not 
our custom," he says, " to use hostile weapons against our fellow 
creatures, for which reason we have come unarmed." Penn now 
unrolls his parchment, and reads and explains the force of each article, 
all of which is interpreted into their own language, — though it should 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 81 

here be stated that Penii learned the Indian language, and was able 
to speak to them in their own tongue. " I will not do," he continued, 
"as the Marylanders did, eall you children or brothers only; tor 
parents are apt to whip tlieir clijldren too severely, and brothers 
sometimes will diti'er; neither will I compare the friendship between 
us to a chain, for the rain may rust it, or a tree may fall atid break 
it; but I will consider you as tlie same tiesh and blood as the Christians, 
and the same as if one man's body were to be divided into two parts." 
In response to this declaration the spokesman for the king again 
comes forward and makes great promises and declares that " tlie 
Indians and the English must live in love as long as the sun doth 
give its light." Another speaker now turns to the Indians and ex- 
plains to them what had been said and done, and counsels them " to 
love the Christians, that many Governors had been in the river, but 
that no Governor liad come himself to live and stay here before, and 
having now such an one that had treated them well they should 
never do him nor his any wrong," all of whicli was received by the 
entire assemblage with accents of approval. 

Penn took special pains to have all his purchases of the Indians 
executed in due legal form, and recorded in the otfices of his govern- 
ment, so that if any question concerning the conditions should arise 
there should be the exact evidence of the bargain at hand. The 
Indians themselves had no method of recording their agreements, but 
their memory of such transactions was remarkably exact and tena- 
cious. They had some arbitrary way by which they were able to 
recall their knowledge of events. The Indian missionary and his- 
torian says, "They frequently assembled togetlier in the woods, in 
some shady spot, as nearly as possible similar to those where they 
used to meet tlieir brother Miquon (Penn), and there lay all his words 
and speeches, with those of his descendants on a blanket or clean 
piece of bark, and- with great satisfaction go successively over the 
whole. * * * This practice, which I have repeatedly witnessed^ 
continued until 1780 (a period of a hundred years), when disturl)- 
ances which took place put an end to it probably forever." 

The venerable elm tree under which this noted (Conference was 
held was carefully guarded and preserved. Even while the city of 
Philadelphia was in possession of the enemy during the Eevolution- 
ary war, and firewood was scarce, the Treaty Tree, this venerable elm, 
was preserved from mutilation. The British General Simcoe sta- 
tioned a guard over it. It stood till 1810, when it fell a victim to 
the storms, and was found to be 283 years old, showing that at the 
time of the treaty it was 155. The Penn Society of Philadelphia 
have marked the spot where it stood by erecting a durable monu- 
ment. 
• Of Penn's purchases of the Indians two deeds are on record. 



82 HISTORY Oi' UHEKNE COUNTY. 

executed in 1683, one of thein bearing the signature of the renowned 
chieftain Taniinend. In one of these the method of measurement 
was unique. The terms were that the tract should embrace the ter- 
ritory between two rivers and " shall extend as far back as a man can 
walk in three days." It does not provide whether the days are to be 
from sun to sun, nor at what season of the year the walk is to be 
made, nor whether a day shall be reckoned at twenty-four hours, or 
whether the walk shall be executed by an experienced walker at the 
top of his bent, or be walked leisurely. But Penn, actuated by a 
sense of simple justice, construed entirely to the advantage of the 
Indians, that he might show them that he was actuated by none but 
the most exalted motives. Accordingly, Penn, himself, with a num- 
ber of his friends, accompanied by a gay party of the natives, made 
the walk. They did not turn it into a race, but treated 'it as a pleasure 
party, proceeding leisurely, sitting down at intervals to "smoke their 
pipes, eat biscuit and cheese, and drink a bottle of wine." Com- 
mencing at the mouth of Neshaminy Creek they proceeded on up 
the shores of the Delaware. At the end of a day and a half they 
reached a spruce tree on the bank of Baker Creek, about thirty miles, 
when Penn, thinking that he had as much land as he would want for 
the present, agreed with the Indians to stop thei-e and allow the re- 
maining day and a half of space to be walked ou.t at some future 
time. The execution of the balance of the contract was in marked 
contrast to the liberal interpretation of the founder. It was not 
made till 1733, when the then Governor offered a jjrize of 500 acres 
of land and £5 in money to the man who would make the greatest 
walk. There were three contestants, and one, Edward Marshall, won 
the prize, making a distance of eighty-six miles in tlie single day 
and a half, an unprecedented feat. The advantage taken by the 
Governor in this transaction gaVe great offense to the Indians. " It 
was the cause," says Jenney, "of the first dissatisfaction between thejn 
and the people of Pennsylvania; and it is remarkable that the first 
murder committed by them in the province, seventy-two years after 
the landing of Penn, was on this very ground which had been taken 
from them by 'fraud. " 

The excellence of the country, the gentleness of the government, 
and the loving society of Friends, caused a good report to go out to 
all parts of Europe, and thither came flocking emigrants from inany 
lands, from London, Cheshire, Lancashire, Ireland, Scotland, Ger- 
many, and from Wales a company of the stock of Ancient Britons. 
For the most part they were of the Society of Friends, and were 
escaping from bitter persecution for their religion. They were, con- 
sequently, people of pure hearts, good elements for the building of a 
colony. On landing they would seek the sheltei' of a tree with their 
household goods, and there they would live till they could secuil 



IIISTOKY OF GRI':EXK COUNTY. 83 

their land and erect a rude shelter. JSoine betook themselves to the 
river's bank and dng caves for temporary shelter. In one of these 
caves the iirst child, John Key, was born in the new city, known 
long after as Penny-pot, near Sassafras street. He lived to his 
eightj'-tifth year, dying in 1768. It will be seen that many priva- 
tions had to be endured, and so great was the influx uf settlers that 
food was sometimes scarce. But tliey were patient, accustomed to 
toil, and devoted in their worship, so that tlie colony had wonderful 
prosperity and increase. 

Penn's own impressions are conveyed in a letter to iiis friends in 
England. •' Philadelpliia, the expectation of those who are con- 
cerned, is at last laid out to the great content of tliose liere. Tlie 
situation is a neck of land, and lieth between two navigable rivers, 
Delaware and Schuylkill, whereby it hath two fronts upon the water, 
each a mile, and two from river to river. * ■•■ '"■ This I will say 
for tlie good providence of God, of all the places I ha\e seen in the 
woi'ld I remember not one better seated; so that it seems to me to 
liave been appointed for a town, whether we regard the rivers, or th(! 
conveniency of the coves, docks and springs, the loftiness and sound- 
ness of the land, and the air, held by the people of these parts to be 
very good. I bless God I am fully satisfled with the country and 
entertainment 1 got in it." By the course of tiie I'iver tlie city is 
120 miles from tlie ocean, but only si.xty in direct line. It is eighty- 
seven miles from New York, ninety-five from Baltimore, 136 from 
Washington, 100 from Ilarrisburg, and 300 from Pittsburg, and is 
in latitude north 39°, 56', 54". and in longitude west from Green- 
wich 75°, 8', 45". The Delaware at this time was nearly a mile 
wide opposite the city and navigable for siiips of the greatest tonnage. 
The tide here has a rise of about six feet and flows liack to the falls 
of Trenton, some thirty miles. The tide in the Schuylkill flows 
only about six miles above its confluence with the Delaware. The 
purpose of Penn was that the land along the river bank should be a 
public park, holding in his mind's eye its future adornment with 
walks and fountains and statues, trees and sweet smelling shrubs 
and flowers; for when pressed to allow warehouses to be built upon it 
he resolutely declared, " The bank is a top common, from end to end; 
the rest next to the water belongs to front-lot men no more than 
back-lot men. The way bounds them." But Penn, at this early day, 
in the simplicity of his nature had little conception of the necessities 
which commerce would impose, when the city should grow to the 
million of population, which it now has, so that the cherished design 
of the founder has been disregarded, and great warehouses where a 
vast tonnage is constantly moving, embracing the commerce from the 
remotest corners of the globe, cumber all the bank. Penn had cher- 
ished the purpose of founding a great city from his earliest years. 



84 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

and had adopted the name Philadelphia (brotherly love) before he 
had any reasonable prospect of coming to America. So that the 
name was not a matter of question. 

The growth of the province was something wonderful, and caused 
Penh to say in a sjjirit of exultation unusual to him, " I must, with- 
out vanity say, I have led the greatest colony into America that ever 
anj' man did upon a private credit." Bancroft ver^' justly observes, 
" There is nothing in the history of the human race like the con- 
fidence which the simple virtues and institutions of William Penn 
inspired. The progress of his province was more rapid than that of 
New England. In Aiigust, 1683, Philadelphia consisted of three or 
four litile cottages. The conies were yet undisturbed in their heredi- 
tary burrows; the deer fearlessly bounded past blazed trees, uncon- 
scious of foreboded streets; the stranger that wandei-ed from the 
river bank was lost in thickets of interminable forest ; and two years 
afterward the- place contained about six hundred houses, and the 
schoolmaster and the pirinting-press had begun their work. In three 
years from its foundation Philadelphia had gained more than JNew 
York had done in half a century. It was not long till Philadelphia 
led all the cities in America in population, though one of the latest 
founded. By the census of 1800 Pennsylvania led all the other 
States in the number of white population, having 586.095; New 
York, 557,731; Yirginia, 514,280; Massachusetts, 416,393; North 
Carolina, 337,764; Connecticut, 244,721; Maryland, 216,326; South 
Carolina, 196,255; New Jersey, 194,325; New Hampshire, 182,998; ' 
Kentucky, 179,873; Yermont, 153,908; Maine, 150,901: Georgia, 
102,261; Tennessee, 91,709; Ehode Island, 65,438; Delaware, 
49,852; Ohio, 45,028; Indiana, 5,343; Mississippi, 5,179. 





^c^i^ ^^{^X^ 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 87 



CIIAPTEK VI. 

CoXTROVEESY WITH LoUI) B.VLTnrDKK Ol'ENKU ClIAKTKKS CoMI'AKEl) 

— Penn Visits Loud EAi/rrMoiiK — P^vi.timoke Makes Excuses — 
Ambicu'ities in Both Ciiaktehs — Baltimoke Offers Disi'I'ted 
Lands for Sale and I)ri\'es Oft Pennsylvania Owners — 
Summons to Quit — Resi-onse — Penn Offers to Purchase — 
Penn Carries the Controversy Before ti[e Rovai. CoiUMissioN 
— Letter to His Frienhs on Quittinc His Coi.f)NY — Found 
Officers Sour and Stern — New King Friendly, but Ministry 
Hostile to Dissenters — Claims Compromised — Elaborate 
Treaty of 1760 — Line Described — Local Surveyors Ap- 
pointed — Mason and Dixon Appointed — ^Native Surveyors' 
Work Found Correct — Sample of Work — Delaware Line 
Established — Extracts from Notes — "Visto" Cleared — 
Horizontal Measurement — Stone Pillars Set — Indians View- 
Astronomical Observations \vrni Awic — War Path in Greene 
County Survey Stops — Tedious Labors of Surveyors — Boun- 
dary' Stones Cut in Ench.axi) — Cost of Survey* for Pennsyl- 
vania, $171,000— End Not Yet. 

THOUGH feeling a just pride in the prosperity and wonderful 
growth of his colony, Penn was not free from tribulations. 
Language could not be made more explicit than that employed to fix 
the boundaries of his province. That there might be no mistaking 
the place which it occupied upon the continent the stars were called 
to stand as sentinels, and science was invoked to fix the places which 
they marked. But the ink was scarcely dry upon the parchment 
which recorded the gift before the wliisperings of counter claims 
were heard. Markham, who was sent forward by Penn as Lieutenant- 
Governor to take possession of tlie land and commence surveys upon 
it, had hardly shaken the salt spray from his locks before he was 
visited at Chester by Lord Baltimore from Maryland, who presented 
his claim to all that country. 

On the 20th of June, 1632, just fifty years before Penn received 
his patent^ the King had granted to Lord Baltimore a charter for 
Maryland, named for Henrietta Maria, daughter of Henry IV. and 
wife of Charles I., bounded by the ocean, the 40° of north 
latitude, the meridian of the western fountain of the Potomac, the 



88 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

river Potomac from its source to its mouth, and a line drawn east 
from Watkius Point to the Atlantic, the place of beo;inning. This 
territory was given to him, his heirs and assigns, on the payment of 
a yearly rent of two Indian arrows. Lord Baltimore exhibited his 
claim to Governor Markham, and to satisfy the latter that his claim 
was valid, he made an observation of the heavens, which showed that 
the latitude of Cljester was twelve miles south of the 41° 
north to which he claimed. Had this claim been allowed, the 
whole of Delaware bay and river, the three lower counties, now 
the State of Delaware, tiie city of Philadelphia, Yoi'k, Chambers- 
bui'g, Gettysburg, indeed the whole tier of soiithern counties would 
have been cut oif from Pennsylvania. As it will be seen the allow- 
ance of this claim would have swallowed all the settlements wliich 
had been made for three quarters of a century, and all the wonder- 
ful emigration and growth which had now set in, including the great 
city wliich Penn had founded with so much satisfaction, and cherished 
with his pains and his prayers, as well as the fairest section of his 
territory. 

Markham, on his part, exhibited the Pennsylvania charter, whicli 
explicitly provides that the southern boundary shall be the " begin- 
ning of the 40th degree of northern latitude." But this would have 
included Baltimore, and even as far sonth as the city of Washington, 
embracing all the growth of the Maryland colony for half a century, 
and would have only left for Maryland a modicum of land west of 
the Potomac and south of the 40° north along either shore of 
the lower Chesepeake, about equal to the present State ot Delaware. 
This Lord Baltimore regarded an unendurable hardship, and as his 
charter ante dated that of Penn by fifty years, he held that the 
charter of the latter was invalidated, and that his own claim could 
be maintained. 

In this condition matters rested until the coming of Penn. As 
we have already seen the new proprietary made it his biisiness to 
visit Lord Baltimore very soon after his arrival upon the Delaware, 
and for two days the claims of the two governors were talked over 
and canvassed. But as the weather became cold so as to preclude 
the possibility of taking observations to fix accurately the latitude 
and longitude of the place, it was agreed to postpone further con- 
sideration of the question for the present. A true picture of these 
two eminent men in this opening controversy would be one of great 
historical interest. But we can well imagine that while the rep- 
resentative of Pennsylvania preserved tiiroughout this conference a 
demeanor that was " childlike and bland," there was in the brain, 
which tlie broad-brim sheltered, and in the heart which the shad- 
bellied coat kei)t warm, an unalterable purpose not to yield the best 
portion of his heritage. 



IIISTOKY UF GKEEXK CUUXTV. 89 

Early in the spring I'eiin invited Lord Jjaltimore tu come to the 
Delaware for the settlement of their diti'erences; but it was late in 
the season before he arrived. Penn proposed that the heai'ing be 
had before them in the natui-e of a legal investigation with the aid 
of counsel and in writing. But this was not agreeable to Baltimore, 
and now he complained of the sultryness of the weather. Before it 
was too cold, now it was too hot. Accordingly the conference again 
broke up without anything being accomplished. It was now plainly 
evident that Baltimore did not intend to corns to any agreement 
with Penn, but would carry his cause before the royal tribunal in 
London. 

Penn now well understood all the conditions of the controversy, 
and that there were grave difficulties to be encountered. In the lirst 
place his own charter was explicit and would give him, if allowed, 
three full degrees of latitude and live of longitude. On the other 
hand the charter of Baltimore made his northern boundary the for- 
tietii degree, but whether the beginning or the ending was not 
stated. If the beginning, then Maryland wouhl be crowded down 
nearly to the city of Washington, and Pennsylvania would embrace 
the city of Baltimore and the greater portion of what is now Mary- 
land and part of Virginia. On the other hand, if the ending of the 
fortieth degree, then Philadelphia and all the southern tier of counties 
would have to be given up. By the usual interpretation of language 
the charter of Baltimore would only give him to the beginning of 
the fortieth degree. But he had boldly assumed the other interpre- 
tation, and had made nearly all his settlements above that line. 
Again it was provided in the charter of Lord Baltiinoi-e that the 
boundaries prescribed should not include any territory already 
settled. But it was well known that the settlements along the right 
bank of the Delaware, from the lirst visit of Hudson in 1609, long 
before the charter of Baltimore was given, had been made on the 
territory now claimed by him. On the other hand there were 
difficulties in construing one portion of the charter of Penn, 
doubtless caused by the ignorance of the royal secretaries, who 
drew it, of the geography of the country, there having been no 
accurate maps showing latitude made at this time. Consequently 
when they commenced to describe the southern boundary of Penn- 
sylvania they said, "and on the south by a circle drawn at twelve 
miles distance from New Castle, Northwards and AVestwards unto the 
heginnimj of the fortieth degree of Northern Latitude; and then by 
a straight line westwards to the limitt of Longitude above men- 
tioned," that is to the Panhandle line, as now ascertained. But this 
circle which is here described at twelve miles distant from New 
Castle northwards and westwards, to reach the beginning of the for- 
tieth, would not only have to bo extended northward and westward, 



90 HISTORY OF GREENE COUJS^TY. 

but southward, and tlie radius of twelve miles soutliward would by- 
no means reach the beginning of the fortieth degree, and hence would 
have to be extended on an arbitrary line still further southward, not 
provided for in the charter. The royal secretaries seemed to have 
labored under the impression that New Castle town was about on the 
beginning of the fortieth parallel, whereas it was nearly two-thirds of 
a degree to the north of that line. 

It must be confessed that there were many grave difficulties in 
the way of a satisfactory adjustment of these counter claims, and it 
is reported that Lord Baltimore, on his first visit' to Markham, after 
having found by observation the true latitude of New Castle, and 
heard the provisions of Penn's charter read, dolefully but very per- 
tinently asked: "If this, be allowed, where then is my pi-ovince?" 
Baltimore, from the very moment that he discovered what the claims 
of Penn were, had evidently resolved not to make any effort to come 
to an agreement with Penn, which is abundantly shown by his frivo- 
lous excuses for not proceeding to business in their several inter- 
views; but had determined to pursue a bold policy in pushing the 
sale of lands on the disputed tract, constantly assuming that his in- 
terpretation was the true one, and even opening an aggressive policy, 
trusting to the maintenance of his claims before the officers of the 
crown in England. 

Accordingly, Baltimore issued proposals for the sale of lands in 
the lower counties, now the State of Delaware, territory which Penn 
had secured by deed from the Duke of York, after receiving his 
charter from the King, offering cheaper rates than Penn had done. 
Penn had also learned that Lord Baltimore had sent a surveyor to 
take an observation and find the latitude of New Castle, had prepared 
an ex f arte statement of his case and was actually, by his agents, 
pressing the cause to a decision before tlie Lords of the Committee of 
Plantations in England, without giving any notice to Penn. Be- 
lieving in the strong point of possession, Baltimore was determined 
to pursue a vigorous policy. He accordingly drew up a summons to 
quit, and sent a messenger. Colonel Talbot, to Philadelphia to "de- 
mand of William Penn all that part of the land on the west side of 
the said river that lyeth to the southward of the fortieth degree of 
north latitude." Penn was absent at the time, and the summons was 
delivered to the acting Governor, Nicholas Moore. But upon his 
i-eturn the Proprietary made answer in strong but earnest terms, 
showing the groiinds of his own claim and repelling any counter 
claim. The conduct of Baltimore alarmed him, for he saw plainly 
that if settlers from Maryland entered his province under claim of 
protection from its Governor, it would very soon lead to actual con- 
flict for possession. What he feared came to pass sooner than he had 
anticipated ; for in the spring of 1684, in time to put in their crops, 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 91 

a company from Maryland came in force into the lower counties, 
drove off the peaceable Pennsylvania settlers, and took possession of 
their farms. Taking the advice of his council, Penn sent a copy of 
his reply to the demand tliat Talbot had brought, which he ordered 
to be read to the intruders, and ordered Wiiliani AVelcli, sherili" of 
the county, to reinstate the lawful owners. He then issued his 
proclamation reiterating and defending his claims, and warning all 
intruders to desist in future from such unlawful acts. 

As has been previously observed, if Penn should tamely submit 
to the claim of Baltimore, his entire colony would have been swal- 
lowed up, and all his labor would have been lost. This result Balti- 
more seemed determined to effect. To the peaceful, quiet and loving 
disposition of Penn this contention was exceedingly distasteful. As 
for quantity of land, he freely declared that he would have had 
enough if he had retained only the two degrees which would have 
remained after allowing Baltimore all that he claimed. But he was 
imwilling to give up the rapidly growing city and colonies which he 
had founded, and more than all to yield possession of Delaware Bay 
and ri\er, his only means of communication with the ocean. He 
foresaw that if the two shores of tliis noble stream were in the pos- 
session of hostile States, how easy it would be to make harrassiiig 
regulations governing its navigation. But Penn was a man of just 
and benevolent instincts, and he was willing to make reasonable con- 
cessions and compromises to secure peace and satisfy his neighbor in 
Maryland. Accordingly, at one of their interviews Penn asked Balti- 
more what he would ask per square mile for the territory south of 
the Delaware and reaching to the ocean, though he already had the 
deed for this same land from the Duke of York, secured by patent 
from the King, and Baltimore's own patent expressly provided that 
he could not claim territory already settled. But this generous offer 
to repurchase what he already owned, was rejected by the proprietor 
of Maryland. 

Penn now saw but too plainly that there was no hope of coming 
to a peaceful and equitable composition of their differences in this 
country, and that if he M'ould secure a decision in his interest he had 
no time to lose in repairing to London, and personally defending his 
rights before the royal commission. There is no question but that 
he came to this decision with unfeigned regret. His colony was 
prosperous, the settlers were happy and contented in their new homes, 
the country itself was all that he could wish and he no doubt fondly 
hoped to live and die in the midst of his people. But the demand 
for his return to England was imperative, and he prepared to obey 
it. He accordingly empowered the Provincial Council, of which 
Thomas Lloyd was president, to act in his stead, and on the 6th of 
June, 1684, sailed for England. From on board the vessel, before 



92 HISTORY OF GREKNK COUNTY. 

leaving the Delaware, he sent back an address to the council, in 
which he unbosoms himself freely : "Dear PViends: — My love and 
m}' life is to you and with you; and no water can quench it, nor dis- 
tance wear it out, nor brirfg it to an end. I have been with you, 
cared over you, and served you with unfeigned love; and you are 
beloved of me and near to me bej'ond utterance. * * * Ob, 
that you would eye Him in all, tiirough all, and above all the works 
of your hands; for to a blessed end are you brought hither. * * * 
You are now come to a quiet land; provoke not the Lord to trouble 
it, and now that liberty and authority are with you, and jn your 
hands, let the government be upon his shoulders, in all your spirits; 
that you may rule for Him, under whom the princes of this world 
will one day esteem it their honor to govern and serve in their 
places. * * * And thou Philadelphia, the virgin settlement of 
this province, named before thou wert born, what love, what service 
and travail has thei'e been to bring thee forth, and preserve thee from 
such as would abuse and defile thee!" 

Upon his arrival in England, on the 6tli of October, he took an 
early opportunity to pay his respects to the King, and the Duke of 
York, " who received me," he says, " very graciously, as did the min- 
isters very civilly. Yet I found things in general with another face 
than I left them — sour and stern, and resolved to hold the reins of 
power with a stitfer hand than before." In a letter to Lloyd, of the 
16tli of March, 1685, he says: "The King (Charles I.) is dead, and 
the Duke succeeds peaceably. He was well on the First-day night, 
being the iirst of February so called. About eight next morning, as 
he sat down to shave, his head twitched both ways or sides, and he 
gave a shriek and fell as dead, and so remained some hours. They 
opportunely blooded and cupped him, and plied his head with red 
hot frying-pans. He returned and continued till sixth day noon, but 
mostly in great tortures. Pie seemed very penitent, asking pardon 
of all, even the poorest subject he had wronged. * * * He was 
an able man for a divided and troubled kingdom. The present King 
was proclaimed about three o'clock that day." 

The new king being a personal friend of Fenn, he had hopes of favor 
at court, and did secure many indulgences for his oppressed Friends 
in the kingdom; but the ministry was bitterly hostile to dissenters, 
and he found his controversy with Lord 'Baltimore very diflScult of 
management. Fenn now pressed his controversy with Lord Balti- 
more to a final settlement, and in November, 1685, a decision was 
made in the English court, compromising the claims of the two 
Governors, and providing that the portion of territory between the 
Delaware and Chesapeake baj's should be divided by a line through 
the centre, and that the portion bordering upon the Delaware should 
belong to Fenn, and that upon the Chesapeake to Lord Baltimore. 



IIISTOKY OF GREENE COUNTY. 93 

This settled the dispute for tlie time; bat upon attempting tu measure 
and run the dividing line, the language of the act was so indefinite 
that tlie attempt was abandoned, and the old controversy was again 
renewed. JN'ot wishing to press his suit at once, while tlie memory 
of the decision already made was green, Lord Baltimore suffered the 
controversy to rest, and each parly laid claim to the territory ad- 
judged to him in theory by the royal decree, but without any division 
line. 

On the 28th of April, 1707, the goverment of Maryland presented 
to the Queen an address asking that an order should be made requiring 
the authorities of the two colonies, Maryland and Pennsylvania, " to 
run the division lines and ascertain the boundaries between them, 
for the ease of the inhabitants, who have been much distressed by 
their uncertainty. It would appear that the controversy, — after 
William Penn in 1685 had secured the lands upon the right bank of 
the Delaware, — was left to work out its own cure, as a deliiiite 
agreement was entered into in the life time of the founder that tlie 
authorities in neither colony should disturb the settlers in the other, 
and as the colonies were substantially located originally with a dividing 
line where the line was subsequently run, the portion of territory on 
this disputed belt which each was to give up settled itself, and only 
needed to be specitically defined, surveyed and marked. Repeated 
conferences were held, and lines run ^ but nothing satisfactory was 
accomplished until the -tth of July 1760, when Frederick, Lord Baron 
of Baltimore, and Thomas, and Kichard Penn, sons of the founder, 
entered into an elaborate and formal treaty by which the limits of the 
two provinces were provided. The boundary lines were made mathe- 
matically exact, so that there could by no possiljility be further con- 
troversy, provided surveyors were found who had the skill and the 
instruments necessary for determining them. 

The line was to commence at Cape llenlopen on the Atlantic 
coast. This cape as originally located was placed on the point oppo- 
site Cape May at the entrance of Delaware Bay, and Cape Heni-ietta 
was fitteen miles down the coast. By an error in the map used by 
the parties, the names of the.se two capes had been interchanged, and 
Ileidopen was placed fifteen miles down the coast. At this mis- 
taken point, therefore, the division commenced. When this was 
discovei'ed, a complaint was made l)efore Lord Ilardvvick; but in a 
formal decree, promulgated in 1750, it was declared " that Cape 
Henlopen ought to be deemed and taken to be situated at the .place 
where the same is laid down and described in the maps or plans an- 
nexed to the said articles to be situated." 

This point of beginning having been settled the dividing lines 
were to be substantially as follows: Commencing at Henlopen on 
the Atlantic, a due westerly line was to be run to the shores of the 



94 HISTORf OF GREENE COtfNTT. 

Chesapeake Bay, found to be 69 miles 298 perches. At the middle of 
this line a line was to be run in a direction northwesterly till it should 
form a tangent to the circumference of a circle drawn with a radius 
of twelve miles from the spire of the Court House in New Castle. 
From this tangent point a line was to be run due north until it should 
reach a meridian line 15 miles south of the most southern extremity 
of Philadelphia, and the point thus reached should be the northeast 
corner of Maryland. If the due north line from the tangent point 
should cut oii" a segment of a circle from the twelve mile circuit, 
then the slice thus cut off should be adjudged a part of New Castle 
County, and consequently should belong to Pennsylvania. The 
corner-stone at the extremity of the due north line from the tangent 
point was to be the beginning of the now famous Mason and Dixon's 
line, and was to extend due west to the western limit of Maryland. 

This settled the long dispute so far as it could be on paper, but 
to execute its provisions in practice was more difficult. The primeval 
forest covered the greater part of the line, stubborn mountains stood 
in the waj', and instruments were imperfect and liable to variation. 
Commissioners were appointed to survey, and establish the lines in 
1739, but a controversy having arisen, whether' the measurement 
should be horizontal or superficial, the commission broke up and noth- 
ing more was done till 1760, when loc'al surveyors were appointed, 
John Lukens and Archibald McLean on the part of Pennsylvania, 
Thomas Garnett and Jonathan Hall for Maryland, who commenced 
to lay off the lines as provided in the indenture of agreement entered 
into by the proprietaries. Their lirst care was to clear away the 
vistas or narrow openings eight yards wide through the forest. 
Having ascertained the middle point of the Henlopen line, they ran 
an experimental line north until opposite New Castle, when they 
measured the radius of twelve miles and fixed the tangent point. 
There were so many perplexing conditions, that it required much 
time to perfect their calculations and plant their bounds. After these 
surveyors had been three years at their work, the proprietaries in 
England, thinking the reason of their long protracted labors 
indicative of a lack of scientific knowledge on their part, or lack of 
suitable instruments, employed, on the 4th of August, 1763, two 
surveyors and mathematicians to go to America and conduct the 
work. They brought with them the best instruments procurable at 
that time — an excellent sector " six feet radius which magnified 
twenty-five times, the property of tlon. Mr. Penn, the first which 
ever had the plumb line passing over and bisecting a point at the 
centre of the instrument." They obtained from the Royal Society a 
brass standard measure, and standard chains. These surveyors were 
none other than Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon, names forever 
blazoned upon the political history of the United States, magnates at 



r -7. 




— *^ 




-^^Sd^ ;^.^^^^. 



ftlSTORY OF OREENR COFNTY. 



97 



home, but no more skilled nor more accurate in their work, over 
mountains and valleys, through the tangled and interminable forests 
of the American continent, than our own fellow-citizens, McLean 
and Lukens, and Garnett and Hall, who had preceded them. 

The daily held notes of Mason and Dixon commence November 
loth, 1763; and the tirst entry is, "Arrived at Philadelphia;" 16th, 
" Attended meeting of the commissioners appointed to settle the 
bounds of Pennsylvania;" 22d to 28th, "Landed and set up instru- 
ments, and found they had received no damage;" December 5th, " Di- 
rected a carpenter to build an observatoj-y near the point settled by 
the commissioners to be the south point of the city of Philadelphia," 
which was to be one of the initial points of the line. When the 
observatory was finished the instruments were mounted and observa- 
tions taken to fi.x: the latitude of the place. That the reader may 
observe the painstaking accuracy with which these surveyors con 
ducted their work, there is subjoined a table of one night's observa- 
tions: 





^ 






a 




rr^ 


1 


1 




T3 






o 




a 




_ 














s 


— 


C 


^ a --^ 










d 












o 






<i3 






•/3 


1763 


a 




.a o 
S 






q M 0) 

sis 




o 

a 

a 




s|| 

p. 


CO ^ 

03 . 

-1 




1 


h ' 


. , ,.. „ |, „ 


o , ,, 




Dec. 








1 










-5' 31. 


cr. a |Cygni 


20 34 


4 


:!0+ 


(8 36 L 
•/8 20 " 


16.0 


4 


30 I6.O1N. faint. 




V Androm 




I 


15- 


( ' 48+L 
(8 7 j" 


10.0 


1 


14 49.3 


N. 




B Persei 







5+ 


( 8 33i^L 
■(8 7 " 


26.3 





5 36.3 


N. 




8 Do. 




7 


5- 


451^ „ 
7 38 " 


14.5 


7 


4 15.5 


N. 




Capella 




.5 


50 


( 7 371.^ 3 
■( 10 43 "* 


5.5 


5 


47 18.5 


N. 




B Aurige 




4 


55-f 


(11 14J^o 
"(8 41 J^^ 


25.2 


4 


57 9.3 


N. 




Castor 

1 


7 19 


7 


35— 


(8 9-1 
^6 ^il4 


46.2 


7 


33 31.8 N. 



Cha; Mason. 
Jere: Dixon. 



Nearly one whole year was spent in ascertaining the middle point 
of the Henlopen line across the peninsula, and running the line 
northward to find the tangent point on the twelve mile periphery 
from the steeple of New Castle Court House, and on the 13th of 
November, 1764, they make the following entry in their notes, 



98 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

" From data in minute of ye 27th of August, we computed how far 
the true tangent line would be distant from the Post (shown us to be 
the tangent point), and found it would not pass one inch to the west- 
ward or eastward. On measuring the angle of our last line, with 
the direction from New Castle, it was so near a I'ight angle that on 
a mean from our lines, the above mentioned post is the true tangent 
point." Thns it was shown that with all the difficulties our native 
surveyors had to contend with, the English surveyors found, after a 
year's carefi^l labor, that the work of their predecessors was correct. 

On the 18th of June, 1765, Mason and Dixon make this entry 
in their notes, "We set seven stones, viz: one at the tangent point, 
four in the periphery of the circle round New Castle, one in the 
north line from tangent point, and one at the intersection of the north 
line (from ye Tangent Point) and the Parallel 15 Miles South of the 
Southermost Point of the City of Philadelphia, The Gent: Com- 
missioners of both provinces present." On the 27tli of October, 
17(d5, the ibllowing entry was made, " Capt. Shelby again went with 
us to the summit of the mountain (when the air was very clear), 
and shewed us the Northermost bend of the Kiver Potowmack at 
the Conoloways; from which we judge the line will pass about two 
miles tu the North of the said River. From hence we could see the 
Alleghany Mountains for many miles, and judge it by its appearance 
to be about 50 miles distance in the direction of the Line." On the 
26th of September, 1766, the following important entry was made, 
" From any eminence in the Line, where 15 or 20 Miles of the Yisto 
can be seen (of which there are manj^) the said line, or Visto, very 
apparently shews itself to form a parallel of Northern Latitude. The 
line in measured horizontal: the Hills and the Mountains with a 16^ 
Feet Level. And beside the Mile Posts we have set Posts in the 
true Line (marked W on the west side) all along the Line opposite 
the Stationary Points, where the Sector and Transit Instruments 
stood. The said Posts stand in the middle of the Visto, which in 
general is about 8 yards wide. The number of Posts in the West 
Line is 303." 

It will be understood that this " visto" or vista pi-operly, was a 
straight east and west belt of eight yards in width, cleared by the 
axmen through the dense forest for the purpose of the survey. The 
view from these eminences to which they i-efer, mnst have been 
grand, the forest for the most part resting undisturbed, as it had 
been for ages, the two sides of the clearing seeming in the distance 
to approach each other and join, the silver current of the river show- 
ing liere and there, and the noisy brook tumbling down the moun- 
tain side. In the spi-ing-time, the surveyors were often awakened in 
the morning by the gobbling of the wild turkeys, and tlic rattle of 



HISTORY OF OREKNK COtrxTY. 99 

their chain chimed melodiously with the distant dnunming of the 
partridge. 

On the 14th to 18th of July, 1767, they make the following 
entries: "At 168 miles, 78 chains is the top of the great dividing 
Ridge of tlie Alleghany Mountains. At 169 m. (]() cli., crossed a 
small branch of the Little Yochio Geni. The head of Saxage River 
south, distant about a mile. This day (16th) we were joined by 14 
Indians deputied by the chiefs of the Six IS'ations to go with us on 
the line. With them came Mr. Hugh Crawford, Interpreter. At 
171 m. 5 ch., crossed a branch of ye Little Yc^chio Ceni, 171 m. 63 
ch., crossed do. the last time (in the whole 6 or 7 times)." August 
17, " At this station, Mr. John Green, one of the Chiefs of the Mo- 
hock Nation, and his Nephew, left us, in order to return to their own 
country." August 31, "At 204 m. 11 ch., crossed a small run run- 
ning southward. Here, by information, the Big Meadows are north, 
distant about 5 miles." " At 217 m. 13 ch. is the foot of the Laurel 
Hill, on the west side." "At 219 m. 22 ch. 25 Iks. crossed the Cheat 
river obliquely." "At 222 m. 24 ch. 12 Iks. is the top of a very high 
Bank, at the foot of which is the River Manaungahela," September 
27th are the following notes: " Aljout a mile and a half north of 
where the Sector stands, the Rivers ('heat and Manaungahela joyn. 
The mouth of Redstone creek, by information, bears due north from 
this station, distant 25 miles. Fort Pit is supposed to be due north 
distant about 50 miles." September 30, " At 222 m. 34 chains, 50 
Links, the east bank of ye River Manaungahela at 222 m. 40 ch. 
25 links the west bank, breadth about 5 chaines." 

In all the work of the surveyors, the Indians had preserved an 
attitude of awe and superstitious dread. They could not understand 
what all this peering into the heavens, and always in the dead of the 
night (as all astronomical observations must be made at that time of 
night when the particular star desired came into view) portended. 
They looked with special distrust on those curious little tubes cov- 
ered with glass, through which the surveyors stood patiently watch- 
ing somebody in the far off heavens. The Six Nations, who were 
supreme in these parts, had given permission by treaty to run this 
line; but when they heard of the methods adopted, we may well 
imagine their speculations in the native council chambers, in the 
deep shadows of the wood, touching the purpose of these nightly 
vigils. They entertained a suspicion that the surveyors were hold- 
ing communication with spirits in the skies, who were pointing out 
the track of their line. So much had their fears become wrought 
upon, that when Mason and Dixon had reached the summit of the 
Little Alleghany, the Six ^^'ations gave notice upon the departure of 
their agents, that the survey must cease at that point. But, by the 
adroit representations of Sir William Johnson, the Six Nations were 

L OF C. 



100 HISTOEY OV GREENE COUNTY. 

induced to allow the survey to proceed. No further interruption 
was experienced until they reached the bottom of a deep, dark val- 
ley on the border of a sti-eam, marked Dunkard Creek, on their map, 
where they came upon an ancient Indian war-path winding through 
the dense forest; and here the representatives of the Six Nations de- 
clared that this was the limit of the ground which their commission 
covered, and refused to proceed further. In the language of the 
field notes, " This day the Chief of the Indians which joined us on 
the 16th of July, informed us that the above mentioned War Path 
was the extent of his commission from the Chiefs of the Six Na- 
tions, that he should go with us to the line, and that he wonld not 
proceed one step further." 

For some days previous, the Indians had been giving intimations 
of trouble, and when arrived at the banks of the Manaungahela, 
" twenty-six of our Men left us," say the notes. " They M'ould not 
pass the River for fear' of the Shawnees and Delaware Indians. But 
we prevailed upon 15 ax men to proceed with us; and with them we 
continued the Line Westward." There wonld be no safety to the 
surveyors without the Indian escort, as they would be at the mercy 
of wandering bands of savages, who knew not the meaning of the 
word compassion or mercy; but who could dash the brains out of a 
helpless infant, and tear the scalp from the head of a trembling 
and defenceless female with as keen a relish as they ever sat down to 
a breakfast of hot turtle soup. Therefore, there was no alternative; 
and although they were now within 36 miles of the end of the line, 
and in a few days more would have reached the limit, they were 
forced to desist: and here, on the margin of Dunkard Creek, on the 
line of this famous Avar-path, in Greene Connty, Mason and Dixon 
set up their last monumental stone, 233 m, 13 ch. 68 links from the 
initial point of this now famous line which bears their name, and 
ended the survey. Eeturning to Philadelphia they made their final 
report to the commissioners, and' received an honorable discharge on 
the 26th of December, 1767. 

The woi'k of those surveyors was tedious and toilsome, being 
conducted in the primeval forest through which a continuous vista, 
twenty-five feet wide, had to be cleared as they went, and in which 
they were obliged to camp out in all weathers of a changeable cli- 
mate. To keep on a due east and west line they were exclusively 
guided by the stars, and their rest at night must constantly be 
broken by these necessary vigils. 

By the terms of the agreement of 1732, and the order of the 
Lord High Chancellor Ilardwick, every fifth mile of this line was 
to be marked by a stone monument engraved with the arms of the 
Proprietaries, and the intermediate miles by smaller stones marked 
by a P on the side facing Pennsylvania, and an M on the side facing 



HISTORY OF GREKNE COUNTY. 101 

Maryland. These .stones were some twelve inches square, and 
four feet long, and were cut and engraved in England, and sent 
over ready for setting. The tixingthe exact location of these stones 
gave no little vexation to the surveyors. This formal marking, as 
directed, was observed till the line reached Sidelong Hill; but here, 
all wheel transportation ceasing for lack of roads, the further mark- 
ing was by the "visto" "eight or nine yards wide," "and marks 
were set up on the tops of all the Pligh liidges and Mountains." Their 
entry on the 19th of November, 1767, was " Snow twelve or four- 
teen inches deep; made a pile of stones on the top of Savage Moun- 
tain, or the great dividing ridge of the Alleghany Mountains. 
West of this mountain to ye end of ye line, the Mile Posts are five 
feet in length, twelve inches square and set two feet in the ground, 
and round them are heaped Earth and Stone eight feet Diameter at 
bottom and two and one half feet high." At tiie end of their line 
in Greene County, at Dunkard Creek, they say, "we set up a Post 
marked W on the West side, and heaped round it earth, etc., three 
yards and a half in Diameter at Bottom, and five feet High — the 
heap nearly coiaical," making an extra large mound here, as if to 
emphasize it, and make a period to their work, until it should be re- 
sumed again, but which proved to be the final termination of their 
labors. Mason and Dixon were paid twenty- one shillings per day 
for their labor, the entire expense to Pennsylvania being £34,200, 
or $171,000. 

Nothing further was done towards completing the survey of this 
line until 1779, in the very midst of the Revolutionary war. So far 
as Maryland was concerned the controversy Was at an end, as its 
western boundary termimxtes with the meridian marking the source 
of the Potomac River. But on the above mentioned date, Patrick 
Henry, then Governor of Virginia, addressed a letter to the Governor 
of Pennsylvania, and enclosed a resolution of the House of Del- 
egates of that State respecting commissioners to be appointed for 
fixing the boundary between Virginia and Pennsylvania. But, as this 
opens an entirely new subject of controversy, involving the inter- 
pretation of the Virginia Charter, and the rights of the Ohio Land 
Company, the consideration of this topic will be reserved to the proper 
place in the narrative. 



102 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 



CHAPTEE YII. 

Fkench Claim tiik Extike Vall-ey of the Mississiri'i — The Peace 
OF Ryswick — The Peace of Utrecht — The Fia-e Nations Sub- 
ject TO the English — Feance Still Confirmed in Possession 
OF THE Mississippi Valley' — Claim of the English — The Peace 

or AlX-LA-ClIAPELLE UNPRINCIPLED TbADERS ^ OlIIO COM- 
PANY" Formed — The Boy Washington — Ohio Company to 
Locate 200,000 Acres — French Jealous — Send Celeron to 
BuEY- Plates — Pass Over Chataunqua Lake — The Route by 
Peesque Isle and Le Boeuf Subsequently- A7)opted — Indians 
ON the Watch — Plate Bueied at Waeren — Insceiption Upon 
Plate — Plate Dug Up and Caeeied to Sie William Johnson 
— Go^'EENOR Clinton Communicates Contents to Lords of 
Teade, and to Governor PLvmilton — Speech of Indian Chief- 
tain and Inteepretion of Inscription — Reply' of Chieftain 
— Celeeon Plants Another Plate at Indian God — Anothee at 
LoGSTcnvN — Expels English Teadees — Sends Lettee to Gov- 
ernor Hamilton Waening Him — Othee Plates at Mouth of 
Muskingum, Geeat Kanawha, and Geeat Miami — Ascends the 
Miami and Down the Maumee — Plates Found — Peopeietary' 
Disturbed — Notes of Ceoghan — BuiLDixci a Fort Contem- 
plated. 

AS has been previously observed, it was held as a principle of the 
law of nations that the discovery of and occupancy of the mouth 
of a river, entitles the discoverer to all the land drained by that 
river and its tributaries, even to their remotest sources. By reason 
of the discoveries of Marquette and La Salle, and the formal posses- 
sion taken of the Mississippi River by them under the French fl&g, 
France laid claim to all the territory drained by this river. Had 
this claim been allowed all that portion of New York, Pennsylvania 
and Virginia lying west of the water-shed formed by the Alleghany 
Mountains, would have been given up to the French, and Greene 
County would have been settled by a Fi-ench speaking people, the 
subjects of the French King. 

In the early settlement of the North American continent b}' 
Europeans, the French showed by far the greater spirit and enter- 
prise, and in numbers were superior. In 1688, France commenced 



IIISTOKY OF CiltKKXK COUNTY. 103 

a wasting war against England and her allies, which was finally con- 
cluded by the treaty of Ryswick, by which France was confirmed in 
the possession of Hudson I'ay, Canada and the valley of the Mis- 
sissipjsi; but it was provided that neither party should interfere with 
the Indian allies of the other. Both parties laid claim to the Six 
Nations as allies. Jesuit priests were active in endeavoring to win 
these Indians over to the French, which induced the New York legis- 
lature, in 1700, to jiass an act " to hang every popish priest that 
should come voluntarily into the province." In 1G98, through the 
ofiices of Count Ponchartrain, D'Iberville was appointed governor, 
and his brother, De Bienville, intendant of Louisiana, and were sent 
with a colony direct to the mouth of the Mississippi, to make a settle- 
ment there. 

Peace between France and England was of short duration, and in 
1701 war broke out between them, which was waged along the 
border in America with sanguinary ferocity and cruelty. It was 
concluded by the peace of Utrecht, in 1713, by which England 
obtained control of the fisheries, Hudson Bay and its borders, New- 
foundland and Nova Scotia, or Acadia, and it was expressly stipulated 
that " France should not molest the Five Nations, subject to the 
dominion of Great Britain, whose possessions embraced the whole 
of New York and Pennsylvania, though the French did not allow 
them that much territory. But the valley of the Mississippi still re- 
mained to the French, the English embassadors not being alive to the 
importance of this magnificent stretch of country. William Penn 
had advised that the St. Lawrence should be made the boundary line 
to the north and that the English claim should include the great 
valley of the continent. It "will make a glorious country" said 
Penn. The failure to fix definitely the bounds, caused another half 
century of bitter contention and bloody strife, in which the ignorant 
savages were used as agents by either party. In 1748, a four years' 
war was concluded between the old enemies, French and English, 
by the peace of Aix La-Chapelle, by which England was confirmed 
in her possessions in North America. lUit the boundaries were still 
indefinite. 

France claimed the Mississippi valley in its entirety; that is, all 
the land drained by the tributaries of the great river. The British 
crown claimed the territory on the uppei- Ohio on the ground of a 
treaty executed at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in 1744, at which the 
share paid by Virginia was £220 in goods, and that paid by Mary- 
land £200 in gold. On this purchase the claim of the Iroqnois as 
allies, and the claim of the settlements on the Atlantic coast of ter- 
ritory westward from ocean to ocean, rested the right of the English 
to this imperial valley. The fact is, however, that the party which 
could show most strengtli in men and money was destined to hold 



104 HISTORY OF GKEENE COUNTY. 

it. By the middle of tlie eigliteentli century the English, in respect 
to force, had greatly the advantage. As early as 1688 a census of 
French North America showed a population of 11,249, while the 
English population at this time was estimated at a quarter of a 
million. During the next half century both nationalities increased 
rapidly, but the' English mucli the faster. 

Previous to the treaty of Chapelle adventurous traders from 
Pennsylvania had explored the passes of tlie Alleghany Mountains, 
and pushed on to the borders of the Monongahela and the Ohio. 
By the good offices of the colonial governors of JSTew York and 
Pennsylvania, the Six Nations had been kept in firm alliance witli 
the English. The French liad sought to win them over to their 
power, and had distributed many showy presents. Thinking that 
the simple natives would never know the difference, the French had 
made a large gift of bright looking hatchets, but which, instead of 
being made of fine steel, were only soft iron. The Indians soon dis- 
covered the diiference, and were more incensed than ever against the 
French. Lest the latter, who were active and vigilant, might gain 
an advantage on the Ohio, Conrad "Weiser was sent ont to Logstown, 
a few miles below Pittsburg on the Ohio, in 1748, with valuable 
and usefid presents to win the favor of the natives. It was seen, 
however, that the valuable trade with the Indians at this time was 
. in the hands "of unprincipled men, half civilized, half savage, who, 
through the Iroquois, had from the earliest period penetrated to the 
lakes of Canada, and competed everywhere with the French for skins 
and furs." More with the purpose of controlling and legitimizing 
this trade than of effecting permanent settlements, it was proposed in 
the Virginia colony to form a great company which should hold 
lands on the Ohio, build forts for trading posts, import English 
goods, and establish regular traffic with the Indians. Accordingly, 
Thomas Lee, president of the council of Virginia, and twelve other 
Virginians, among whom was John Hanbury, a wealthy London 
merchant, formed in 1749 what was known as the " Ohio Company," 
and applied to the English government for a grant of land for this 
purpose. The request was favorably received, and the Legislature 
of Virginia was authorized to grant to the petitioners a half million 
acres of land within the bounds of that colony, " west of the Allegh- 
anies, between the Monongahela and Kanawha rivers; though part 
of the land might be taken up north of the Ohio should it be deemed 
expedient." 

It was at about this period, in March, 1748, that a boy of sixteen 
years set out from the abodes of civilization with his theodolite to 
survey wild lands in the mountains and valleys of the Virginia 
colony. In a letter to one of his yoiing friends lie says: "I have not 
slept above three or four nights in a bed, but after walking a good 




f^e*^ M &c^/ H (J^-'^m/ 



/« 



HISTOKY OF GREENE COUNTY. 107 

deal all day 1 have lain down before the fire upon a little straw or 
fodder, or a bear skin, whichever was to be had, with man, wife and 
children, like dogs and cats; and happy is he who gets tlie liertli 
nearest the lire." Tins yoiitli, tlius early inured to hardsliip and 
toil, was none other than George Washington, destined to great 
labors for his country, and a life of patriotism and unbending devo- 
tion scarcely matched in the annals of mankind. 

A condition of the grant of the " Ohio Company" was that two 
hundred thousand acres should be located at once. This was to be 
held for ten years free of rent, ])rovided the company would put 
there one hundred families within seven years, and build a tort 
sufficient to protect the settlement. Tiiis the company prepared to 
do, and sent a ship to London for a cargo of goods suited to the 
Indian trade. Upon the death of Thomas Lee, the president of the 
Ohio Company, wliicli soon took place, Lawrence Washington, a 
brother of George, was given the •' cliief management" of the com- 
pany, a man of enliglitened views anti generous spirit. 

But the organization of tliis company, and the preparations to 
take possession of the Ohio country, did not escape the vigilant eye 
of the French, and if they would liold the territory claimed by them 
they must move at once, or the enterprising English would be tliere, 
and" would have sucli a footliold as would render it impossible to 
rout them. 

Accordingly, early in 1749, the Marquis de la Galisonniere, 
Governor General of Canada, dispatched Celeron de Bienville with a 
party of some two hundred French and fifty Indians to take formal 
possession of the Ohio country, the Alleghany being designated by 
the French by that name. Fatlfer Bonnecamps acted as cha{)lain, 
mathematician and historian of the party. The expedition started 
on the loth of June, 171U, from La Chine on the St. Lawrence. 
Passing up the river through the net work of islands and along the 
shore of Ontario to Niagara Falls, they commenced the labor of 
debarking and transporting their entire outfit around the cataract. 
In this work tliey were engaged for nearly a week; but by the 13th 
of July they were again afioat on the waters of Lake Erie. At a 
point nearest to Chautauqua Lake they landed and commenced trans- 
porting their boats and stores overland a distance of eight miles, and 
over a water-shed more than eight hundred feet above the waters of 
Lake Erie. The party was accompanied by the two sons of Joncaire 
(Jean Coeur) who had lived with the Indians in this locality, and 
knew every path and water course. To them Celeron looked for 
guidance in this novel voyage over land. When surveyors had 
marked the track, pioneers cut and cleared a road, over which the 
whole was transported to the shores of Chautauqua, wiiere they again 
embarked, and passing down the Conewango Creek, the outlet ot the 



108 IIISTOUY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

lake, made their way to its confluence with the Allegheny River, near 
the town of Warren. Here tliey paused to commence the work of 
possessing the country. 

It may be proper to observe in this connection tliat this experi- 
ence of reaching the Chautauqua Lake with all their impedimenta 
over the high ridge was so toilsome that in future expeditions they 
abandoned this route and Avent by the way of Presque Isle (Erie) 
and Waterford, where tliey struck French Creek or the Venango 
Kiver, down which they passed to the Allegheny Kiver at Franklin. 
In the deposition of one Stephen Coflin before Colonel Johnson, of 
New York, he says: " From Niagara fort we set off by water, being 
April, and arrived at Chadakoin (Chautauqua) on Lake Erie, where 
they were ordered to fell timber and prepare it for building a fort 
there according to the Governor's instructions; but M. Morang, 
coming up with five hundred men and twenty Indians, put a stop to 
erecting a fort at that place, by reason of his not liking thfe situa- 
tion, and the river of Chadakoins being too shallow to carry any 
craft with provisions to Belle Riviere. The deponent says there 
arose a warm debate between Messieurs Babeer and Morang there- 
on, the first insisting on bnilding the fort there agreeable to his in- 
structions, otlierwise on Morang's giving him an instrument in 
writing to satisfy the Governor in that point, which Morang did, 
and then Monsieur Mercie, who was both commissary and engineer, 
to go along said lake and look for a good situation, which he found 
in three days. They were then all ordered thither; they fell to work 
and built a square fort of chestnnt logs, and called it Fort Le Presque 
Isle. * '■•' '•'" As soon as the fort was finished they marched 
southward, cutting a wagon road through a fine level country twenty- 
one miles |15J to the river aux Boeufs [Waterford]." Thus, thougli 
the distance to Chautauqua Lake was not so great as to Waterford, 
the road to tlie latter was " through a fine level country" and not 
over a rugged ridge as at the former- 
Celeron and his party had not left the shores of Chautauqua, where 
he had encamped, probably in the vicinity of Lakewood, before he 
discovered that his movements were being watched by the natives. 
Parties were sent out to intercept them and cnltivate their friend- 
ship, but were unsuccessful. Having reached the Allegheny River at 
or near Warren, as we have seen, Celeron with religious ceremony 
took possession of tlie river and country, and buried a leaden plate, 
on the south bank of the Allegheny River, opposite a little island at 
the mouth of the Conewango, in token of French possession. Upon 
this plate was the following inscription in French: " L'an 1749 dv 
regne de Lovis XV Roy de France novs Celoron commandant don 
de tachement envoie par monsieur le mis de la Galissoniere com- 
mandant General de la nonvelle France povr retablir la tranquillite 



IILSTOKY OK GHEENK COUNTY. 109 

dans quelques villages sauvages de ces cantons avous euterre cette 
plaque a leutru de 1' riviere Chinodabichetha le 18 Aonst pres de la 
riviere i)yo aiitrement Belle riviere pour nionuinent du renovvelle- 
inent de possession que nous avous pris de la ditte riviere Oyo et de 
toutes celles (|ui }' tombnt et de toves les terres des deux cotes jusque 
aux sources des dittes rivies vinsi que out Jovy ou du Jovir les pre- 
cedents Roys de France et quils sisont niaintenus par les armes et 
par les trattes specialenient parceuxde Risvuick d' Utrcht et d' Aix- 
La-Chapelle." 

In English, " In the year 1749, of the reign of Louis XIV., King 
of France, We Celeron, commander of a detachment sent by Monsieur 
the Marquis de la Galissoniere, Governor General of New France, to 
re-establish tran(juility in some Indian villages of these cantons, have 
buried this plate of lead at the conliuence of the Ohio with the Chau- 
tauqua, this 29th day of July, near the river Ohio, otherwise Belle 
Riviere, as a monument of the renewal of the possession we have 
taken of the said river Ohio, and of all those which emj)ty into it, 
and of all the lands on both sides as far as the sources of the said 
river, as enjoyed, or ought to have been enjoyed by the King of 
France preceding, and as they have there maintained themselves by 
arms and by treaties, especially those of Ryswick, Utrecht and Aix- 
la-Chapelle." 

All the men and otHcers were drawn up in military order when 
the plate was buried, and Celeron proclaimed in a strong tone, " Vive 
le Roil" and declared that possession of the country was now taken 
in behalf of the French. A plate with the lilies of France inscribed 
thereon was nailed to a tree near by. All this officious ceremony 
did not escape the keen eyes of the evei- vigilant and superstitious 
natives, and scarcely were Celeron and his party well out of sight in 
their course down the Allegheny, before that leaden missive with the 
mysterious characters engraved thereon was pulled from its place of 
concealment, and fast runners were on their way to the home of the 
Iroquois chiefs, who immediately dispatched one of their number to 
take it to Sir William Johnson, at Albany. Mr. O. H. Marshall, in 
his admirable historical address on tliis subject, says: "The first of 
the leaden plates was brought to the attention of the public by Gov. 
George Clinton to the Lords of Trade in London, dated New York, 
December 19, 1750, in which he states that he would send to their 
Lordships in two or three weeks a plate of lead full of writing which 
some of the upper nations of Indians stole from Jean Coeur, the 
French interpreter at Niagara, on his way to the River Ohio, which 
river, and all the lands thereabouts, the French claim, as will appear 
by said writing. He further states 'that the lead plates gave the 
Indians so much uneasiness that they immediately dispatched some 
of the Cayuga chiefs to him with it, saying that their only reliance 



110 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

was on him, and earnestly begged lie would coram nnicate the con- 
tents to them, which he had done, much to their satisfaction and the 
interests of the English.' The Governor concludes by saying that 
'the contents of the plate may be of great importance in clearing up 
the encroachments which the French have made on the British empire 
in America.' The plate was delivered to Colonel, afterward Sir Will- 
iam Johnson, on the 4th of December, 1750 (49), at his residence on 
the Mohawk, by a Cayuga sachem." 

Governor Clinton also wrote to Governor Hamilton of Pennsyl- 
vania, as shown by the minutes of council, as follows: "* * * I 
send you a copy of an inscription on a leaden plate stolen from Jean 
Coeur, some months since, in the Senecas' country, as he was going 
to the river Ohio, which plainly demonstrates the French scheme by 
the exorbitant claims therein mentioned; also a copy of a Cayuga 
Sachem's speech to Colo. Johnson, with his reply." The Cayuga 
sachem's speech was as follows: "Brother Corlear and War-ragh-i- 
ya-ghey ! I am sent here by the Five ISTations with a piece of writing 
which the Senecas, our brethren, got by some artifice from Jean 
Coeur, earnestly beseeching you will let us know what it means, and 
as we put all our confidence in you, onr brotlicr, we hope yon will 
explain it ingeniously to us." (The speaker here delivered the square 
leaden plate and a wampum belt, and proceeded.) "I am ordered 
further to acquaint yon that Jean Coeur, the French interpreter, 
when on his journey this last summer to Ohio River, spoke thus to 
the Five Nations and others in our alliance: 'Children: — Your 
Father, having, out of a tender regard for you, considered the great 
difficulties you labor under by carrying your goods, canoes, &c., over 
the great carrying place of Niagara, has desired me to acquaint you 
that, in order to ease you all of so much trouble for the future, he is 
resolved to build a house at the other end of said carrying place, 
which he will furnish with all necessaries requisite for your use.' 
* * * He also told us that he was on his way to the Ohio River, 
where he intended to stay three years ; * * * that he was sent 
thither to build a house there; also at the carrying place between 
said river Ohio and Lake Erie (Presque Isle and Waterford), where 
all the western Indians should be supplied with whatever goods they 
may have occasion for, and not be at the trouble and loss of time of 
going so far to mai-ket as iisual (meaning Oswego). After this he 
desired to know our opinion of the affair, and begged our consent to 
build in said places. He gave us a large belt of wampum, thereon 
desiring our answer, which we told him we would take some time to 
consider of." 

Assuring the Indian chieftains of the unalterable friendship of 
the English towards their people, and the enmity and duplicity of tlie 
French, of which many examples were cited, Sir William Johnson 



HISTOIIY OK (inKEXK rdUNTY. HI 

said: "Their scheme now laid against you and yours, at a time 
when they are feeding you up with line promises of serving you 
several shapes, is worse than all the rest, as will appear by their own 
writing on this plate." Here Johnson translated the French writing 
on the plate, commenting as he proceeded on the force and intent of 
the several parts, and explaining the purpose of the French in bury- 
ing the plate. Proceeding he said, "This is an affair of the greatest 
importance to you, as nothing less than all your lands and best hunt- 
ing places are aimed at, with a view of secluding 3'ou entirely from 
us and the rest of your brethren, viz: the Philadelphians, the Vir- 
ginians, who can always supply you with the necessaries of life at a 
much lower rate than the French ever did or could, and under whose 
protection you are and ever will be safer, and better served in every 
respect, than under the French. These and a hundred other stib- 
stantial reasons I could give you to convince you that the French 
are your implacable enemies; but, as I told you before, the very in- 
strument you now lirought me of their own writing is sufficient of 
itself to convince the world of their villainous designs; therefore I 
need not be at the trouble, so shall only desire that you and all tlie 
nations in alliance with you seriously consider your own interest and 
by no means submit to the impending danger which now thi'eatens 
you, the only way to prevent which is to turn Jean Coeur away im- 
mediately from Ohio, and tell him that the French shall neither 
build there, nor at the carrying place of Niagara, nor iiave a foot of 
land more from you. Brethren, what I now say I expect and insist 
upon it being taken notice of and sent to the Indians of the Ohio, 
that they may immediately know the vile designs of the P^rench." 

Having presented a bell of wampum, by way of emphasis, and to 
convince the natives of the honesty and fidelity with which he spoke, 
the sachem replied: "Brother Corlear and War-ragh-i-ya-ghey, I 
have with great attention and surprise heard you repeat the substance 
of the devilish writing which I brought you, and also with pleasure 
noticed your just remarks thereon, which really agree with my own 
sentiments on it. I return you my most hearty thanks in the name 
of all the nations for your brotherly love and cordial advice, which I 
promise you sincerelj', by this belt of wampuiu, shall be coinmuni- 
cated immediately and verbatim to the Five Nations by myself, and, 
moreover, shall see it forwarded from the Senecas' castle with belts 
from each of our own nations to the Indians at Ohio, to strengthen 
your desire, as I am thoroughly satisfied you have our interest at 
iieart." 

Returning to Celeron and his party, whom we left upon the deep, 
rapid current of the Allegheny River, where they found rest at night 
beneath the sombre forest that skirted its bank, and floated by day 
leisurely upon its current, we see them passing Indian villages and 



112 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

the mouths of Oil Creek and Yenaugo River (Les Boeufs), without 
making any considerable pause, though the latter point, now Frank- 
lin, was then a station of importance. But at the Indian God, some 
nine or ten miles below the latter point, they paused, and beneath the 
shadow of an immense boulder, on which had been cnt rude figures 
held in superstitious awe by the natives, on the south bank, opposite 
a bald mountain, the second of these leaden plates were buried, ac- 
companied with the usual formal ceremonies which Avas continued 
at each burial. Resuming their journey they passed Chartiers Town, 
a Shawneese village, now deserted, and passed the mouth of the 
Monongahela River without pausing; but at Logstown, some twelve 
miles below, an Indian town, now a place of importance as the coun- 
cil house of the sachems of surrounding tribes, they made a landing. 
Here the agents of the English colonies upon the Atlantic were ac- 
customed to meet them and make their formal talks, smoke tlie pipe 
of peace, distribute the high piled presents, and ratify solemn treaties 
which were not to be broken so long as the sun and the moon go 
round the earth. Here, too, the traders brought their goods and 
bartered them for valuable skins and furs, and, shame to say it, here 
these conscienceless traders brought kegs of fire-water, and when the 
poor Indians were made drunken were clieated and abused. Here 
Celeron buried another of his plates, and discovering a number of 
the English trading with the Indians his wrath was kindled. He 
expelled these intniders, as he called them, and made a speech to the 
assembled Indians of many tribes, telling them that all the country 
along the Beautiful River belongecj to the French, and that they 
would supply the Indians with all the goods they needed. He for- 
bade them to trade with the English, and said he was now on his 
way down the river to whip the Wyandots back to their homes. The 
absolute manner of Celeron, more than his words, gave offense to the 
Indians, who had not been accustomed to be spoken to in that way. 
Determined to effect the purpose of his expedition he sent from 
this point the following curt letter to Governor Hamilton, of Penn- 
sylvania: "Sir: Having been sent with a detachment into these 
quarters by Monsieur the Marcjuis de la Galissioniere, commandant 
general of New France, to reconcile among themselves certain savage 
nations who are ever at variance on account of the war just termin- 
ated, I have been much surprised to find some traders of your gov- 
ernment in a country to which England never had any pretensions. 
It even appears that the same opinion is entertained in New Eng- 
land, since in many of the villages I have passed through, the English 
who were trading there have mostly taken flight. Those whom I 
first fell in with, and by whom I write you, I have treated with all 
mildness possible, although I would have been justified in treating 
them as interlopers and men without responsibility, tlieir enterprise 



HISTORY OF GRKENK COUNTY. 113 

being contrary to the preliminaries of peace signed five months ago. 
I hope, Sir, for the futnre you will carefully prohibit this trade, 
which is contrary to treaties, and give notice to your traders tliat 
they will expose themselves to great risks in returning to tliese 
conntries, and that they must impute to themselves the misfortunes 
they may meet with. I know that our commandant-general would 
be very sorry to have recourse to violence, but he has orders not to 
permit foreign traders in his government." 

Continuing his journey down the Ohio, Celeron and his party 
took formal possession of the country by burying plates at the mouth 
of the Muskingum Kiver, anotiier at the mouth of the Great Kan- 
awha, and the sixth and last at the mouth of the Great Miami. Be- 
lieving that he had now covered all the territoi'y that was likel}', for 
the present, to be claimed by tlie English, Celeron paused in his 
course, and toilsomely ascended the JVIiami till he reached the port- 
age, where he burned his boats, and procuring ponies, crossed over 
to the Manmee, down which he moved to Lake Erie, l)y which and 
Ontario he returned to Fort Frontinac, arriving on the Gth of No- 
vember. 

These metal plates, planted with so much formality, regarded as 
symbols of French power, which they were to defend with force of 
arms, remained for a long time where they were originally planted 
with the exception of the iirst, which, as we have seen, was immedi- 
ately disinterred and sent to Sir William Johnson. That buried at 
the month of the Muskingum was washed out by the changing of the 
banks in the flood-tides, and was discovered in 1798 by some boys 
who were bathing at low water in the summer time, and having no 
idea of its nse, or the purport of the characters cut on its surface, they 
cut off a portion of it and run it into l)ullets. The remaining por- 
tion was sent to Governor DeWitt Clinton, of New York, and is still 
preserved at Boston, Mass. That which was buried at the month of 
the Kanawha was found in 18-46 by a son of J. W. Beale, of Point 
Pleasant, Virginia. In playing along the river bank he saw the 
edge of it protruding from the sand a little below the surface, where 
it had been carried by the current. It was dug out and has been 
preserved in its original form. 

As may be well imagined the intelligence of this expedition of 
Celeron in considerable force down the Ohio, with the design of 
taking formal possession of the territory which the river drained was 
viewed with concern by the Proprietaries of Pennsylvania, and 
especially ])y those in England interested in the colony of Virginia. 
They saw that if this claim was maintained by the French their ter- 
ritories would be vastly curtailed, and the claims of the Massachusetts 
and Virginia colonies from ocean to ocean would become abortive. 
The then proprietary of Pennsylvania wrote to Governor Hamilton 



114 HISfORY OF GlREENE COt'?fTY. 

in these terms, as preserved in tlie Oolunial Kecords: " The account 
you give of a party of Frencli having come to i^llegheny and laid 
claim to that country, and the tribes of Indians with whom we have 
lately entered into treaty, a good deal alarms me; and I hear the 
party has returned to Canada, threatening to return with a great 
force next year. I have communicated the French commandant's 
letter and paper, with an account of the aifair to the Duke of Bed- 
ford and Lord Halifax, and 1 think something should be done im- 
mediately, if it can be by consent of the Indians, to take possession. 
This, I think, you shoidd advise with the Council and Assembly 
about, as it is of great import to the trade of the Province to have a 
settlement there, and a house a little more secure than an Indian 
cabin. I make no doubt the Indians would consent to such a settle- 
ment; and if there is stone and lime in the neighborhood, I think a 
house of thick walls of stone, with small bastions, might be built at 
no very great expense, as it is little matter how rough it is inside; or 
a wall of that sort perhaps fifty feet square, with a small log house 
in the middle of it, might perhaps do better. The command of this 
might be given to the principal Indian trader, and he be obliged to keep 
four or six men at it, who might serve him in it, and the house be a 
magazine for goods. If something of this sort can be done, we shall 
be willing to be at the expense of four hundred pounds currency for 
the building of it, and of one hundred pounds a year for keeping 
some men with a few arms and some powder; this, with what the 
assembly might be induced to give, will in some measui-e protect the 
trade, and be a mark of possession. However few the men are, they 
should wear an uniform dress, that though very small it may look 
fort like." 

This recommendation looked to the building of a Fort on the 
Ohio, as was afterwards done at Fort Pitt, and was a wise provision, 
if the encroachments of the French were to be met by force. Gov- 
ernor Hamilton was a wise and politic man, and instead of moving 
ofiiciallyin the matter he held several conferences with the Speaker 
and members of the House with a view to carrying into effect the 
proposal of the Proprietaries. But the ruling sentiment of the As- 
sembly was averse to assuming a warlike or force attitude, the Quaker 
element in the council and the provident members opposed to the 
spending of public money, being in the ascendant. As may be seen 
by the above communication, the Proprietaries had no religious scru- 
ples against warlike preparations, the sons of Penn having forsaken 
the religion of their father, John Penn, the grandson, and subse- 
quently Governor, showing a vigorous war spirit against the Indians, 
and even going so far as to offer, without scruple, graduated bounties 
for their capture, scalping, or death. 

Accordingly, Governor Hamilton gave instructions to the State 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 117 

ageuts, George Croglian and Andrew Montour, who had heen sent 
ont to distribute presents to the Indians, and who made Logstown 
their headquarters, to ascertain the temper of tlie natives towards the 
building of such a fort as the letter of the Proprietary suggested. 
In compliance with this instruction, Crogan dispatched a lettei- dated 
on the 16th of December, 1750, couched in these words: ''Sir, — 
Yesterda}' Mr. Montour and I got to this town, where we found 
thirty warrioi's of the Si.x Nations going to war against the Catawba 
Indians. They told us that they saw John Coeur about one hundred 
and fifty miles up the river at an Indian town, where he intends to 
build a fort if he can get liberty from the Ohio Indians. He has iive 
canoes loaded with goods, and is very generous in making presents 
to all the chiefs of the Indians he meets with. lie has sent two 
messengers to this town, desiring the Indians here to go and meet 
him, and clear the road for him, [that is, secure the consent of the 
Indians to his coming], to come down the river; but they have so 
little respect for his message that the}' have not tlnuight it woi-th 
while to send him an answer as yet." 

It will be observed from this note, that the French recognized 
the Indian friendship as an important factor in holding the country, 
and that they were willing to spend money fruely in furnishing 
presents in order to buy it over to their cause. Their agent, Jean 
C'oeui', was skilled in all the arts of Indian diplomacy, and had lived 
much among them; but he was not successful in his first essays with 
these Ohio Indians. On the 20th of May, 1751, Croghan records in 
his journal, " Forty warriors of the Six Nations came to Logstown, 
from the head of the Ohio, with M. Jean Coeur, and one Frenchman 
more in company.'' On the following day he records that Jean 
Coeur made a talk to the Indians, telling them that Onontio, (gov- 
ernor of New France, directed that they send away the English and 
deal wholly with the French. The words of Jean (loeur failed of 
their effect upon the natives; for their chieftain made answer that he 
would not send the English away, but would trade with them as long 
as he lived, and that " if he had anything to say, and was the man he 
pretended to be, he should say it to that man," pointing to Croghan. 

On the 25th of May, Croghan again records: " I had a conference 
with Monsieur Jean Coeur; he desired I would excuse him, and not 
think hard of him for the speeches he made to the Indians, request- 
ing them to turn the English traders away, and not to suffer them 
to trade; for it was the Governors of Canada who ordered him, and 
he was obliged to obey them, though he was very sensible which way 
the Indians would receive them, for he was sure the French would 
not accomplish their design with the Six Nations, without it could 
be done by force, which he said he believed they would find to be as 



118 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

difficult as the method they had just tried, and would meet with the 
like want of success." 

It will be seen from the temper of this conversation that Jean 
Coenr was convinced that the Indians were not in a temper to be won 
over by fair words or showy French presents; but that force would 
be necessary, and in that they would fail. But he had been sent on 
this mission by liis government, and it was necessary for him to 
carry out his instructions. Accordingly, having exhausted his diplo- 
macy with the Indians, he sent the following missive to Governor 
Hamilton, and returned to Canada: "Sir, — Monsieur the Marquis 
de la Galissoniere, Governor of the whole of- New France, having 
honored me with his orders to watch that the English make no 
treaty in the conntry of the Ohio, I have directed the traders of your 
Government to withdraw. You cannot be ignorant, sir, that all the 
lauds of this region have always belonged to the King of France, 
and that the English have no right to come here to trade. My su- 
perior has commanded me to apprise you of what I have done, in 
order that you may not affect ignorance of the reasons of it; and he 
has given me this order, with so much the greater reason becaiise it 
is now two years since Monsieur Celeron, by order of the Marquis 
of Galissoniere, then Commandant-general, warned many English 
wlio were trading with the Indians along the Ohio against so doing, 
and they promised him not to return to trade on the lands, as Mon- 
sieur Celeron wrote you." 



IIISTOHY OF GREENK CDfN'IV. 119 



CHAPTER VIII. 

Activity of the "Oiiiu Company" — Explokations ok Gist — Prki-- 

ARATIONS OF THE FrENCH TO OcoUl'Y Arms SeNT TO InDIANS- - 

Half Kino Warns the French — Insoi-ent Reply — Earl 
HoLDERNESs Warns G<jVERNORS OF THE Colonies — War Vessel 
Sent to Viroinia — Washington Commissioneo to Visit French 
Commander — Perilous Journey — Selects Site of Four Pitt 
— Provisions Sent from New Orleans — "Where Does the 
Indian's Land Lie?"^-JeanCoeur at Franklin — Received .\r 
LeBoeuf isY' Leoardeur St. Pierre — Answer — Politeness of 
THE General — Refers to the Marquis DuQuesne — Return 
OF Washington — TREAiniERous Indian Fikks at Him — Suf- 

FERINCi FROM THE CoLD MaKES HIS RePoKT To GOVERNOR 

DiNwiDDiE — Journal Widely Circulated — The Intention of 
THE French to Hold tiii; Ohio Valley dv Fori k Ci,i;ai!ly 
Manifest. 

rpiIE goodly lands along the " Beautiful River," and its many tribii- 
J_ taries, seemed now more attractive tlian ever, and tfie ne.xt few years 
succeeding the planting of plates by Celeron, witnessed a vigorous 
and sanguinary struggle for their occupancy. And now commences 
the active operations of the Ohio Company, chartered by the Vir- 
ginia Legislature by authority of the English government, previously 
detailed, for the settlement and permanent occupancy of this coveted 
country. How Virginia could lay claim to this section, so clearly* 
embraced in the charter of Penn, is ditHcult to comprehend; but the 
grounds of the claim will lie stated in a succeeding chaptci-. 

Boldly assuming the right, the company sent out from \ irginia, 
in 1750, as its agent, Christopher Gist, with instructions to explore 
the territory, and sound the temper of the Indians towards its set- 
tlement by the whites. During this and the following year, he 
traversed the country on either bank of the Ohio, as far down as the 
present site of the city of Louisville, going even further than Celeron 
had done with his pewter plates, and making a far more extensive 
and thoi'ough exploration of the country. In 1752 he was present 
at Logstown as commissioner with Colonel Fry in concluding the 
treaty with the chiefs of the Six Nations, which secured rights of 
settlement in this country. The French were ever watchful, and the 
provisions of this treaty were not unknown to them as well as the 
explorations of Gist. 



120 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

The evidences of activity on the part of the French to seize and 
hold this country by force were not wanting. Early in May an ex- 
pedition was sent out from Canada, prepared to assert their claims. 
The commanding officer at Oswego, sent the following intelligeiice 
to Col. Johnson, dated May 15, 1753: " Yesterday passed by here 
thirty odd French canoes, part of an army going to Belle Riviere, 
to make good their claim there. The army is reported to consist of 
six thousand French." On the 21st of May, as shown by the Colonial 
Records, " the Governor laid before the board several letters from 
Governor Clinton, inclosing accounts from Col. Johnson, and from 
the commanding officer at Oswego, that a large armament of French 
and Indians, had passed by that Fort, destinated as was suspected 
for Ohio, in oi'der to take possession of that country, and to build 
forts on that river; whereupon he had dispatched messengers to the 
governors of Maryland and Virginia, and likewise Mr. West was 
sent to Susquehanna, there to procure and send away two messengers, 
one by Potowmack, and the other by Juniata, to give the Indians 
notice of this and put them on their guard." 

The forces of the French who were thus reported as on their way 
to the Ohio, though greatly exaggerated, were of considerable 
strength, learned by other sources to consist of " exactly twenty-four 
hundred men and eight pieces of brass cannon." This foi-ce com- 
pleted and manned the forts at Presquils, Le Boeuf and Venango, 
and were preparing to descend the river in force in the following 
spring. On hearing of these aggressive movements of the French, 
the Virginia authorities became much alarmed and sent to the Indians 
on the Ohio, who were known to be unwavering in their friendship 
for the English, " one hundred small arms, powder, shot, and some 
clothing," to be distributed by their agents Gist, Montour and Trent. 
The rumors of fort building by the French, and of their threatening 
to come as an army with banners, greatly agitated the minds of the 
simple natives. Their chief, the old Half King, Tanacharison, who 
repi'esented the Iroquois here, set out to meet the French at Venango 
and Le Boeuf, to remonstrate with them and to warn them away. 
But he was received with no consideration, "and was discharged home, 
and told that he was an old woman, and that all his nation was in 
their favor only him, and if he would not go home, he would be 
put in irons." So strongly had the imperious manner of the com- 
mandant worked upon the old chief, that upon his return he begged 
with tears in his eyes that the English would go off "for fear they 
should be hurt." To subsequent messages from the Half King, the 
commandant returned this message: " But this I will tell you, I am 
commanded to build four strong houses, viz: at Weningo, Monon- 
galio Forks, Logs Town and Beaver Creek, and this I will do." 

The Half King still persisting in his demands to leave the conn- 



IIISTOKY OF GREENE COUNTY. 121 

try, the commandant became offensive and scurrilous. '• Now, my 
child, I have heard your speech; you spoke first, and it is my time 
to speak now. This wampum I do not know, which you have dis- 
charged me ofi' the land with; but you need not put yourself to the 
trouble of speaking, for I will not hear you. I am not afraid of 
flies or mosquitoes, for Indians are such as those; I tell you that 
down the river I will go, and bnild upon it, according to my com- 
mand. If the river was blocked up, I have forces sufficient to burst 
it ojjen, and tread under my feet all that stand in opposition; for my 
force is as the sand upon the sea shore; therefore here is your wam- 
pum; 1 sling it at you. Child you talk foolish; you say this land 
belongs to you, but there is not the black of my nail yours. I saw 
the land sooner than you did. It is my land, and I will have it, let 
who will stand up for, or say against it." 

The systematic operations of the French in building a line of 
forts, and providing cannon and a strong military force at each, sub- 
stantially on the same line that Celeron had formally taken possession 
of with his plates, finally aroused the attention of the British gov- 
ernment, and the Secretary of State, Earl Holderness, addressed the 
governors of the several colonies urging that they be put in a state 
of defense. The communication to the governor of Virginia was 
considered of so much importance as to be sent by a government 
ship. It reached its destination in Octolier, 1753, and the matter of 
the dispatch was of such pressing import, as to require the sending 
of a special messenger to the French commandant on this side of 
the great lakes, to remonstrate with him in an official capacity for 
intruding upon English territory, but probably more especially to 
ascertain precisely what had been done and with what forces the 
French were preparing to contest their claims. 

Robert Dinwiddie, then Lieutenant-governor of A irginia, made 
no delay in selecting a suitable person for this embassage, and his 
choice fell upon George Washington, the Adjutant General of the 
Northern Division of the Virginia militia, and only twenty-one years 
of age. It should here be observed that Lawrence Washington, the 
brotlier of George, who was president and a leader of the Ohio Com- 
pany, had died July 26, 1752, and that by his will a large share of 
his estates and interests had fallen to George. He consei^uently liad 
a pecuniary interest in holding the lands of the Ghio Company, in 
addition to the patriotic one of discharging a public trust. It should 
also be observed that Dinwiddie was a large stockholder in the Ohio 
Company. 

The youthful Washington made no delay in accepting the trust 
imposed on him, and though now the inclement season of the year, 
he quickly had his preparations completed for his departure. It ap- 
pears from the following note to the Lords of Trade, that the gov- 



122 HISTOHY OF 6REENK COUNTY. 

ernor had previously sent a messenger on a similar errand: "The 
person [Capt. William Trent] sent as a commissioner to the com- 
mandant ot'tlie French forces, neglected his duty, and went no further 
tlian Logstown, on the Ohio. He reports the French were then one 
hundred and fifty miles further up the river, and I believe was afraid 
to go to them." But there was no fear on the part of George Wash- 
ington, though then hut a mere boy, and he was soon on his way. 
Tliat we may understand precisely the nature of his mission we pre- 
sent the commission and instructions which he received: "Whereas, 
I have received information of a body of French forces being as- 
sembled in a hostile manner on the river Ohio, intending by force 
of arms to erect certain forts on said river within this territory, and 
contrary to tlie dignity and peace of our sovereign, the King of 
Great Britain, These are, therefore, to require and direct you, the 
said George Washington, forthwith to repair to Logstown, on the 
said river Ohio, aiid, having there informed yourself where the French 
forces have posted themselves, thereupon, to proceed to such place, 
and, being there arrived, to present your credentials, together with 
my letter, to the chief commanding officer, and in the name of his 
Britanic Majesty, to demand an answer, thei'eto. On your arrival at 
Logstown, you are to address yourself to the Half King, to Mon- 
acatoocha, and the other Sachems of the Six Nations, acquainting 
them with your orders to visit and deliver luy letter to the French 
commanding officer, and desiring the said chiefs to appoint you a 
sufficient number of their warriors to be your safeguard, as near 
the Fi-ench as you may desire, and to await your further direc- 
tion. You are diligently to inquire into the numbers and force of 
the French on the Ohio and the adjacent country, how they are 
likely to be assisted from Canada, and what are the difficulties 
and conveniences of that communication, and the time required for 
it. You are to take care to be truly informed what forts the 
French have erected, and where; how they are garrisoned and ap- 
pointed, and what is their distance from each other, and from Logs- 
town, and from the best intelligence you can procure, you are to 
learn what gave occasion to this expedition of the French; how they 
are likely to be supported, and what their pretensions are. When the 
commandant has given you the required, and necessary dispatches, 
you are to desire of him a proper guard to protect you as far on your 
return, as you may judge for your safety against any straggling 
Indians or hunters that may be ignorant of your character and molest 
you." 

It will be observed that the ship bearing the royal dispatch 
reached Virginia in October. This letter of instructions was dated 
October 30th, 1753, and on tlie same day the youthful envoy left 
William sburg, reaching Fredericksburg on the 31st. Here he engaged 



iii.sTOKY OF gi:ei;np: county. 123 

his old " master of fence," one Jacob Van Branm, a soldier of fur- 
tune, as interpreter, though as Irving observes, " the veteran swords- 
man was but inditferently versed either in French or English." 
Purchasing horses and tents at Winchester, he bade good-bye to the 
abodes of civilization, and pushed on over mountain and across 
stream, through the wilderness, on his important and perilous mis- 
sion. At Will's Creek, now Cumberland, he engaged Mr. Gist, 
who had been the agent of tlie Ohio Company in exploring ail that 
region and negotiating with the natives, to pilot him on, and secured 
the services of John Davidson as Indian interpretei-, and four fron- 
tiersmen. With this escort he set out on the 15th of Novemljer, but 
found his way impeded by storms of rain and snow. Passing Gist's 
cabin, now Mount Braddoclc, and Jolin Frazier's place at the moutli 
of Turtle Creek on the Monongahela Piver, and finding the river 
swollen l)y recent rains, he placed his luggage in a canoe, thus re- 
lieving the horses, and himself rode on to the coniluence of the 
Monongaliela with the Ohio. " As I got down before the canoe" 
he writes in his journal, " I spent some time in viewing the rivers, 
and the land at the Forkjjnow Pittsburg], which I think extremely- 
well suited for a fort, as it has the absolute command of. both rivers. 
The land at the point is twenty or twenty-five feet above the com- 
mon surface of the water, and a considerable bottom of flat, well 
timbered all around it, very convenient for building. The rivers are 
each a quarter of a mile or more across, and run here very nearly at 
right angles; Allegheny hearing northeast, and Monongahela south- 
west. The former of these two is a very rapid and swift running 
water, the other deep and still without any perceptible fall." 

It had been proposed, by the agents of the Ohio ('ompany, to 
build a fort two miles below the forks on the south side, where lived 
Shingiss, chief Sachem of the Delawares. But Washington says in 
his journal, -'As I had taken a good deal of notice yesterday of the 
situation at the fork, my curiosity led me to examine this more 
]iarticularly, and I think it greatly inferior, either for defence or ad- 
vantages." The good judgment of Washington in preferring the 
forks for a fort was subsequently confirmed by the French engineers, 
who adopted the site at the forks. At Logstown, which was twelve 
miles below the forks, Washington met ten Frenchmen, deserters 
from a party of one hundred, who had been sent up from New 
Orleans with eight canoe loads of provisions 'to this place, where they 
expected to meet a force from Lake Erie. This showed unmistak- 
able evidence that the Fi-ench were determined to take forcible pos- 
session of the country. The wily chieftains asked Washington why he 
wanted to communicate with the F'rench commandant, and lieing 
naturally suspicious that they had not fathomed all the purposes, and 
bearings of this mission, th6y delayed him by their maneuvres. 



124 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

Indeed, an old Indian Sachem had previously propounded, to Mr. 
Gist, while surveying the lands south of the Ohio, this question, 
" The French claim all the land on one side of the Ohio, the En- 
glish claim all the land on the other side — now where does the 
Indian's land lie ?" There was, undoubtedly, a suspicion in the 
minds of these dusky kings that the English as well as the French 
were preparing to occupy this delectable country. " Poor savages !" 
exclaims Mr. Irving, " Between their 'fathers', the French, and tlieir 
'brothers,' the English, they were in a fair way of being most loving- 
ly shared out of the whole country." 

Finally, after having been detained about a week by Indian 
diplomacy, "Washington set out on the 30th of November, with an 
additonal escort of three of the Indian chiefs, Half King, Jeskakake 
and White Thunder, and one of their best hunters. A toilsome 
journey of five days brought the party to Venango, at the mouth of 
the Venango Eiver, or French Creek, where the French flag was 
floating upon a cabin which had been occupied by the same John 
Frazier visited on the Monongahela, where he had plied the trade of 
a gunsmith; but from which he had been driven by the Frencli. 
Captain Jean Coeur was in command her*, who said he was in com- 
mand on the Ohio, but he advised Washington to present his creden- 
tials for an answer, to a general officer who had his headquarters at 
" the near fort." " He invited me to sup with them " the journal 
proceeds, "and treated us with the greatest complaisance. The wine 
as they dosed tliemselves pretty plentifully with it soon banished the 
restraint Avhich at flrst appeared in their conversation, and gave a 
license to their tongues to reveal their sentiments more freely. They 
told me that it was their absolute design to take possession of the 
Ohio, and by G — d they would do it; for that thougli they were 
sensible the English had two men for their one, yet they knew their 
motions were too slow and dilatory to prevent any undertaking of 
theirs." But the French had yet something to learn of the temper 
and steady endurance of the English in America. Washington 
ascertained that there had been some " fifteen hundred men on this 
side of Ontario lake. But upon the death of the General all were 
recalled to about six or seven hundred, who were left to garrison 
four forts, one on a little lake at the head waters of French Creek, 
now Waterford, another at Erie, fifteen miles away." Jean Coeur 
was adroit in his influence over the Indians, and used his best arts 
to win the chiefs, who had accompanied AVashington, from their 
allegience to him, plying them with liquor, and refusing to receive 
back the wampum belt which the Half King ofl'ered as a token of his 
tribe's allegiance to the French. But after long parleying they 
finally got oif on the 7th. Washington records in the journal: 
"We passed over much good land since we left Venango, and 




^^^t/f-tr^-ije^in C^ 



^-r?-i-e<'7 Cy^ ^st/'^'-'i'X'^^ 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 127 

through several very extensive and ricli meadows, one of which, I 
believe, was nearly four miles in length, and considerahly wide in some 
places." This passage undoubtedly refers to the valley where is now 
spread out the city of Meadville. 

At the fort at LeiSoenf, now Waterford, Washington was courte- 
ously received by the General in command of all the forces south 
of the lakes. "The commander," proceeds the Journal under 
date of December 12, "is a knight of the military order of St. Louis 
and named Legardeur de St. Pierre. He is an elderly gentleman, 
and has much the air of a soldiei*. He was sent over to take the 
command immediately upon the death of the late general and arrived 
here about seven days before me." In the letter which Dinwiddle 
had entrusted to AVashington, the claim of the English to all this 
Ohio territory was reiterated, and a demand made that the French 
should depart from it, and no more molest its peaceful occupancy. 
The answer of the Chevalier was courteous, but firm, lie said that 
the question of the rightful occupancy of this territory was not one 
which he could i^i'ojjcrl}' argue, that he was an officer commanding 
a detachment of the French army in America, but that he would 
transmit the letter of the Governor to his General, the Marquis Du 
Quesne, "to whom it better belongs than to me to set forth the 
evidence and reality of the rights of the king my master upon the 
lands situated along the river Ohio, and to contest the pretensions 
of the King of Great Britain thereto. His answer shall be law to 
me. * * * As to the summons you send me to retire, I do not 
think myself obliged to obey it. AVhatever may have been your 
instructions, I am here by virtue of the orders of my general; and 
I entreat you, sir, not to doubt one moment but that I am de- 
termined to conform myself to them with all the e.xactness and reso- 
lution which can be expected from the best otticcr." 

Governor Dinwiddle had added to the business part of his com- 
munication the following request: "I persuade myself you will 
receive and entertain Major Washington with the candor and polite- 
■ ness natui-al to your nation, and it will give me the greatest satis- 
faction, if yon can return hitn with an answer suitable to my wishes 
for a long and lasting peace between us." In his response the Chevalier 
added in reply to this clause: "I made it my particular care to re- 
ceive Mr. Washington with a distinction suitable to your dignity, as 
well as his own quality and great merit. I Hatter myself that he 
will do me this justice before you, sir, and that he will signify to 
j'ou, in the maimer I do myself, the profound respect with which I 
am, sir," etc. 

His mission over, he sent his horses on in advance, and himself 
and party took to canoes in which they floated down French Creek 
to Fort Venango. Finding his horses jaded and reduced, he gave 



128 HISTORY OF GEEENE COUNTY. 

up his own saddle liorse for transporting the baggage. Equipped 
in an Indian hunting dress he accompanied the train for three days. 
Finding the progress very slow, and the cold becoming every day 
more intense, he placed the train in charge of Van Bi'aam, and taking 
his necessary papers, pulled off his clothes, and tied himself up in a 
watch-coat. Tlieu with gun in hand, and pack on his back, he set out 
with Mr. Grist, to make his way on foot back to the Ohio. Falling 
in with a party of French and Indians, he engaged one of them for a 
guide, who proved treacherous, leading them out of their way, and 
linally turned upon and fired at Washington, "not fifteen steps off." 
But he missed, or the great spirit guided the bullet aside. Ridding 
themselves of him they traveled all night to escape pursuit. Being 
obliged to cross the Allegheny, with " one poor hatchet " they toil- 
somely made a raft. "Before we were half way over," proceeds the 
journal, "we were jammed in the ice, in such a manner that we ex- 
pected every moment our raft .to sink and ourselves to perish. I 
put out my setting pole to try to stop the raft that the ice might 
pass by, when the rapidity of the stream threw it with so much 
violence against the pole, that it jerked me out into ten feet water. 
Notwithstanding all our efforts we could not get to either shore, but 
were obliged, as we were near an island, to quit our raft and make to 
it. Tiie cold was so extremely severe, that Mr. Gist had all his 
fingers and some of his toes frozen, and the water was shut up so 
hard that we found no difficulty in getting off the island on the ice 
in the morning." 

Arrived at the Gist settlement, Washington bought a horse and 
saddle, and on the 6th of January, 1754, he records " we met seven- 
teen horses loaded with materials and stores for a fort at the fork of 
the Ohio, and the day following some families going out to settle. 
This day we arrived at Will's Creek, after as fatiguing a journey as 
it is possible to conceive, rendered so by excessive bad weather. 
From the first day of December to the fifteenth there was but one 
day on which it did not rain or snow incessantly; and throughout 
the whole journey we met with nothing but one continued series of 
cold, wet weather, which occasioned very uncomfortable lodgings, 
especially after we had left behind us our tent, which had been some 
screen from the inclemency of it. '•■' * * I arrived at Williams- 
burg on the 16th, when I waited upon his Honor, the Governor, 
with the letter I had brought from the French commandant, and to 
give an account of the success of my proceedings. This I beg leave 
to do by offering the foregoing narrative, as it contains the most 
remarkable occurrences which liappened in my joui-ncy. I hope 
what has been said will be sufficient to make your Honor satisfied 
with my conduct; for that was my aim in undertaking the journey 
and chief study throughout the prosecution of it." 



IIISTOKY OF GKEKNE COUNTY. 129 

It luust be confessed that this embassage, undertaken in the dead 
of winter, through an almost trackless wilderness infested by hostile 
savages, by a boy of twenty-one, was not only romantic, but arduous 
and dangerous in the extreme, and in its execution showed a dis- 
cretion and persistent resolution remarkable for so youthful a per- 
son, and giving promise of great future usefulness. 

The infoi'mation which he obtained, and which was embodied in 
a modest way in his journal, was of great importance. The jounuil 
was published and widely circulated in this country and in England. 
It plainly disclosed the fact that the French, in building strong forts 
and providing cannon and a military force for garrisoning them, 
meant to hold this whole Ohio country by force of arms, and that if 
the English would foil them in this design they must lose no time 
in preparation to oppose force to force. The lateness of the season 
and the coming on of severe weather alone prevented the French 
from proceeding down the Allegheny and taking post on the Ohio, 
in the fall of 1753. The following spring would doubtless witness 
such a hostile movement. Which shall win? Thus far the French 
had shown mucn the greater military activity, and their strong points 
were selected by competent engineers detailed from the French army, 
who had superintended the erection of their strong forts. Arrived 
at the threshold of a great era, the near future will witness the 
decision, whether this tiiir land, in the midst of which is what is now 
the county of Greene, shall be peopled by the Frank, and be under 
the control of the lilies of France, or an English-speaking people 
shall spread over this broad domain — the whole Mississippi valley, the 
flower of the continent — whether the Catholic or the Protestant shall 
be the religion of its people. 



130 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 



CHAPTER IX. 

Troops Sent t<) Foet Pitt — French Capture It — The Summons — 
Washinivton M(jves Forward — Jumonville Skirmish — Takes 
Post at the Great Meadows — Surrender — Campaign with 
Four Objects — Braddock to Move Against Fort Du Quesne 
— Franklin Furnishes Wagons — Braddock Moves Leisurely — 
ORDEii OF March — Observation of Franklin — Sickness ov 
Washington — Indians in Camp — Bright Lightning — Indica- 
tions OF A Hostile Force — Menacing Inscriptions — Cross and 
Recross the Hivee — A Military Pageant — Army Put in 
Battle Order — Enemy Commanded by Beau.ieu — The War 
Whoop — Indians Gain the Flank by a Wooded Ravine — 
Eegulars Thrown Into Confusion — Braddock Mortally- 
Wounded — KiLLEj) and Wounded — AVashington Preserved — 
Great Spirit Protected Him — Braddock Buried — Dunbar 
Cowed - — Enemy's Strength — Washington's Losses — Gal- 
lantry Admired. 

CAPTAIN TRENT, who seems to have been mucli relied upon, 
was ordered by the Governor of Virginia to enlist a company of 
one hundred men and proceed without delay to the forks of Ohio 
and complete the fort there begun. Washington was empowered to 
raise a company of like number with which to collect supplies and 
forward to the working party at the fort. In the meantime Dinwiddle 
convened the Virginia Legislature and asked for money with whicli 
to conduct his military operations, and called upon the other colonies 
to join him. Lack of funds, want of royal authority to enter upon 
this warfare, and other e.xcuses, kept the other colonies from engag- 
ing inimediatel}'; but the Virginia Legislature voted money, and the 
number of troops authorized was increased to 300, to be divided into 
six companies, of which Washington was offered the command. 
But on account of his youth he declined it, and Joshua Fry was 
made Colonel and Washington, Lieutenant-Colonel. On the 2d of 
April, 1754, Washington set out with two companies of 150 men 
for the fort on the Ohio, Colonel Fry with the artillery, which had 
just arrived from England, to follow. But before Washington had 
arrived at Will's Creek intelligence, was received that Captain 
Contracoeur, acting under authority of the Governor General of New 
France, having embarked a thousand men with field-pieces, upon 



IIISTOHY OF GKEKNE OOUNTY. 131 

sixty batteaux aud three hundred canoes, at the flood-tide in the 
Allegheny River, had dropped down and captured the meagre force 
working upon the fort at the forks, both Trent and Fraziei', the two 
higiiest in command, being at the time absent. The garrison of about 
fifty men were allowed to depart with their working tools. 

Though bloodless, this was an act of hostility. The war was 
begun which was to greatly modify the map of the world. " Tlie 
seven years war," says Albach, "arose at the forks of the Ohio; it 
was waged in all quarters of the world; it made England a great 
imperial power; it drove the French from Asia and America, and 
dissipated their scheme of empire." Contrac(Knr immediately pro- 
ceeded with the building of the fort which the A^irginians had l)egiin. 
He had issued, before the surrender, what he was pleased to denomi- 
nate a summons, in which he "sirs" every sentence, and orders the 
English out of tlie Ohio country in the most absolute and authorita- 
tive way. "Nothing," he says, "can surprise me more than to see 
you attempt a settlement upon the lands of the King, my master, 
which obliges me now, sir, to send you this gentleman, Chevalier Le 
Mercier, Captain of tlie Artillery of Canada, to know of you, sir, by 
virtue of what authority you are come to fortify yourself within the 
dominions of the Iving, my master. * * * £et it be as it will, 
sir, if you come out into this place charged with orders, I summon 
you in the name of the King, my master, by virtue of orders which 
I got from my General, to retreat peaceably with your troops from 
off the lands of the King and not to return, or else I will find myself 
obliged to fulfill my duty, and compel you to it. ■'■' * ■•'• I pre- 
vent you, sir, from asking one hour of delay." 

Washington, though but a stripling, determined to move boldly 
forward, although his force was but a moiety of that of the Frencii, 
and intrench upon the Hedstone. To add to his perplexity, he re- 
ceived intelligence that a I'einforcement of 800 men was on its way 
up the Mississippi to join Contracceur at the forks. Sending out 
messengers to the governors of Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Marj'- 
land, to ask for reinforcements, he pushed on to the Great Meadows, 
arriving on the 27th. Here he learned that a scouting party of the 
French was already in this neighborhood. Not delaying a moment, 
he started with forty picked men, and tiiougli the night was dark and 
the rain fell in torrents, he came up with the French before morning, 
encamped in a retreat shielded by rocks aud a broken country. 
Order of attack was immediately formed, the English on the right, 
and the friendly Indians on the left. The P'rench aroused, flew 
to arms, when a brisk firing commenced, which lasted for some- 
time, and the French, seeing no way of escape, surrendered. In 
this spirited skirmish, Juraonville, the commander, and ten of his 
men were slain, and twenty-two were taken prisoners. AVashington's 



132 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

loss was one killed and two wounded. This was the young com- 
mander's first battle, and if we may judge of it by the measure of 
success it was the presage of a brilliant career. He naturally felt a 
degree of pride and exultation. In a letter to his brother he added 
a postscript in these words, " I fortunately escaped without any 
wounds; for the right wing, where I stood, was exposed to and re- 
ceived all the enemy's fire; and it was the part where the man was 
killed and the rest wounded. I heard the bullets whistle, and, 
believe me, there is something charming in the sound." "When this 
was reported to the King, George II, he dryly remarked, " He would 
not say so, if he had been used to hear many." 

At the Great Meadows a fort was marked out and partially forti- 
fied, which was designated Fort Necessity. Supplies were scarce and 
could be brought up with difficulty. Not satisfied to stop here, 
Washington pushed on to Gist's at the head waters of the Redstone, 
where some intrenchments were thrown up. But learning that the 
French were approaching in force, and seeing that no sufficient sup- 
ply of provisions could be had, he was obliged to return to Fort 
Necessity, which he proceeded to strengthen. On the morning of 
the 3d of July, the French under Captain de Villiers, a brother-in- 
law of Jumonville, with a force 900 strong, commenced an attack 
upon the fort. Outnumbered nearly three to one Washington boldly 
accepted the wager of battle and all day long and until eight at night, 
made a gallant tight, when the French commander asked for a par- 
ley and demanded a suri'ender, which was refused; again the demand 
was made and again refused. Exhausted by the fatigues of the day 
and sufiPering for lack of provisions, Washington, on being offered 
the privilege of marching out with the honors of war, decided to 
accept the terms, and on the 4th of July, a day memorable in the 
future annals of the country, though of humiliation now, departed 
with drums beating and colors flying. In this engagement, of 300 
under Washington's command, twelve had been killed and forty- 
three wounded. The loss in Captain Mackay's independent com- 
pany of South Carolinians was not known, nor the loss of the 
French, which was believed to be much more serious. 

Returning to Will's Creek, a strong work, designated Fort Cum- 
berland, was constructed, which should be a rallying point. In the 
meantime Colonel Fry had died, and Colonel Inues, of North Caro- 
lina, had been promoted to chief command. The army which came 
under his orders was composed of the Virginia, North Carolina 
and Maryland militia, and independent companies of South Carolina, 
New York and Virginia, under the pay of the King, and officered 
by soldiers bearing his commission. And now succeeded months of 
negotiation carried on between London and Paris; but nothing was 
definitely settled, and in the early spring of 1755, it was decided 



IIISTOItY OF GKKENE OOUNTV. 133 

in the British cabinet to prosecute an active campaign against the 
French in America, with four olijects in view, to eject the French 
from Nova Scotia, to drive tliem from Crown Point on Lake Cham- 
plain; to gain possession of Fort Niagara; and to recover the Ohio 
country. For the accomplishment of these purposes Major-General 
Edward Braddoclc, was dispatched to America with two regiments of 
the line, Forty-fourth and Forty-eighth, commanded by Sir Peter 
Halket, and Colonel Dunbar, with directions to take the supreme 
command of all the forces. Two ships of war and several trans- 
ports were in the Chesapeake. Alexandria was made the rall^-ing 
point, and here the regulars encamped. Commodore Keppel furn- 
ished four heavy pieces of ordinance with a detail of tars to man 
the prolongs in passing the streams and the mountains. Before 
starting on his campaign, the general held a conference at Alexan- 
dria with the governors of the several colonies: Shirley of Massachu- 
setts, Delaney of New York, Sliarpe of ^Vfaryland, Dinwiddle of 
Virginia, Dobbs of North Carolina and Morris of Pennsylvania. 
This conference considered little more than the question of furnish- 
ing troops and supplies for the expeditions. 

The force against Nova Scotia was earliest in the field, and was 
entirely successful, the country being reduced and placed under mar- 
tial law, and two French men-of-war were captured by the English 
Admiral Boscawen. Tiie force destined against the French on the 
Ohio, to be commanded l)y General Braddock in person, was slow 
in moving. Wagons and horses were not in readiness, and could 
not be procured. Two hundred wagons and two thousand horses 
must be had, or the general would not move, and when the expedition 
was on the point of failure for lack of them, Benjamin Franklin, 
then postmaster of Pennsylvan-ia, appeared and assured the General 
that he would provide the desired transportation if authorized to do 
so; that authority was quickly and joj'fully given, and the desired 
horses and wagons were soon forthcoming. It should be observed 
that Braddock had studied the military art as practiced in the open 
countries of Europe, where smooth, hard roads everywhere checkered 
the landscape, and he made his recjuisitions for baggage, artillery 
and amunition as though his expedition was to be made over such a 
country, instead of over one bristling with mountains and torrent 
streams, through a trackless wilderness. Had he gone in light 
marching order with amunition and provisions on pack-horses, he 
would have been better prepared to meet the obstacles which impeded 
his way. Instead, the imjiedimeyita of his little force, of less than 
three thousand men, was greater than was taken by a full army corps 
of 20,000 men in many of the campaigns of the late war. 

Before starting Braddock organized his force in two divisions. 
The first under Sir Peter Halket, was composed of the 44th regu- 



134 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

lars, Peyronie and Waggoner's Virginia companies, Dagworthj's 
Maryland company, Eutherford and Gates' New York companies, and 
Poison's i^ioneers. The second, under Colonel Thomas Dunbar, con- 
sisted of the 4:8th regulars, Dermaries' South Carolinians, Stephens, 
Hogg, and Cock's Virginians, Dobb's North Carolinians, and Mer- 
cer's pioneers. The field officers under Ilalket and Dunbar were, 
Lieutenant-Colonels Burton and Gage, Majors Chapman and Sparks, 
Brigade Major, Francis Halket; Quartermaster, John Sinclair; 
Assistant Quartermaster, General Matthew Leslie; Secretary to the 
General, "VYm. Shirley, and Aids-de-camp, Orme, Washington, and 
Morris. Christopher Gist and his son Nathaniel went as guides, 
and the Indian agents Ci'oghan and Montour, acted as interpreters. 
Orme's journal, which was about the only record of this ill-starred 
campaign which escaped destruction, records that the soldiers were 
required to be provided with " one new spare shirt, one new pair of 
stockings, and one new pair of shoes; and Osnabrig waist-coats and 
breeches were provided for them, as the excessive heat would have 
made the others insupportable; and the commanding officers of com- 
panies were desired to provide leather or bladders for the men's 
hats." 

On the 9th of April, Sir Peter Ilalket, with six companies of the 
Forty-fourth, moved by way of Winchester for Fort Cumberland, at 
AVill's Creek, leaving Lieut. Col. Gage with four companies to escort 
the artillery. By the advice of Sir John Sinclair, who had been sent 
forward in advance to Winchester and Fort Cumberland, to prepare 
the way for the march, the second division under Col. Dunbar, 
accompanied with the artillery and heavy trains, moved by way of 
Frederick, Maryland. But though the roads were better approach- 
ing Frederick than by Winchester, there were absolutely none beyond 
there crossing the Alleghany Mountains, and accordingly this wing 
was obliged to recross the Potomac and gain the Winchester road. 
They now marched on with all the "pride and circumstance" of 
glorious war. "At high noon," says the chronicler, "on tlie 10th of 
May, while Ilalket's command was encamped at the common desti- 
nation, the Forty-eighth was startled by the passage of Braddock and 
his staff through their ranks, with a body of liglit horse, one gallop- 
ing on each side of his traveling chariot, in haste to reach Fort Cum- 
berland. The troops saluted, the drums rolled out the Grenadier's 
March, and the cortege passed by. An hour later they heard the 
booming of artillery which welcomed the General's arrival at Fort 
Cumberland, and a little later themselves encamped on the hillsides 
about the post." In place of this vain display, Braddock should by 
this time have been knocking at the gates of Fort Du Quesne. 

But arrived at Fort Cumberland, he sat down one whole month 
of the very best campaigning season, preparing for the execution of 



f^' 




<l^.e^r/j. '=/o^^yf^ -y/^^y^ta./'Y^rf^-e^ A.yceJ/^'^cha- 



ItlSTOKV nl' (iKKKNK COirNTV. 187 

liis pliins after the methods of Euro[)eaii warfare. IIi> utter lack 
of appreciation of the kind of warfare he was to wage, is given in 
the Autobiography of Franklin: "In con\ersation with him one 
day, lie was giving me some account of his intended j^rogress. 
' After taking I'ort l)u Qviesne,' said he, ' I am to proceed to Niagara; 
and, liaving taken that, to Frontenac, if the season will allow time; 
and I suppose it will, for I)u Quesne can hardly detain me above 
three or four days; and then 1 can eee nothing that can oI)struct my 
march to Niagara.' Having before resolved in my mind," continues 
Franklin, "the Umg line his army must make in their march by a 
very narrow road, to i)e cut for them through the woods and bushes, 
and also of what 1 had heard of a former tlefeat of fifteen hundred 
French, who invaded the Illinois country, I had ci>iiceived some 
doubts and some fears for the event of the campaign; but I ventured 
onl^' to say, 'To be sure, sir, if you arrive well before Du Quesne 
with these fine troops, so well provided with artillery, t'le fort though 
completely fortified, and assisted with a very strong garrison, can 
|)robabl3' make but a short resistance. The only danger I apprehend 
of obstruction to your march is from the ambuscades of the Indians, 
who by constant practice, are dexterous in laying and executing 
them; and the slender line, nearly four miles long, which your army 
must make may expose it to be attacked by surprise on its flanks, 
and to be cut like thread into several pieces, which, from their dis- 
tance, cannot come u]) in time to sujiport one another.' 

" He smiled at my ignorance, and replied: 'These savages may 
indeed be a formidable enemy to raw x\merican militia, but upon the 
King's regular and disciplined troops, sir.it is impossibe they should 
make an impression!' I was conscious of an impropriety in my dis- 
puting with a military man in matters of his profession." 

It was June before the army was ready to set forward. The 
wagons and artillery were a great hindrance in crossing the moun- 
tains, and it was soon found necessary to send them back, especially 
the King's wagons which were very heavy. The horses became 
weakened by incessant pulling over rough and untraveled roads, and 
many died. The Little Meadows was not reached until the 18th of 
the month. Through the advice of Washington, the (General decided 
to change the order of march, and with a force of his picked men, 
with as little incumbrance of trains as possible, to ])ush foi'ward. 
Accordingly, with a force of twelve hundred men, IJraddock set out, 
leaving Colonel Dunbar with the balance of the command to bring- 
on the heavy artillery and trains. At the camp, near the crossing of 
Castleman's River, on the I'Jth, Washington was taken violently ill. 
^ '• Braddock,'' he said, in relating the circumstance afterward, "was 
both my General and my physician. I was attacked with a dangerous 
fever on the inarch, and he left a sergeant to take care of me, and 
7 



138 HISTOKY OF GREENK COUNTY. 

James' fever powders, with the directions how to give them, and a 
wagon to bring me on when I would be able, which was only the day 
before the defeat." 

The army was attended on its march by a small body of Indians 
under command of Croghan. They had come into camp at Fort 
Cumberland, attended by their squaws. " These," says Irving, 
" were even fonder than the men of loitering about the British 
camp. They were not destitute of attractions; for the young squaws 
resemble the gypsies, having seductive forms, small hands and feet, 
and soft voices. Among those who visited the camp was one who 
no doubt passed for an Indian princess. She was the daughter of the 
Sachem, White Thunder, and bore the dazling name of Bright 
Lightning. The charms of these wild-wood beauties were soon ac- 
knowledged." " The squaws," writes Secretary Peters, " bring in 
money plenty; the officers are scandalously fond of them! The 
iealousy of the warriors was aroused; some of them became furious. 
To prevent discord, the squaws were forbidden to come into the 
British camp. Finally it became necessary to send Bright Lightning 
with all the women and children back to Aughquick." 

Washington was disappointed by the manner in which Braddock 
acted upon his advice to move rapidly with his best troops, and leave 
the heavy portion of the im,pedimenta to be moved more leisurely. 
Washington had given up his own horse for the uses of the trains, 
and traveled with his baggage half tilling a portmanteau. But the 
officers of the line could not bring themselves to this simplicity. 
"Brought up," says Irving, " many of them in fashionable and 
luxurious life, or the loitering indulgence of country quarters, 
they were so encumbered with what they considered indispen- 
sable necessaries, that out of two hundred and twelve horses gen- 
erally appropriated to their use, not more than a dozen could be 
spared by them for the public service." Nor was the progress even 
with these drawbacks at all in consonance with the wishes of Wash- 
ington. " I found," he says, " that instead of pushing on with vigor, 
without regarding a little rough road, they M-ere halting to level 
every mole-hill, and to erect bridges over every brook, by which 
means we were four days in getting twelve miles." He had been 
about a month in marching a hundred miles. Indeed, his move- 
ments were so sluggish as to cause impatience by his friends in 
Europe. " The Duke of Brunswick," M'ho had planned the cam- 
paign, writes Horace A¥alpole, " is much dissatisfied at the slowness 
of General Braddock, who does not march as if he was at all impatient 
to be scalped." 

Though still weak, Washington had come up with the advance; 
but on the 23d of June, at the great crossings of the Yougliiogheny, " 
he was unable to proceed. Here tiie General interposed his 



HIt>TORY OF (iKEENE ( OUNTY. 139 

authority and forbade his young aid to go further, assigned him a 
guard, placed liim under the care of his surgeon, Dr. Craig, with 
directions not to move until the surgeon should consider him suf- 
liciently recovered to resume the march with safety, at the same time 
assuring him that he should be kept informed of the progress of the 
Column, and the portents of a battle. He was, however, impatient 
at the restraint, and regarded with distress the departure of the army 
leaving him behind, fearful lest he might not be up in time for the 
impending battle, which, he assured his brother aid-de-camp, "he 
would not miss for live hundred pounds." 

Indications of the presence of a hostile force of French and Indians 
hovering upon the flanks of the column hourly multiplied. On 
the 24th a deserted Indian camp of 170 braves was passed, 
where the trees had been stripped of bark, and taunting words 
in the French language, and scurrilous ligures were painted 
thereon. On the following morning three men venturing beyond 
the sentinels were shot and scalped. These hostile parties were often 
seen, but they always managed to elnde the parties sent out to cap- 
ture them. In passing over a mountain quite steep and precipitous, 
the carriages had to be raised and lowered by means of halyards and 
pulleys by the assistance of the sailors. Such was the nature of the 
iiurried march with his best troops which Braddock had consented to 
make. On the 2Gtli, only four miles were marched, and the half was 
at another Indian camp, which the warriors had but just left, the 
brands of their camp-tire still burning. " It had a spi'ing in the 
middle, and stood at the termination of the Indian patii to the Mo- 
nongahela. ■" * "■• The French had inscribed their names on 
some of the trees with insulting bravadoes, and the Indians ha<l 
designated in triumph the scalps they had taken two days pi-eviously. 
A party was sent out with guides, to follow their tracks and fall on 
them in the night, l)ut without success. In fact, it was the Indian 
Ijoast, that througliout this march of I'raddock, they saw him every 
day from the mountains, and expected to lie able to shoot down his 
soldiers ' like pigeons.' " 

8till the column went toiling on, in one whole day making barely 
two miles, men and officers alike all unconscious of the fact that a 
])itfall was being jtrepared for them into which they would plunge to 
<lestruction, and laying no adequate ])lans to guard and shield tliem- 
selves from such a fate. 

On the 8th of July, Washington found himself sufficiently recov- 
ered to join the advance of the army, at its camp about two miles 
from the Monongahela and fifteen from Fort Du Quesne. Though 
they were now on the same side of the river as the fort, yet not far 
in advance, a preeipit(?us bluff extended down close in upon the river 
)jank, leaving little room for the march, and where a column wuiiki 



140 iiistoi:y of geeene county. 

be exposed for a distance of two miles to sudden attack from the 
heights. Accordingly, it was determined to cross to the left bank of 
the river by a ford, move down five miles, recross to the right bank, 
and then move on to the attack of the fort. According to orders, Gage, 
witii two companies of grenadiers, the company of Capt. Gates, and 
two six pounders, before daylight on the morning of the 9th, crossed 
and recrossed tlie river, as planned, and took up a position favorable 
for covering tlie moving of tlie remainder of the column. A party 
of some fifty Indians rushed out upon them but were soon put to 
flight. Knowing the nature of the ground upon which they had now 
come, and realizing the hazards from a covert attack to which they 
were exposed, having come in sucli close proximity to the enemy, 
and doubtless recalling the buzz of the bullets and buck-shot about 
bis ears in liis fight at Fort Necessity, Washington ventured to sug- 
gest, that as the Virginia rangers were accustomed to Indian warfare 
that they be given the advance. But the proposition was received 
with a sharp rebuke by the General, believing, no doubt, that the 
young provincial aid was ignorant of the principles of high art in 
warfare, and indignant tiiat any subordinate should pretend to advise 
him. 

Eraddock was now near enough to the fort to anticipate tlie battle 
at any moment. lie accordingly prepared to make a fine show. At 
sunrise the main body under his immediate command, turned out in 
full uniform. Their arms had been brightened the night before, and 
at the beating of tiie general were charged with fresh cartridges. 
At the crossings of the stream, where it was supposed that the 
enemy would be on the watcli to observe them, in order that they 
might make the greatest show of power and strengtli, they moved 
with fixed bayonets, coloi's gayly given to the breeze, the trumi:)et 
sounding, and the fife and drum marking the measured tread. 
" Washington," says Irving, " with iiis keen and youthful i-elish for 
military afi'airs, was delighted with their perfect order and equipment, 
so difiperent from the rough bush-fighters to which he had been accus- 
tomed. Roused to new life, he forgot his recent ailments, and broke 
forth in expressions of onjoyment and admiration, as he rode in 
company with his fellow aids-de-camp, Orme and Morris. Often 
in after life, he used to speak of the effect upon him of the first sight 
of a well-disciplined European army marching in high confidence and 
bright array, on the eve of a l)attle." 

Having now all crossed to the right bank, and being, as was sup- 
posed, within nine miles of the fort, the column was put -in battle 
order. Gage, with his force preceded by the engineers and guides, and 
six light horsemen leading; St. Clair, with the working party fianked 
with soldiers, and the wagons and two six-pounders following; then 
the General with tlic main body, and the provincial troops bringing 



HISTOKY OK GREP;NE COUNTY. 141 

up the rear. Along the track tliey Avere to pursue was a plain for 
some distance, then rising ground Hanked on either side by wooded 
ravines. At two o'clock tiie advance under Gage having crossed 
tliis plain was ascending the rise, the (leneral Iiiinself liaving 
given the order to the main body to marcli, and being now under 
way, suddenly a heavy tiring was heard at the head of the column, 
accompanied by uiu>arthly yells. Colonel Burton was immediately 
ordered forward to the support of Gage, who had been attacked by an 
unseen foe lurking in ambush, but drawn out in. most advantageous 
oi'der for extending their attack upon the tlanks of the advancing 
English. They were commanded by a Frenchman, Jieaujeu, attired 
in a " gayly fringed hunting shirt,"' who led them on and directed 
the light. The Indians observed no order, but, extending rapidly 
down the ravine on the flank of the column, poured in a murderous 
tire upon the regulars and pioneei'S, wlio stood out boldly presenting 
themselves as targets for the concealed foe, who used their rifles with 
deadly effect. Tiie tiring on both sides was brisk. The Indian 
was accustomed to see his foe dodge behind trees and seek cover 
wherever lie could. Jle ha<l never seen such tine sport befoi'c, where 
his victim stood up boldly, giving a fair chance to shoot him down. 
The Indian war-whoop was something appalling, and the regulars 
syemed to dread it more than the l)ullets. Gage ordered his men to 
fix bayonets and form for a charge up a hill wIkmicc was the heaviest 
tire; but all to no ])urpose. They were bcMug surrounded by an un- 
seen foe, which crept stealthily alijng the hills an<l ravines, keeping 
up a most deadly tire. A panic seize<l the pioneers and many of the 
soldiers. Bi'addock and his fitficers behav(vl in the most gallant man- 
ner, exposing themselves to the tii-e of their dusky foes in their at- 
tempts to reform the shattered ranks and advance them to tlie attack. 
Washington suggested that the Indian mode of skulking be resorted 
to. Eut Braddock would listen to no ailvice, being reported to have 
said upon the occasion, " WhatI a \'irginia colonel teach a J>ritish 
general how to tight!" I!ut that young \'irginian counselled wisely 
in this dire necessity. For three long hours Braddock saw the work 
of slaughter go on, while he attempted to form his ti-oojis in platoons, 
ill the open ground, and advance' them u|)oii the conceahMl f(jc. The; 
provincial troi>ps, in spite (jf the (ieneral, shiel(le<l themselves behin<l 
trees and did greater execution upon the foe than all the tii'ingof Uw. 

regulars. The latter weve thrown into ci'eat confusion by this sav- 

111 
<age style of warfare, where no foe could be seen, and where tliey 

were only guided in directing their tire by the flashes and smoke from 

the rifles of the skulking enemy. They huddled together and fired 

at random, sometimes shooting down theii-own iViends. The carmigc 

on the pai't of the English was terriV)le, nearly one-half of all those 

who liad marched forth in faultless uniforms, and whose bright 



142 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

armour had reflected tlie morniug sunlight, before night-fall lay 
stark and stifl' in death, or were suffering from ghastly wounds. The 
foe was largely made np of Indians, and only about half the number 
of the English, who were utterly defeated. Finally, General Brad- 
dock himself was mortally wounded, and immediately gave orders 
for the troops to fall back. Fortunately the Indians fell to plunder- 
ing, and neglected to pursue the retreating army. 

General Braddock had Ave horses shot under him before receiving 
his death wound. It has been currently reported that he was shot 
by Thomas Faucett, one of the independent rangers. Braddock 
liad given ox'ders tliat none of his soldiers should take shelter behind 
trees or cover. Faucett's brother had sheltered himself, when Brad- 
dock to enforce his order struck the refractory soldier to the earth 
with his sword. Seeing his brother fall, Faucett shot the General in 
the back, and thereafter the provincials fought as they pleased and did 
good execution. Sir Peter Halket was instantly killed, Shirley was 
shot through the head, Col. Burton, Sir John St. Clair, Col. Gage, 
Col. Orme, Major Sparks and Major Halket were wounded. Five 
captains were killed, and Ave wounded; fifteen lieutenants were 
killed and twenty-two wounded. The killed and wounded of the 
jirivates amounted to seven hundred and fourteen. Over four hun- 
dred wei'e supposed to have been killed. The very large and unu- 
sual number killed outright can only be accounted for on the 
supposition that the badly wounded who were unable to get away 
were murdered by the Indians when they came upon the field, as all 
were stripped and scalped. 

When the two aids, Orme and Sparks, were wounded all orders 
upon the iield had to be eai-j-ied by Washington, who was conspicu- 
ous upon evei-y part, Ijehavingin tlie most gallant manner. He had 
two horses shot under him and four bullet holes through his coat. 
In a letter to his brother he said: "As I liave lieavd, since my ar- 
rival at this place, a circumstantial account of my death and dying 
speech, I take this opportunity of contradicting the first and of 
assuring you that I have not composed the latter. By the all-pow- 
erful dispensations of Providence I have beoi protected beyond all 
human ]n-obability or expectation; for I had four bullets through my 
coat, and two horses shut under me, and escaped unhurt, although 
death was leveling my companions on every side of me." Many of 
tlie remarkable stories told of eminent men are of doubtful authen- 
ticity; but the following is niK]ii('stionably ti-ue. Dr. Craig, the in- 
timate friend of Washington, who had -attended him in his sickness 
and was present in this battle, I'elates that some hfteen years after- 
ward, " while traveling with Washington near the junction of the 
Great Kanawha and Ohio Rivers in exploring wild lands, they were 
met by a party of Indians with an interprutei', headed by a venera- 



iiistoi;y (IF (!i;I';f,\k coitxtv. 143 

ble chief. The old Sachem said lie had coiue a long way to see Colo- 
nel Washington, for in the battle of the Moiiongahela he had singled 
him out as a conspicuous object, had fired his ritle at him fifteen 
times, and directed his young warriors to do the same, but not one 
could hit him. A superstitious dread seized him, and he was satis- 
fied that the Great Spirit protected the young hero, and ceased firing 
at him." It is a singular circumstance that in all his campaignings 
Washington was never wounded. 

Of tlie conduct of the regulars in this battle some diversity of 
opinion e.xists. Washington, in a letter to his mother, which he 
never suspected would be made public, and in which he would be 
expected to tell his real sentiments, says: " In short, the dastardly 
behavior of those they call regulars, exposed all others who were in- 
clined to do their duty to almost certain death; and at last, in despite 
of all the efforts of the officers to the contrary, they ran as sheep 
pursued by dogs, and it was imi)0ssible to rally them." 

Eraddock, though mortally wounded, was still able to give orders. 
After having brought ofi' the remnant of his force and recrossed the 
river, he posted his command in an advantageous position and put 
out sentinels, in the hope of still making a successful advance, 
when his reinforcements under Dunbar should come up; but before 
an hour had elapsed most of his men had stolen away, and tied to- 
wai-ds Fort Cumberland. Indeed, the teamsters had, trom the begin- 
ning of the battle, taken out the best horses from their teams, and 
rode away. Seeing that no stand could be made the retreat was con- 
tinued, and Colonel Cage coming up with eighty men whom he had 
rallied gave some show of order. Washington was directed to pro- 
ceed to Dunbar's camp, forty miles away, and order forward trains 
and supplies for bringing off' the wounded. This was executed. At 
Gist's plantation he met Gage escorting Braddock and a portion of 
the wounded. At Dunbar's camp a halt of one day was made, when 
the retreat was resumed, and at the Great Meadows on the night of 
the 13th Braddock breathed his last. He had been heard to mutter, 
"Who would have thought it!" and "We shall better know how to 
deal with them another time," as if he still hoped to rally and tight. 
Lest the Indians should be watching and know of his death and 
burial place the ceremony of his interment took place just before 
dawn in the morning. The chaplain had been wounded, and Wash- 
ington read the burial service over his grave. He was buried in the 
road-way, and the trains were driven over the grave, so that the 
savages should n6t discover his last resting-place. The grave is a 
few yards north of the present National Road, between the tifty-third 
and fifty-fourth mile-stone from Cumberland, and about a mile west 
of Fort Necessity, at the Great Meadows. " Whatever may have 
been his [Braddock'sJ faults and errors," says Irving, " he, in a man- 



144 ttlSTOltY 01<' GREENE COUNTY. 

iier, expiated them by the hardest lot that can bei'all a brave soldier, 
ambitious ol; i-enowu — an uiihonored grave in a strange land." 

Dunbar seems to have been completely cowed by the misfortunes 
of the day, and the death of his general. lie hastily burst all the 
cannon, burned the baggage and gun carriages, destroyed the ammu- 
nition and stores, and niade a hasty retreat to Fort Cumberland. 
AVhen all were got together he found he had fifteen hundred troops, 
a sufficient number to have gone forward and taken the fort. But 
the war-whoop of the savage seemed to be still ringing in his ears, 
and the fear of losing his scalp overshadowed all. He continued to 
fall back and did not seem quite at ease till he liad reached Philadel- 
phia, where the population could afford him entire security. The 
result of tiie campaign was humiliating to British arras, and Frank- 
lin observed in his autobiography, " The whole transaction gave us 
the first suspicion that our e.valted ideas of British regular troops 
had not been well founded." Had Braddock moved in light march- 
ing order, using pack-horses for transportation, and taken only so 
much baggage as was necessary for a short campaign, or had he 
when attacked taken shelter and raked the ravines with his artillery, 
the fort would have been his with scarcely a struggle. 

It has since been disclosed with how slender a force Ijraddock 
was defeated. "The true reason," says Irving, '' why the enemy 
did not pursue the retreating army was not known until sometime 
afterwards, and added to the disgrace of the defeat. They were not 
the main force of the French, Init a mere detachment, 72 regulars, 
146 Canadians, and 637 Indians, 855 in all, led by Captain de 
Beaujeu. De Contrecceur, the commander of Fort Duquesne, had 
received information, through his scouts, that the English, three 
thousand strong, were within six leagues of his fort. Despairing of 
making any effectual defence against s^icli a superior force, he was 
balancing in his mind whether to abandon his fort without av^'aiting 
their arrival, or to capitulate on honorable terms. In this dilemma 
Beaujeu prevailed on him to let him sally forth with a detachment 
to form an ambush, and give check to the enemy. De Beaujeu was 
to have taken post at the river, and have disputed the passage at the 
ford. For that purpose he M'as hurrying forward when discovered 
by the pioneers of Gage's advance party. He Avas a gallant officer 
and fell at the beginning of the fight. The whole number killed 
and wounded of Frencli and Indians did not exceed seventy. Such 
was the scanty force which the imagination of the panic stricken 
array iiad magnified into a great host and from which they had fled 
in breathless terror, abandoning the whole frontier. No one could 
be more surprised than the French commander himself, when the 
ambuscading party returned in triumph with a long train of pack- 
horses laden with booty, the savages uncouthly clad in the garments 




cr^- 



>t»'<:U-/ - 




<r-(/t 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 147 

of tlie slain, — grenadier caps, officers' gold-laced coats, and glittering 
epaulettes, — flourishing swords and sabres, or tiring ofl' muskets, and 
uttering liend-like yells of victory. But when L)e Contreconir was 
informed of the utter rout and destruction of the much dreaded 
British army, liis joy was complete, lie ordered the guns of the 
fort to be tired in triumph, and sent out troops in pursuit of the 
fugitives.'' 

Braddock lost all his papers, orders and correspondence, even 
to his own commission, his military chest containing £25,000 
in money, and one hundred beeves. Washington lost his journal 
and the notes of his campaign to Fort Necesity of the year before. 
Indeed, with the exception of Orme's journal and a seaman's diary, 
no papers were saved. In a letter to his brother Augustine, Wasli- 
ington recounted his losses and privations in his several public 
services, in a repining strain. '• I was employed to go a journey in 
the winter, when I believe few or none would have undertaken it, 
and what did I get b}' it? — my expenses borne. I was then ap- 
pointed, with trifling paj-, to conduct a handful of men to the Ohio. 
What did I get by that? Why, after putting myself to a consider- 
able expense in equipping and providing necessaries for the cam- 
paign, 1 went out, was soundly Ijeaten, and lost all! Came in and 
had my commission taken from me; or, in other words ray command 
reduced, under a pretence of an order from home (England). I then 
went out a volunteer with General Braddock, and lost all my horses, 
and many other things. But this being a voluntary act, I ought not 
to have mentioned it; nor should I have done it, were it not to show 
that I have been on the losing order ever since I entered the service, 
which is now neai-ly two years." 

Ah! George, this does look like a sad case to you now! You did 
lose a few horses with their trappings; you did suffer on a winter 
tramp through the forest and were tired at by the savage, and hurled 
into the icy current of the river. You did get entrapped at Fort 
Necessity, and on Braddock's tield innumerable bullets were aimed 
at you, when pale with sickness you rode up and down that bloody 
ground. But, my young friend, did you ever cast up your gains in 
these campaignings? You did suft'er some losses in horses and 
bridles and the like. But there was not a true breast in all America 
that did not swell with pride when it knew of the tidelity and reso- 
lution you displayed in the trusts imposed upon you, and the gallant 
manner in which you acted on that fatal tield, when all around you 
seemed stricken with terror and dismay, and your General was 
bleedfng with a mortal hurt. Y^ou did indeed lose some sleep, and 
disease preyed upon your system in consequence of exposure; but 
there was not an Englishman anywhere in the civilized world who 
was not touched with some share of your anguish when the story ot 



148 HISTORY OF GREENE COTTNTY. 

your heroism was rehearsed; not a Christian in all the land who 
could not join with the President of Princeton College, the Kev. 
Samuel Davis, who referred in a sermon preached not long after the 
event to "that heroic youth. Colonel Washington, whom I cannot 
but hope Providence has hitherto preserved in so signal a manner 
for some important service to his country." 



CHAPTER X. 



Seven Years' Wae Opened — Indians Inspired by Defeat op Bead- 
dock — Teeeible Wae Upon Settlers — French Offer Re- 
wards foe Scalps — Line of Forts Along the Kittatinny Hills 
— Franklin in Command — Armstrong at Kittanning — Lord 
Loudon Unsuccessful — William Pitt Comes to Power — Aber- 

CEOMBIE and BoSCAWEN TlOONDEEOGA HeLD, BUT FeONTENAC 

Lost by the French — General Forbes at Foet du Quesne — 
Moravian Post Sent to the Indians — The Vicegerent of the 
Lord — ^Indians Superstitious — Indian Methods — E'ort du 
Quesne Occupied — Amherst in ■ Command — Ticonderoc^a and 
Crown Point and Niagara Taken — Wolf on the Plains of 
Abraham — Quebec Defended — Montreal Captured — The 
French Expelled From North America East of the Missis- 
sippi — Pitt's Vigorous Policy Everywhere Crowned with 
Success — Bi't at a Cost of 1^560,000,000 — English Speaking 
AND Not FEENCir. 

THOUGH some advantages had been gained at Nova Scotia and at 
Fort William Henry in New York, yet the great disaster to 
Braddock, on whose success towering liopes had been formed, spread, 
gloom thi'ough the colonies and touched the pride of the British 
nation. Seeing that the claims of the French to the country west of 
the Alleghany Mountains as well as the northern frontiers of the colo- 
nies M'ere likely to be vigorously pushed, the English government 
determined to assert counter claims with even greater vigor. Ac- 
cordingly war was declared against France on the 17th of May, 1756, 
and General Abercrombie was sent to take active command in the 
field in place of Shirley, who had succeeded to the command on the 
fall of Braddock, and Lord Loudon, who had been appointed Gov- 
ernor of Virginia, was placed in supreme command of all the armies 
in America. The plan of campaign of 1756 was a vigorous one. 



HISTORY OF (HiEENK COUNTY. 149 

Ten thousand men were to attack Crown Point, six tliousand were to 
advance upon Niagara, three thousand were to constitute tiie eohiinn 
to luove against Fort da Quesne, and two thousand were to descend 
from the Kennebec upon the French upon the Cliaudiere IJiver. 
But before any movement could be made, the French, under Mont- 
cabn, crossed Lake Ontario, captured Fort Ontario, kiUing the com- 
mander, Colonel Mercer, took fourteen hundred prisoners, a quantity 
of arms and stores, and several vessels, and having destroyed the forts, 
returned to Canada without serious loss. This threw the whole 
frontier of JS'ew York and the Si.\ Nations, who had remained loyal 
to the English, open to the French. 

Previous to the expedition of Braddock, tlie Indians along the 
upper Ohio, the Shawneese and Delawares, had been kept by frei^uent 
friendly messages from their Fathers, tlie Governors of the colonies, 
but more by high piled up pi'esonts, true to their allegiance to the 
English. Indeed so much confidence had the triendship of the tribes 
inspired that several families had settled along the valley of the 
Monongahela, in Pennsylvania. But the coming of a detachment 
of the French army with their great guns, dressed in showy uniforms, 
the officers bedecked with gold lace and nodding plumes, and taking 
possession unopposed of the strong fort the English were building, 
changed all this. They concluded that the French had established 
themselves permanently here, and consequently they were easily won 
over, and induced to iight with what they judged was the stronger 
party. When Braddock came they were seized with fear at the ap- 
pearance of strength, and were with great difficulty induced to go 
out with Beaujeu to otfer fight. But when they found how easily 
this great force of English was overcome, and what a harvest of 
scalps and booty they gathered with little loss to themselves, they 
were inspired with great contempt for the red coats, and a corres- 
ponding admiration for the French. That battle aroused all the 
bloody instincts that are common to the savage breast. So confident 
did the French become that they could hold the country by the aid 
of the natives, that instead of reinforcing the fort with additional 
troops, they actually sent away a portion of those who were there to 
Venango and other posts beyond. 

Wben, therefore, Braddock's column retreated out of the Monon- 
gahela valley, the settlers, knowing their insecurity, fled to the 
nearest forts for safety. The savages had now the taste of blood, and 
like wild beasts would not be satisfied until they were gorged. Not 
two months from the time when the English retired, the warrior 
chieftain, Shingiss, with a band of warriors from the Delawares and 
Shawneese, had moved out to the Alleghanies and crossed the sum- 
mits. Being now upon the war-path, with stealthy step he came 
upon the unsuspecting settler, and his stony heart was untouched by 



150 HISTORY OF GREKNK COUNTY. 

the cries for pity. Tlie tender infant and trembling age were 
mercilessly tomahawked and scalped, and their cabins burned. On 
the 4th of October, wrote to Col. Burd: "Last night came to the. 
Mill at Wolgomoth's, an Express going on to the Governor of Mary- 
land with an account of the inhabitants being out on Patterson's 
Greek; and about the fort the esjjress says, there is forty killed and 
taken, and that one whole family was burned to death in a house. 
The Indians destroyed all before them, firing Houses, Barnes, Stack- 
yards and everything that will burn." Governor Sharpe, of Mary- 
land, writes a few days later to the Governor of Pennsylvania, " I 
have received several letters advising me that the Indians have 
since the Ist inst. (Oct.) cut otf a great n-\any families who lived near 
Fort Cumberland, and on both sides of Potowmack some miles east- 
ward of the fort. It is supposed that near one hundred persons have 
been murdered, or carried away prisoners by these barbarians, who 
have burnt the houses, and ravaged all the plantations. Parties of 
the enemy appear within sight of Fort Cumberland every day, and 
frequently in greater numbers than the garrison consists of. As I 
presume it will not be long before these people pay a visit to your 
borders, I take this opportunity of intimating what I think may be 
expected." 

And now the torch of savage warfare lighted up all the border, 
and even penetrated far into the older settled portions of the coimtry. 
AVeiser, the Indian trader, sent word to Governor Morris of a mas- 
sacre which had taken place on John Penn's Creek, which flows into 
the S\isquehanna five miles above the confluence of the North and 
West branches. " Several people have been found scalped and twenty- 
eight are missing; the people are in great consternation, and are 
coming down leaving their plantations and corn behind them." A 
party who had been to Shamokin to ascertain where the enemy had 
come from who had perpetrated the outrages on Penn's Creek, were 
fired on by lurking savages on their return, and four were killed and 
four drowned in attempting to cross the river. Warned of their 
danger, the settlements for fifty miles along the river Susquehanna 
were abandoned. • "The people," says Governor Morris to the Gov- 
ernor of Virginia, " are mostly without arms, and struck with such a 
panick that they flee as fast as they can from their habitations." 

The portents of Indian depredations now thickened on every side, 
and no doubt exaggerated reports of the coming of the French and In- 
dians helped to swell the consternation. The settlement at Great 
Cove, in Cumbei'land County, was attacked on Sunday morning, Nov. 
2d, when six were killed and seventeen borne away into a captivity 
more terrible than death, The town of Little Cove and Conoloways, 
on the following day were attacked, and the sheriff of the county, Mr. 
Potter, reported "that of ninety- three families which wej'e settled in 



HISTORY OF UKEENJi COUNTY. 151 

tlie two Coves and tlie Coiioloways, forty-seven vi^ere either killed or 
taken and the rest deserted." Encouraged by their successes gained 
over defenseless settlers whom they stole upon and murdered, the 
Indians pushed on into Berks County, and on the 18tli of November 
the Governor informed the Mayor of Philadelphia, "that the Indians 
have fallen upon the settlements of Tnlpehoscon; that tiiey had 
slaughtered many of the inhabitants, and laid waste the country, 
and were moving towards the town of Reading, which is within sixty 
miles of this city. The Moravian settlement on the Lehigh was 
attacked, and their meeting-house, dwelling houses, barns, in which 
were hay, horses, and forty head of fat cattle, were destroyed. 

The Indians had now compassed the whole frontier east of the 
mountains, stretching from the Delaware Water Gap to the Potomac 
waters, a distance of 150 miles, and a breadth of twenty to thirty 
miles. In a report to the Couucil made on the 29th of JS^ovember, 
the Secretary said, the frontier " has been entirely deserted, the 
houses and improvements reduced to ashes, the cattle, horses, 
grain, goods, and effects of the inhabitants either destroyed, burned, 
or carried off by the Indians. All our accounts agree in this, that 
the French since the defeat of Gen. Braddock, have gained over to 
their interest the Delawares, Shawanees, and many other Indian 
nations formerly in our alliance, aiul on whom, through fear and their 
large promises of rewards for scalps, and assurances of reinstating 
them in the possession of the lands they have sold to the English, 
they have prevailed to take up arms against us, and to join heartily 
with them in the execution of the ground they have been long med- 
itating, the ])Ossession of all the country between the ri\er Ohio and 
the river Susquehanna, and to secure that possession by building a 
strong fort at Shamokin, which, by its so advantageous situation at 
tlie conflux of the two main branches of Susquehanna, one whereof 
interlocks with the waters of the Ohio, and the other heads in the 
center of the country of the Six iS'ations, will command and make the 
French entire masters of all that extensive, rich and fertile country, 
and of all the trade with the Indians, and from whence they can at 
pleasure enter and annoy our territories, and put an effectual stop to 
the future extension of our settlement on that quarter, not to mention 
the many other obvious mischiefs and fatal consequences that must at- 
tend their having a fort at Shamokin." 

So deadly had the Indian incursions become and so threatening 
to the peace and safety of the colony, that the Governor, on the 14th 
of April, issued his proclamation declaring war against the Dela- 
wares, and offering a reward for Indian scalps and prisoners. 
In Virginia the enemy showed a like activity hovering about the 
fort at Mills Creek, and even pushing forward till they had actually 
reached and invested the town of Winchester. AVhereupon tlie Gov- 



152 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

ernor called out the militia of the eleven contiguous counties. But 
the campaign iindertaken was fruitless, for when tiie Indians perceived 
a competent force opposed to them, dispersed and disappeared, or 
lured their pursuers on to destruction. 

To check the progress of these savage inroads upon the settle- 
ments troops were raised in Pennsylvania through the influence of 
Franklin, and a line of forts was erected along the Kittatinny Hills, 
extending from the Delaware to the Patoraac, at a cost of £85,000; 
those on the east bank of the Susquehanna being Depui, Lehigh, . 
Alien, Everitt, Williams, Henry, Swatara, Hunter, Halifax and 
Augusta, and those on the west bank Louther, Morris, Franklin, 
Granville, Shirley, Lyttleton and Loudoun. Much difficulty was 
experienced in overcoming the scruples of the Quakers; but Frank- 
lin issued and circulated a dialogue answering the objections to a 
legalized militia, and at the earnest solicitation of the Governor, he 
was put in command of the troops raised. As soon, however, as he 
had the requisite force and saw the work of locating and building the 
forts well under way lie retired to take his seat in the assembly, and 
Colonel Chipham was left in command. 

In July, 1756, King Shingiss, with a hostile band, appeared be- 
fore Fort Granville, now Lewistown, and finding it feebly manned, 
carried it by storm, killing some of its defenders, and carrying away 
captives a considerable number of inmates. The home of this form- 
idable chief was Kittanning, on the banks of the Alleglieny River. 
Here he had quite a town, and here dwelt Captain Jacobs, chief of 
the Delaware?. The French supplied them with arms and ammuni- 
tion and needed supplies, which were floated down the Venango and 
Allegheny Kivers. At the time of this attack upon tlie fort at 
Lewistown, Colonel John Armstrong was in command of the Second 
regiment of Pennsylvania troops, stationed west of the Susquehanna, 
and it was determined to send iiim in pursuit of these dusky warriors. 
Cautiously pushing forward from the point of rendeznous at Fort 
Shirley, now Huntingdon County, with a force of some three hun- 
dred men, sending forward scouting parties to prevent discovery, he 
fortunately came in close upon the town without discovery. From 
his ofKcial report dated at Fort Lyttleton (Bedford), September 14, 
he says: We lost much time "from the ignorance of our pilots, 
who neither knew the true situation of the town, nor the best paths 
that led tliereto; by which means after crossing a number of hills 
and valleys our front reached the river Allegheny about one hundred 
perches below the main body of the town a little before the setting 
of the moon, to which place, rather than by pilots, we were guided 
by the beating of the drum, and the whooping of the warriors at 
their dances. It then became us to make the best use of our moon- 
light; but we were aware an Indian whistled in a very singular 



HISTOKT OF GREENE COUNTY. I53 

manner, about thirty perches from our front in tlie foot of a corn- 
field, upon which we immediately sat down, and after passing silence 
to the rear, I asked one Baker, a soldier, who was our best assistant, 
whether that was not a signal to their warriors of our approach. He 
answered, -Mio;" and said it was the manner of a young fellow call- 
ing a squaw, after he had done his dance, who, accordi'ngly kindled 
a lire, cleaned liis gun, and shot it ofi' before he went to sleep." 

The night was warm and the Indians prepared to sleep in differ- 
ent parts of the corn field, building some light fires to drive away 
gnats. Sending a part of his force along the hills to tlie right to ciit 
off retreat in that direction, he himself led the larger part below and 
opposite the corn field where he supposed the warriors lay. At 
break of day the attack was made, advancing rapidly throuo-h tlie 
corn and sending a detachment to advance up .n the houses. "Cap- 
tain Jacobs then gave the warwhoop, and with sundry other Indians, 
as the English prisoners afterwards told us, cried, 'the white men 
were at last come, they would have scalps enough,' but at the same 
time ortlered the squaws and children to flee to the woods." The 
fire in tlie corn field was brisk, and frcni the houses, which were built 
of logs and loopholed, the Indians did some execution without expios- 
ing themselves. Accordingly the order was given to fire the houses, 
and as the flames spread the Indians were summoned to surrender, 
but one of them said: '-I am a man, and will not be a prisoner." 
He was told that he would be burned. To this he replied that he 
did not care for he would kill four or five before he died. " As the 
tire began to approach, and the smoke grow thick, one of the Indian 
fellows to show his manhood began to sing. A squaw in the same 
house, and at the same time, was heard to cry and make a noise; 
hut for so doing was severely rebuked by the men; but, by and by,' 
the fire being too hot for them, two Indian fellows and" a squaw 
sprang out and made for the corn field, who were immediately shut 
down; then surrounding the houses, it was thought Captain Jacobs 
tumbled himself out at the garret or cockloft window at which he 
was shot — our prisoners offering to be qualified to the powder-horn 
and pouch, there taken oft' him, which they say he had lately got 
from a French officer, in exchange for Lieutenant Armstrong's boots, 
which he carried from Fort Greenville, where the Lieutenant was 
killed. The same prisoners say they are perfectly assured of his 
scalp, as no other Indians there wore their hair in the same manner. 
They also say they know the squaw's scalp by a particular bob, and 
also know the scalp of a young Indian called the King's Son. Be- 
fore this time. Captain Hugh Mucer, who early in the action was 
wounded in the arm, had been taken to the top of the hill above the 
town, to where a number of the men and some of the ofticers were 
gathered." 



154 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

When all the liouses liad been lired Colonel Armstrong deter- 
mined to take to the hills before destroying the corn and beating up 
the savages probably lurking there, for fear of being surrounded and 
cut oft" by reinforcements from Du Quesne, or French coming down 
the river, as Indians had been seen crossing the river from above. 
"During the burning of the houses," says Colonel Armstrong, 
" which were nearly thirty in number, we were agreeably entertained 
with a quick succession of charged guns gradually firing off', as they 
were reached by the lire; but more so with the vast explosion of 
sundry bags and large kegs of gun powder, where with almost every 
house abounded. The prisoners afterwards informed us that the 
Indians had frequently said they had a sufficient stock of ammuni- 
tion for ten years, to war with the English. With the roof of Cap- 
tain Jacob's house, when the powder blew up, was thrown the leg and 
thigh of an Indian, with a child of three or four years old, such a height 
that they appeared as nothing, and fell into the adjacent corn field. 
There was also a great quantity of goods burnt, wliich the Indians 
had received but ten days before from the French." 

On the day before a party of twenty-four Indians had been sent 
out from Kittanning as the advance force that was to have followed, 
to destroy Fort Shirley, Croghan's fort on the Juniata. This scout- 
ing party fell in with a party of Armstrong's men, under Lieutenant 
Hogg, who had been left in charge of the horses and baggage, and a 
sharp skirmish ensued causing loss on both sides, but in which the 
savages were eventually put to flight. Lieutenant tlogg was mortally 
wounded. 

Though there was not so much accomplished as could have been 
desired, owing to the ignorance of the guides, and the difficulty of 
approaching so alert and wily a foe, yet it must be regarded as a 
signal success, brought aliout by a display of bravery and skill rarely 
excelled in conducting campaigns against Indians. The place had 
to be found by ways entirely unknown to them ; the log-houses were 
well provided with port-holes, from which the occupants could fli-e 
upon the troops approaching without exposing themselves, and the 
corn field gave cover to the skulking manner of savage warfare. In 
the face of these difficulties Armstrong boldly advanced till he found 
the town, skillfully posted his little force so as to cut oft" retreat, and 
after a stubborn fight put the savages to the sword, burned their 
town, destroyed their supplies of ammunition and French goods, and 
brought off" his force with but the loss of seventeen killed, thirteen 
wounded, and nineteen missing. The loss of the Indians was un- 
known, ""but on a inoderate computation, it is generally believed that 
thei'e cannot be less than thirty or forty killed or mortally wounded." 
The blow was sorely felt by tlie Indians. It called a halt in their 
ravages, and reminded them that there were blows to take as well as 




tl . 1 




L/^C 



G^^H^ ^a^^itd^O ^cS~ 



IIISTOUY OF GREENE COUNTY. 157 

give. It caused them to ask themselves what tliey were gainincf by 
tlieir warfare upon tlie English, and wliat they were really receiving 
from the French beyond ammunition and guns with which to prose- 
cute the war. They found tiiemseives pushed forward to do the 
lighting wliile the French could lay back in their secure fortifications, 
and reap the advantages of their temerity. 

Great was tlie rejoicing in Philadelphia at the result-of this ex- 
pedition; the councils voted thanks for the success attending the 
enterprise, and the sum of £150, for the purchase of presents for the 
officers and for the relief of the families of the killed. On the com- 
mander was bestowed a medal bearing on one side the words, " Kit- 
tanning destroyed by Colonel Armstrong, September, 1756," and on 
tiie other, "The gift of the corporation of Philadelphia." 

The campaign of 1757 in America, was conducted on the part of 
the English with little judgment or vigor. Tlie dilatory, brainless 
Lord Loudoun was in supreme command in America, and confined his 
principal operation to an attack npon Louisburg. Put when ar- 
rived with a strong land force and a powerful fleet, being told that 
the enemy outnumbered him, he abandoned the enterprise and re- 
turned to New York without even showing a hostile front. In the 
meantime, the French under Montcalm, had struck a blow at Fort 
William Henry in norlliern New York, and compelled the garrison 
to surrender, three thousand strong. In marching off with the honors 
of war accorded them by Montcalm, the enraged Indians, not accus- 
tomed to see an enemy escape in that way, fell upon the retreating 
English and made a great slaughter, plundered their baggage, and 
]iursucd them to their shelter. 

At this juncture of disgrace (29th of June, 1757.) William Pitt 
was called to the head of the British ministry. Mortified by the 
failures of his country, he planned to prosecute the war in America 
in his peerless way. The heartless Lord Loudoun was recalled and 
General Abercrombie was placed in command of the land, and Ad- 
miral Boscawen of a strong naval force. Twelve thousand additional 
regulars were dispatched to America, and the colonies were asked to 
raise twenty thousand tnore, Pitt promising in the name of Parlia- 
ment to furnish arms and provisions, and to reimburse all the money 
expended in raising and clothing them. The word of Pitt was magi- 
cal, fifteen thousand volunteering from New England alone. Louis- 
burg, Tieonderoga, and Fort I)u Quesne, were to be the points of at- 
tack in the cainpaign 9f 1758. Admiral Boscawen arrived at Ilalifa.x in 
Maywith forty vessels of war and twelve thousand men.underGenerals 
Amherst and AVolfe. Louisburg was invested, and though a vigor- 
ous defence for fifty <lays was maintained, it was compelled to sur- 
rendei- with a loss of tivi' thousand prisonei-s, a large quantit}' of 



158 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

munitions of war, and tlie destruction of all the shipping in the 
harbor. 

But not so well fared the advance upon Ticonderoga, which was 
made by General Abercronibie and the young Lord Howe. With 
seven thousand regulars, nine thousand provincials, and a heavy 
artillery train, an advance was made upon the fort defended by Mont- • 
calm with scarcely four thousand French. The attack was vigorously 
made, but Lord Howe was killed in a skirmish with a scouting party, 
and after four hours of severe lighting and the loss of two thousand 
men, Abercrombie, finding the work stronger tlian he had anticipated, 
fell back discomforted, and after sending out a force under Colonel 
Bradstreet, who captured Fort Frontenac, and subsequently built 
Fort Stanwix, where Rome, New York, now stands, and garrisoned 
Fort George, he retired with the main body to Albany. The fall of 
Frontenac, with the loss of a thousand prisoners, ten armed vessels, 
fifty serviceable cannon, sixteen mortars, a large quantity of ammu- 
nition and stores, and valuable magazines of goods designed for 
trade with the Indians, was a heavy blow to the French, as it de- 
prived them of their great store-house for supplies. 

The campaign against Fort Du Quesne was entrusted to General 
John Forbes, with about nine thousand men, including the Virginia 
militia under Wasliington, stationed at Fort Cumberland. Forbes 
was a sick man, and was detained on that account in Philadelphia, 
while Boqnet, who was second, moved forward with his forces. 
Washington favored an advance by Braddock's road, but Boquet 
chose a line more direct, and further north. Tlie labor of cutting an 
entirely new road through the trackless forest and over craggy steeps 
was toilsome. 

In the meantime, that the Indians, who had thus far fought des- 
perately for the French, might be weakened in tlieir adherence, a 
messenger was sent to visit the tribes upon the Ohio, to show these 
dusky men of the forest how they were being used by their masters 
the French, for their own selfish purposes. The agent selected M'as 
a Moravian, Christian Post, a man who had spent much time among 
the Indians, and had married among them. He was a pious man 
speaking much in scripture phrase, and apparently sincerely believ- 
ing that he was under the special care of divine Providence, and it 
is a singular fact confirmatory of his belief, that although he made 
two journeys back and forth conveying messages from the Governor 
and from General Forbes, through a country everywhere infested liy 
hostile savages thirsting for scalps, he escaped unharmed, and was 
everywhere kindly received and his pious conversation treasured in 
their hearts. Flis broad brimmed hat was like a halo over him. In 
closing his journal after a safe return, he says, "The Lord has pre- 
served me through all the dangers and difficulties I have ever been 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 159 

under. He directed nie according to liis will, by Lis holy spirit. 1 
had no one to converse with but him. He brought me under a thick, 
heavy, and a dark cloud, into the open air; for wliich I adore, praise, 
and worship the Lord my God, that I know has grasped me in his 
liands, and has forgiven me all my sins, and has sent and washed my 
heart with his most precious blood; that I now live not for myself, 
but for him that made me; and to do his holy will is my pleasure." 

Sucli was the spirit in wiiich he went, and it was this spirit which 
inclined the most warlike and hostile Indians to listen. They would 
share with him their last morsel, would conduct him on his way, and 
watch patiently over him thi'ough the long hours of the gloomy night, 
that no evil should befall him. They were, therefore, disposed to 
listen to his message, and when he showed them that they were 
being put forward by the French to tight their battles, and tiiat the 
purpose of the French was to hold all this line country, and if they 
were successful in driving off the English, they would then turn upon 
the poor Indians and drive them off, they began to realize the truth 
of his words. 

The following fragment of a conversation recorded in Post's 
tirst journal will illustrate the nature of his mission: " Now Brother 
(Post), we (Pisquetumen, Tom Hickman, and Shingiss), love you, 
but cauTiot help wondering why the English and French do not make 
up with one another, and tell one another not to fight on our land.'' 
Post replied to them, " Brother, if the English told the French so a 
thousand times, they never would go away. Brother, you know so 
long as the world has stood there has not been such a war. You 
know when the French lived on the other side the war was there, 
and here we lived in peace. Consider how many thousand men are 
killed, and how many houses are burned since the French lived here; 
if they had not been here it would not have been so; you know we 
do not blame you; we blame the French; they are the cause of this 
war; therefore, wedo not come to hurt you, but to chastise the French." 

The effect which tiie words of the messenger had upon the In- 
dians, may be judged by the following answer which was made to a 
messenger of the French who had come with wampum to summon 
them to the fort, hy a party of chieftains who had assembled to con- 
fer with Post: "Give it (the wainpum) to the French captain and 
let him go with his young men; he boasted much of his fighting; 
now let us see his fighting. We liave often ventured our lives for 
him; and hardly a loaf of bread, when we came to him; and now he 
thinks we should jump to serve him." 

The Indian is naturally a worshiper, a bundle of superstitions. 
Though possessed of savage instincts they were captivated by Poit 
because he professed to be ever under the control of the great spirit, 
and spoke with such trust, as though he was upon earth a vicegerent 



160 IIISTOKY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

of tlie Lord. Post himself says of tliein ; " There is not a prouder, 
or more high-minded people, in themselves, than the Indians. They 
think themselves the wisest and j^rudentest men in the world; and 
that they can overpower both the French and English when they 
please. The white people are in their eyes, nothing at all. They 
say that through their conjuring craft, they can do what they please, 
and nothing can withstand them. In their way of lighting, they 
have this method, to see that they first shoot the ofticers and com- 
manders, and then they say they shall be sure to have them. They 
also say, that if their conjurers run through the middle of our jieo- 
pl'e no bullet can hurt them. They say too that when they have 
shot the commanders the soldiers will all be confused, and will not 
know what to do. They say of themselves, that every one of them 
is like a king and captain, and fights for himself. They say that 
the English people are fools; they hold their guns half man high, 
and then let them snap; we take sight and have them at a shot and 
so do the French. They say the French load with a bullet, and six 
swan shot. We take care to have the first shot at our enenjies and 
then they are half dead before they begin to fight." 

The efforts of the messenger had great inttuence with the sav- 
ages. In the midst of his conference with them, a Cayuga Chief 
delivered a string in the name of the Six Nations, who had always 
remained true to the English, with these words: " Cousing, hear 
what I have to say; I see you are sorry, and the tears stand in your 
eyes. I would open your eyes, and clear your eyes from tears, so 
that you may see, and hear what your uncles, the Six Nations have to 
say. We have established a friendship with your brethren, the 
English. We see that you are all over bloody, on your body. I 
clean the heart from dust, and your eyes from tears, and your bodies 
from the blood, that you may hear and see j'our brethren, the En- 
glish, and appear clean before them, and that you may speak from the 
heart with them." 

It is not strange that the grave Cayuga chief should say, re- 
membering how the Ohio Indians had imbrued themselves in the 
affair with Braddock and had murdered and massacred along the 
whole frontier, "you are all over bloody, on your body," speaking in 
that Indian figurative way which was their custom. It was by such 
means as these we have here detailed, by messages taken among 
them by this plain Moravian Christian in his plain garb, that the In- 
dians were brought to realize the true position tliey were sustaining 
to the French, and the ties which bound them were loosened, so that 
when the English came in force their work was in a measure already 
done. 

Colonel Boquet, who had prevailed upon General Forbes, the 
commander of the expedition, and who had been left sick in Phila- 



IIIST0I;Y Of GUEKXE COtTNTY. 161 

ilelpliia, to allow him to cut a new road over the luouutaiiis wholly 
ill Peuiisylvauia, had made so slow progress, that so late as Septem- 
ber he was still with six thousand men not over the Alleghany 
Mountains. At liaystown, now Bedford, the General came up with 
the column, and was there jonied by AV^ashington from Fort Cumber- 
hind. Colonel Boquet, with 2,000 men had already advanced to 
Loyalhanna. That it might be known what was the condition of the 
country in front, and the temper of the foe. Major Grant, accompa- 
nied with Major Andrew Lewis, of the Virginia forces, and a detach- 
ment of eight hundred men, was sent forward on the 11th of Sep- 
tember to reeonnoiter. The third day out Grant arrived close in 
upon the fort without meeting any foe. Having left the baggage 
two miles to the rear, with his main force Grant approached under 
cover of darkness within a quarter of a mile, overlooking the fort. 
Early in the morning Major Lewis was sent with four hundred men 
to lay in ambush along the path by which they had come, and the 
remaining force with Grant lay along the hill facing the fort. Then 
sending out a company under Captain McDonald, with drums beat- 
ing, in the liope of drawing on the enemy, he waited the result, 
hoping that the garrison was weak. But in this he was mistaken ; 
for they followed the decoy in great numbers, and boldly attacked. 
The regulars stood up Itoldly and were shot down from the coverts. 
The Americans took to the woods and fought Indian style. Major 
Lewis joined in the light. Major Grant showed the most intrepid 
bravery, exposing himself to the enemy's lire, but all to no purpose. 
Many were drowned in attempting to cross the river. Seeing that 
he was outnumbered and hemmed in by the enemy standing on com- 
manding ground. Grant retired to the baggage, where Captain Bullet 
had held his company, and as the enemy came on with assurance, his 
little force made a determined stand, doing good execution. Here 
Grant endeavored to rally his broken columns; but the terror of the 
scalping knife had seized them, and one by one they slipped away. 
Bullet finding his force dwindling finally gave the order to retire; 
but the resolute stand he had made enabled the main body to retire 
without molestation, and the hail of bullets he had poured into the 
faces of the foe left them no stomach to pursue. The loss in this 
engagement was two hundred and seventy-two killed, forty-two 
wounded, and many, including Grant, taken prisoners. The loss in 
killed was out of all proportion to the wounded, and the number en- 
gaged. The ambuscade could not have been well planned, or was 
badly executed. Grant was sent with his force to reconnoitre and ascer- 
tain the strength and disposition of the enemy. Instead he marched 
his forces full upon the fort and offered the challenge of battle. The 
enemy, by keeping quiet in their fort and simulating fear, gave the 
impression that they were weak, so that when they threw off the 



162 HISTORY OF OUEENE COUNTY. 

disguise, and rushed out in overwhelming numbers, they went to an 
easy victory. 

Gathering confidence by their great slaughter and great rout 
of the English here, detennined them to follow up their advantage, 
hoping to find the main body thrown into coTifusion and ready to 
retreat as the Braddock army had done under the timid Dunbar. 
Accordingly they came on rejoicing in their strength, twelve hun- 
dred French and two hundred Indians, led by De Vetri, and boldly 
attacked the camp of Boquet at Loyalhanna on the 12tli of October. 
From eleven in the morning till three in the afternoon the battle was 
maintained with great furj^ when the French, finding that the Eng- 
lish were not likely to run, withdrew, but at night renewed the 
attack, hoping, between the terrors of the night and the wild whoop 
of the Indian brandishing his scalping knife, to start a stampede. 
But Boqueb was prepared, and, " when, in return for their melodious 
music," says the chronicler, " we gave them some shells from our 
mortars, it soon made them retreat." The loss in this engagement 
was twelve killed, seventeen wounded, and thirty-one prisoners. It 
will be observed that in this last engagement the French were com- 
pelled to do most of the fighting themselves, showing that the sava- 
ges were beginning to tire of their adhesion to the Frencli. 

General Forbes now pushed forward with the main body of the 
army from Bedford to Loyalhanna, where he arrived about the first 
of November. Here the wintry weather set in unusually early, and 
the summits were already white with snow. A council of war was 
held, and it was decided that it was impracticable to prosecute the 
campaign further before the opening of the spring. But it having 
been learned from captives that the garrison at Du Quesne was weak, 
the Indians having mostly gone ofi" on their autumn hunt preparatory 
for the winter, the decision of the council was reversed, and Forbes 
gave orders to push on with all possible despatch. Colonel Wash- 
ington was sent forward with a detachment to open the road, in 
prosecuting which he had a slight skirnaish with the enemy, and a 
small force sent out to his assistance under Colonel Mercer having 
been mistaken for the foe, was fired upon and several fell. Hav- 
ing pushed forward Colonel Armstrong with a thousand men to aid 
Washington in opening the road. General Forbes followed with the 
main body, four thousand three hundred effective men, leaving a well- 
appointed force at Bedford and Loyalhanna. When arrived within 
twelve miles of the fort a rumor was current that the French, eitlier 
by accident or design, had blown up the fort, and all had been burned. 
This was soon confirmed by the arrival of Indian scouts, who had 
been near enough to see the ruins. A company of cavalry was dis- 
patched with instructions to extinguish the flames and save all the 
property possible. The whole army now pushed forward with joyous 



IIISTOI.'Y OF OKKKNE COUNTY. Ifi3 

Step, and arrived on the 29tli; but only the blackened chimneys of 
the (|narters* and the walls of the fort remained. It was found that 
a strong work had been built at the point between the two rivers, 
and a much larger one apparently nntinished some distance up the 
bank of the Allegheny. There were two magazines, one of which 
had been blown up, and in the otlier were found sixteen barrels of 
ammunition, gun-barrels, a quantity of carriage iron, and a wacron 
load of scalping knives. The cannon had all disappeared, probably 
had been taken do\v7i the Ohio. The garrison, which consisted o"f 
some tive hundred French, had separated, a part having gone down 
the Ohio, a hundred had gone to Presque Isle by an Indian path, and 
the remainder, with the Governor de Lignery, moved up the Alle- 
gheny to P'ort Venango, where he informed the natives tliat he would 
winter and go down in the spring and rout the English. 

A somewhat more spirited acconnt of this important event is 
given by Mr. Ormsby, a commissary in the army, as quoted in tlie 
Western Annals: '"At Turtle Creek a council of war was held, the 
result of which was, that it was impracticable to proceed, all the pro- 
visions and forage being exhausted. On the General's being told of 
this, he swore a furious oath, that he would sleep in the fort oi- in a 
worse place the next night. It was a matter of indifference to the 
General where he died, as he was carried the whole distance from 
Philadelphia and back on a litter. About midniglit a tremendous 
explosion was heard from the westward, on which Forbes swore that 
the French magazine was blown up, which revived our spirits. This 
conjecture of the ' head of iron' was soon conlirmed by a deserter 
from Fort du Quesne, who said that the Indians, who had watched 
the English army, reported that they were as numerous as the trees 
in the woods. This so terrified the French that they set fire to their 
magazine and barracks, and pushed off, some up and some down the 
Ohio." 

Forbes now saw himself in possession of the fort and the com- 
manding ground, which, for four years, the English had been strug- 
gling for. "Well knowing that he could not subsist his army and 
beasts here, he rapidly threw up an earthwork on the Monongahela 
bank, and, leaving Colonel Mercer in command with two hundred 
men, he retired with the army to Loyallianna, where he built a block- 
house, which he stocked with stores and manned with a garrison, and 
then moved back across the mountains. He died in the following 
March. The Gazette said of him: "His services in America are 
well known. By a steady pursuit of well concerted measures, in 
defiance of disease and numberless obstructions, he brought to a 
happy issue a most extraordinary campaign, and made a willino- 
sacrifice of his own life to what he valued more — the interests of his 
King and country." 



164 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

The campaigns of the English in 1758 had proved very success- 
ful. Louisburg, Frontenac and du Quesne were in Iheir hands. 
Pitt was now become the master of tlie Parliament- and nation. 
Elated by his successes in America, he formed the bold plan of not 
only holding the Ohio valley, but of conquering and possessing the 
whole of Canada. The Indians, too, had been shaken in their 
al.egiance to the French, a great council-fire having been kindled at 
Easton in the summer of 1758, at whicii the Delawares, Shawneese, 
Nanticokes, Mohegans, Conoys, Monseys and Tvvigtwees sat, and 
pledged lasting friendship for the English. The terms of this treaty 
were carried by the Moravian, Post, to the tribes upon the Ohio, who 
still remained hostile, which he often refers to in his journal, and 
conti'ibuted largely to weaken their faith in the French cause. 

The Secretary, Pitt, had kept his word with the colonists, and had 
fully reimbursed them for all their expenses, in the sum of over a 
million dollars. They were therefore ready to second him in his 
grand schemes of ending French dominion in America. His plan 
was a bold one. General Amherst succeeded Abercrombie in chief 
command. Twenty thousand provincials and a strong detachment 
of land and naval forces of regulars stood ready to execute his orders. 
General Wolfe M'as sent up the St. Lawrence against Quebec. Amherst 
himself was to move upon Lake Champlain and seize Montreal, and 
General Prideaux was to capture Fort Niagara. Amherst took the 
field, and with eleven thousand men moved upon Fort Ticonderoga, 
which the French abandoned without a struggle. Amherst pursued 
to Crown Point, which the French likewise abandoned and fled to 
Isle Aux Noix in the Sorel Piver. Deterred from pursuing further 
by the heavy storms that now, October 11, began to prevail, he re- 
tired to Crown Point, where he built a fortress and placed his army 
in winter quarters. 

General Prideaux, with Sir William Johnson second in com- 
mand, moved by transport from Oswego by Lake Ontario to Niagara, 
and laid seige to the fort. Prideaux was almost immediately killed 
by the bursting of a gun, and the command devolved upon Johnson. 
For three weeks the closely beleagured garrison of French held out, 
when on the 24:th of July a force of three thousand French came to 
their relief. But Johnson so met them that they were put to rout 
after a desperate and sanguinary engagement, and on the following 
day the garrison, some seven hundred men, surrendered. After 
having strongly garrisoned this fort, the last remaining link between 
Canada and the Ohio country, Johnson returned home. 

General Wolfe with eight thousand troops, and a fleet under 
Admirals Holmes and Saunders, moved up the St. Lawrence, and 
landed on Orleans Island, a little below Quebec, on the 27th of 
June, Montcalm with a strong body of French regulars held the 



f'Jis?*^: 




§ A 



Ct y>/y S~-id^U^ 



IIISTUIIY OK GKEENE COUNTY. 167 

town, which in the upper part, comprising a local plateau some three 
hundred feet above the water, known as the Plains of Abraham, was 
fortified. By throwing hot shot from Point Levi, opposite the town, 
the English nearly destroyed the lower town, but could not reach 
the upper portion. An attempt to force the passage of the Mont- 
morenci failed with a loss of Hve hundred men. For eight weeks all 
attempts to take the city proved fruitless. Meantime Wolfe had 
heard of the partial failure of Amherst, and the prospect seemed 
gloomy enough. Finally, by the advice of General Townsend, his 
faithful lieutenant, he determined to scale the rugged blutt which 
hems in the river, by secret paths. Accordingly, on the evening of 
the 12th of September, ascending the river with nuittted oars to the 
mouth of a ravine, and following trusty guides, Wolfe brought his 
whole army with artillery by sunrise upon the Plains of Abralianj,niucli 
to the surprise and discomfiture of the French, whose attention had been 
diverted by a noisy demonstration where a previous attempt had been 
made. Montcalm immediately drew up his entire force to meet the 
offered wager of battle. Long and fiercely the battle raged, but 
everywhere the French were worsted. Both Generals were mortally 
wounded. AVhen at length Wolfe heard the glad accents of victory, 
he asked to have his head raised, and when he beheld the French 
fleeing on all sides he exclaimed with his failing breath, '• I die 
content." 

The campaign of 175'J, like the preceding, ended gloriously for 
the combined English and American arms, yet the French were not 
entirely dis])ossessed of power in Canada. Early in the spring of 1760, 
Yaudreuil, Governor General, sent Levi, successor to Montcalm, with 
si.K frigates and a strong force to retake Quebec, lie was met three 
miles from the city by General Murray, and a very sanguinary battle 
was fought on April 28th, in which the English were defeated, 
Murray losing a thousand men and all his artillery. Levi now laid 
siege to the city, and just when its condition was becoming perilous 
from the lack of sup|jlies, a British squadron with reinforcements and 
supplies appeared in the St. Lawrence. AVhereupon Levi hastily 
raised the siege, and losing most of his shipping, fled to Montreal. 
Vaudreuil now had but one stronghold left, that of Montreal, and 
here he gathered in all his forces and prepared to defend his " last 
ditch." Early in September, three English armies met before the 
city. First came Amherst on the 6th with ten thousand, accompanied 
by Johnson with a thousand of the Six Nations, and on the same 
day came Murray with four thousand from Quebec, and on the fol- 
lowing day Col. Ilaviland with three thousand from Crown Point. 
Seeing that it would be useless to hold out against such a force, 
Vaudreuil capitulated, surrendering Montreal and the entire dominion 
of Canada into the hands of the English. This ended the war upon 



168 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

the land. But upon the ocean, and among the West India Islands, it 
was prosecuted until 1763, when a treaty of peace was signed at 
Paris, February 10th, whereby France surrenderedall her possessions 
ill America east of the Mississippi and north of the latitude of the 
Iberville River, and Spain at the same time ceded to the English 
East and West Florida. 

Thus was the Indian war, virtually commenced by planting the 
leaden plates by the French along the Allegheny and Ohio Rivers, 
and commonly designated in history as the Seven Years' War, 
brought to a snccessful close, by the vast plans of empire formed by 
the comprehensive mind of Pitt, though at a cost to the British nation 
of five hundred and sixty millions of dollars. 

And now was forever settled the question whether the population 
about to spread over the beautiful valleys bordering upon the Alle- 
gheny and Monongahela Rivers — La Belle Riviere, — should be an 
English or a French speaking people, should be Catholic or 
Protestant. 



HISTOHY OF GREENE COUNTY. 169 



CHAPTER XI. 

Mixn OF Indian Poisoned — Tiik Rkd and White Man Live TorjETiiER 
— PoNTiAc — His CoNsriEACY — Game of l>A(;(tATnvA — Gladwin 
AT Detroit — Indian Girl Discloses the Plot — Pontiac Foiled 
— Concealed Muskets — Attacks the Fokt — Gladwin Secures 
Supplies— PoNTiAc's Orders FOR Sui'i'LiES Made on Birch Hark — 
Dalzell Sentfor Succor — Boldly Offers Battle — Repulsed, 
Death — Settlers Driven From Their Homes — Pitiable Con- 
dition — Presc^e Isle — Le Boeif and Venaniso Fall — Fort 
Pitt Attacked — Commander Summoned to Surrender — Bo- 
yuET Sent for Relief — Battle of Bushy Run — Won r.x 
Strate(;v — Raise the Sieue — Bihjuet Enters — £100 Offered 
for Pontiac — Colonel Bradstreet — Deceived hy the Indians 
— Boch'et Firm — Demands Prisoners and Hostaoes — Is Stern 
— Makes Terms — Captives Broucht In — Not Reco((nized — 
Many Prefer to Stay With the Indians — Lovers Bra\"e All 
FOR Their Loves — Son(; of the German Mother — Pontiac 
Yields — Miserable Death. 

THE treaty of Paris put a period to the sanguinary campaigns 
of the Seven Years' War, so far as treaty stipulations could. IJut 
the Indians, who liad confederated with the French, could not be 
reached nor bound by stipulations made three thousand miles away 
across the ocean, in which they had no voice. Though some of the 
tribes assembled and smoked tlie pipe of peace with the Englisii, j'et 
they had grown suspicious. The French had poisoned their minds 
against tlie I^nglish, telling them that the desire to ol)tain tlie fine 
lands was the motive which incited this deadly warfare, and that if 
the French were finally beaten, then the English would turn upon the 
natives, and drive them from all their pleasant hunting grounds. 
Though the French in America had accepted the conditions of the 
treaty, and were as a nation willing to be bound bj' it, yet there 
were individuals in whose breasts the recollection of sore defeats still 
rankled, and who saw in the hostility of the red men a means of 
wreaking their vengeance. 

The thoughtful Indians saw, or fancied they saw, that daily com- 
ing to pass which the French had told them. They asked them- 
selves, not without reason, why the English were so intent to drive 



170 IIISTOKY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

the French from the Ohio valley, spending freely hundreds of mil- 
lions of money, and sacrilicing countless lives, if they did not expect 
to occupy these luxuriant valleys themselves; and when they saw the 
surveyor with his Jacob's staff and chain advancing as the armies 
retired, blazing his way through the forests, and setting up his mon- 
uments to mark the limits of the tracts, he was strongly confirmed 
in his suspicions. The English contemplated doing, so far as re- 
claiming the forests and settling the country, what was eventually 
done; but they indulged the hope that the red man and the pale-face 
could dwell together in peace and unity, as the white man and the 
African have done since. But that dream had a baseless fabric. 
Hunting, fishing and war were the occupations of the one, while 
the arts of peace on farm, in workshop and mill, were the delight 
of the other. 

The mutterings of discontent were heard among the Indians dur- 
ing the seasons of 1760-1-2, and secret enterprises of dangerous 
consequence had been detected and broken up. Major liogers, who 
M'ith a small detachment had been sent to receive the surrender of 
the French posts along the great lakes of the Northwest, and raise 
tlie English colors, had met on his way the chief of the Ottawas, 
Pontiac, who dwelt on the Michigan Peninsula, who demanded from 
Rogers Avhy he was entering upon the land of the Ottawas with a 
hostile band without his permission. Explanations ensued, the pipe 
of peace was smoked, and Pogers was allowed to proceed on his 
mission. 

But ill concealed disaffection existed among all the tribes as they 
saw the emblem of the power of Britain lioating from posts along all 
the lakes and the great river courses. Even the Six Nations, who 
had always remained the fast friends of the English, especially the 
Senacas, showed signs of hostility. These, with the Delawares and 
Shawnees, for two years had been holding secret communications 
with the tribes of the great Northwest, laboring to induce them to 
join in a war of extermination upon the English. " So spoke the 
Senacas," ,says Bancroft, " to the Delawares, and they to the 
Shawnees, and the Shawnees to the Miamis, and Wyandots, whose 
chiefs, slain in battle by the English, were still unavenged, until every- 
where, from the Falls of Niagara and the piny declivities of the 
Alleghanies to the whitewood forests of the Mississippi, and the 
borders of Lake Superior, all the nations concerted to rise and put 
the English to death." 

It was not easy to arouse the tribes to united action, many feel- 
ing themselves bound to the English by treaties, and some by real 
friendsiiip. It was necessary to work upon their superstition. A 
chief of the Abenakis declared that the great Manitou had shown 
himself to him in a dream saying: "I am the Lord of Life; it is I 



insTOin' OF GRKF.NK COUNTY. 171 

vvlio made all men; I wake for their safety. T.ierefore 1 give you 
warnint;, that if you suifer the Englishineii to dwell among you, 
their diseases and their poisons sliali destroy you utterly, and you 
shall all die." 

The leader in all these discontents was Pontiac. lie was now 
about lifty years old. He had been taken a prisoner from the 
Catawbas, and had been adopted into the tribe of the Ottawas, in- 
stead of having been tortured and burned, and had by his cuuning 
and skill risen to be chief, and was now asserting his authority over 
all the tribes of the north. ^ Pontiac had been a leading warrior, a 
sort of lieutenant general in the battle of the Monongaliela, in 
which General Braddock had been worsted and mortally .wounded. 
Seeing what slaughter his people had then wrought he doubtless 
thouglit that it would be easy, if all the Indians could be united, to 
utterly exterminate .the English, and reclaim their country. Accord- 
ingly he sent out his runners to all the tribes in the northwest, with 
the black wampum, the signal for war, and the red tomahawk, direct- 
ing to prepare for war, and on a day agreed upon they were to rise, 
overpower the garrisons, and then lay waste and utterly exterminate 
the English settlers. That he might rouse the entire people he sum- 
moned the chiefs to a council, which was held at the river Ecorces on 
the 27th of April, 1763. Pontiac met them with the war-belt in his hand 
and spoke in his native and iirey eloquence. He pointed to the Prit- 
ish tlags floating everywhere, to the chieftains slain unavenged. He 
said the blow must now be struck or their hunting grcmnds would 
be forever lost. The chiefs received his words with accents of ap- 
proval, and separated to arouse their people and engage in the great 
conspiracy. The plan was skillfully laid. They were to fall upon 
the frontiers along all the settlements during harvest time, and 
destroy the corn and cattle, when they could fall upon all the out- 
posts which should hold out and reduce them, pinched with hunger. 
The blow fell at the concerted signal and blood and devastation 
marked the course of the conspirators. So sudden and une.xpected 
was the attack that of eleven forts only three of them were success- 
fully defended, Venango, Le Poeuf, Presque Isle, La Baj', St. Joseph's, 
Miamis, Ouachtunon. Sandusky and Michilimackinac, falling into 
their hands, the garrisons being mei'cilessly slaughtered; l)etroit, 
Niagara and Fort I'itt alone holding out. 

Among the first to feel the blow was Michilimackinac. Major 
Etherington, who was in command, felt no alarm at the assemliling 
of an unusual number of the tribes under their chief Menehwehna; 
though he had been warned of their hostility. But so confident was 
the Major of their jjacific intentions that he threatened to send any 
one who should express a doubt of their friendly purposes a prisoner 
to Detroit. On the 4th of June, tlie Indians to tlie numl)er of about 



172 HISTORY 01'' GIJEENi: COUNTY. 

four hundred began, as if in sport, to play a game of ball, called 
baggatiway. Two stakes are driven into the earth something like a 
mile apart, and the ball is placed on the ground midway between 
them. Dividing their party into two sides each strives to drive the 
ball by means of bats to the stake of the other. This game they 
commenced, and the strife became fierce and noisy. Presently the 
ball was sent, as if by accident, over the stockade into the fort when 
the whole company rnshed pell mell into the fort. This maneuvre 
was repeated several times without exciting any suspicion. Finally, 
having discovered all of the interior desired, they again sent the ball 
within, and when all had gained admission, suddenly turned upon 
the gari'ison, ninety in number, and murdered all but twenty, whom 
they led away to be made the subjects of torture or servitude. 

For several reasons tlie fort at what is now Detroit was among 
the most imj^ortant of all the fortified posts. 'Its location on the 
river which connects the upper with the lower lakes gives it the 
command of these great waterways, and along its margin ran the 
chief Indian war-path into the great Northwest. Attracted by the 
fertility of the soil, and the mildness of the climate, the French 
farmers had early settled here. "The lovely and cheerful region 
attracted settlers, alike white men and savages; and the French had 
so occupied the two banks of the river that their numbers were i-ated 
so high as twenty-five hundred souls. * * * The French dwelt 
upon farms, which were about three or four acres wide upon the 
river, and eighty acres deep; indolent in the midst of plenty, graziers 
as well as tillers of the soil, and enriched by Indian traffic." 

All this happiness and prosperity Pontiac regarded with an evil 
eye. To his mind all this country of right belonged to tlie red man. 
Ey the cutting down of the forest, and multiplying the sounds of 
civilization, the game, which was their chief resource for living, was 
frightened away. The favored spots by the living springs and the 
fountains of sweet waters M'ere grasped by the white man to make 
his continual abiding place, and would consequently be forever lost 
to the red man. If, by deep laid strategy, and unblushing deception, 
they could once seize upon all the strongholds and put the defenders 
to the slaughter they could then pursue their trade of blood upon the 
defenceless frontiers until the whole land would be cleared of the pale- 
face and his race exterminated. 

The fort was situated upon the banks of the river within the 
limits of the present city of Detroit. It consisted of a stockade 
twenty feet high, some two hundred yards in circumference and in- 
closing seventy or more houses. The garrison, under command of 
Colonel Gladwin, was composed of the remains of the eightieth 
regiment of the line, reduced now to about one hundred and twenty 
men and eight officers. Two six-pounder and one three-pounder 



HISTORY OF GIIEENK COUNTY. 173 

guns and three useless mortars constituted the armament of the fort, 
and two gunboats lay in the stream. Against this, Pontiac, with a 
smile on his face, but treachery in his black heart, came in person 
with fifty of his warriors on the first of May. He announced his 
purpose to come in a more formal manner in a few days for the purpose 
of brightening the chain of friendshij), — which usually meant that 
the chiefs were ready to receive high piled up presents, — and to 
renew pledges of lasting peace. As this was a ceremony of frequent 
occurrence Gladwin had no suspicion of treachery. Tribes of the 
Pottawatatnies and Wyandots dwelt a few miles below the fort, and 
a short distance above on the eastern side, the Ottawas, Pontiac's 
own tribe. The day was drawing near when the universal uprising, 
which had been agreed upon in council, should take place. Pontiac 
had laid his scheme skillfully, and as he thought there could be no 
possibility of failure. He had already been admitted to tlie fort, 
and had spied out its strength and appointments and had bespoken 
admittance with his warriors. He had agreed with his confederates 
that when he should rise to speak he would hold in his hands a belt 
of wampum, white on one side and green on the other, and when he 
should turn the green side uppermost that should be the signal 
for the massacre of the garrison. J>ut in savage as in civilized 
dipk)macy. 

The best laid schemes of mice and men 
Gang oft a-gley. 

A dusky maiden of the forest had formed an abiding friendship 
for Colonel Gladwin. She had often visited the fort, and had, with 
native art, executed pieces of her handy work for the use of the 
Colonel. She had received from his hands a curious elk skin, 
from vvhich she had wrought with her usual skill a pair of moccasins, 
and on the night previous to the contemplated massacre she had 
visited the fort to bring the work, and return the unused portion of 
the skin. So pleased was Gladwin with her skill that he asked her 
to take the skin and make him another pair, and if any were 
then left she might appropriate it to her own use. Having paid her 
for her work she was supposed to have gone to her wigwam. But 
when the watchmen whose duty it was to clear the fort and shut the 
gates went at the evening signal gun, they found this maiden lingerinop 
in the inclosure and unwilling to depart. On being informed of 
tills, Gladwin ordered her to be led to his presence, and in answer to 
the inquiry why she did not go away as had been lier custom, she 
made the lame excuse that she did not like to take away the skin 
which the Colonel seemed to set so high a value on lest some injury 
or destruction might come to it. When asked why she had not 
made that objection before, seeing that she must now disclose her 
trouble, she ingenuously declared, " It' I take it away, 1 shall never 



174 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

be able to return it to you." Inferring that something unusual was 
foretold in this answer, she was urged to explain lier meaning. 
Whereupon she revealed the whole secret,-^tliat Pontiac, and his 
chiefs were to come to the fort on the morrow, and while the 
dusky warrior was delivering his pretended speech of peace he 
was to present a white and green belt which on being turned in a 
peculiar way was to be the signal for the murder of the commandant 
and all the garrison. That the hostile intent might be entirely 
hidden beneath the garb of peace, the ingenious savages had cut otf 
a piece from the barrels of their guns so that they could carry 
them concealed beneath their blankets. Having given the particulars 
of the conspiracy she departed. 

Being thus put in possession of the horrible purpose Gladwin 
communicated the intelligence to his men, and sent word to all the 
traders to be on their guard. At night a cry as of defiance was 
heard and the garrison anticipated an immediate attack. The gar- 
rison tires were extinguished, and the men silently sought their 
places in readiness to meet the onset. But none came, and it was 
supposed the chiefs were acting their parts by their camp iires, 
which they were to play on the morrow. 

At the appointed hour, Pontiac came accompanied by thirty- 
six chiefs and a cloud of dusky warriors bearing his speech belt 
and the pipe of peace. Gladwin was prepared to receive him, his 
men all under arms, guns cleaned and freshly loaded, and officers 
witli their swords. On entering the fort Pontiac started back ntter- 
ing a cry of anguish, convinced that he had been betrayed, by the 
evidences of preparation about him ; but there was no wny of 
retreat now. When the number agreed upon had been admitted 
the gates were closed. Whem arrived, at the council chamber, 
Pontiac complained that the garrison was all under arms, a thing 
unusual in an eml)assage of peace. Gladwin explained that the 
garrison were that morning holding a regimental drill. But I'ontiac 
knew better than that. He commenced his speech Avith that air of 
dissimulation which he had the ability to command, and expressed, 
the desire for peace and friendship with the English which he hoped 
would be as lasting as the coming and going of the night and morn- 
ing. But when he advanced to present the lielt the otiicers grasped 
their swords, and drew them partially from their scabhar ,s. Seeing 
that his treachery was known, but not in the least disconcerted, he 
did not give the signal, he liad agreed upon, and closed his speech in 
the most friendly and pacific tone. 

When Colonel Gladwin came to reply he boldly charged the 
chieftain with his black hearted perfidy. But the latter protest''d 
his innocence, and expressed a sense of injiiry that he should be 
suspected of so base a crime; but M'hen Gladwin advanced to the 




V s- J^ 



^'OnrCyfC^y-i.^O- 



HISTORY OF GRKENK COTNTY. 177 

nearest chieftain and jnilliiig aside his blanket, disclosed the shortened 
gnn with which each of them was secretly armed his discomliture 
was complete. lie was suffered to depart, but unwisely, has l)een 
the unanimous judgment of historians. Indeed, so little reliance 
has come to be placed on the words of an Indian, that it has 
been declared that '-the only good Indian is a dead Indian." 
Hoping still to disarm the suspicions of the commandant, and gain 
admission to the fort through treachery, I'ontiac came again on the 
following morning accompanied with only three of his chiefs and 
smoked the pipe of peace in the most innocent garb, and declared 
that his whole Ottawa nation desired to come on the following 
morning to smoke. But (iladwin declared that this was unneces- 
sary, as he was willing to accept the word of the chiefs, and if they 
were so anxious to be at peace their own conduct would be the best 
pledge of their pacific intentions. 

Seeing that his treacherous purposes were understood, and that 
he could not gain admission to the fort by any professions of 
friendship, he threw off the cloak of deceit under which he had in- 
tended to slaughter the garrison and possess the post, and attacked 
the fort with all his warriors. The few English who were outside 
were murdered, all communication was cut off, death was threatened 
any who should attempt to carry supplies to the garrison, and the 
keenest strategy was employed to tempt the troojis to open combat. 
Carts loaded with combustibles were pushed up to the palisades in 
the attempt to burn them; but all to no purpose. Gladwin was 
wary, and met every artifice of the wiley foe with a counter-check. 
In one part the savages attempted to gain entrance by chopping 
down the picket posts. In this Gladwin ordered his men to assist 
them by cutting on the inside. "When these fell a rush was made 
by the Indians to enter; but a Ijrass four-pounder, which had been 
charged with grape and canister and so planted as to command the 
breach, was discharged at the opportune moment, which effected 
great slaughter. Poiitiac now settled down to a close seige. Un- 
fortunately Gladwin had only supplies for three weeks. The savage 
chieftain, believing that he had learned something of civilized war- 
fare, on the 10th of May, summoned the garrison to surrender. 
Gladwin asked for a parley, intimating tlirough the ofKces of a 
French emissary, that he was willing to redress any grievances of the 
Indians, not suspecting tiiat the attack on him was a part of a deep 
laid conspiracy reaching all the posts of the frontier. Pontiac con- 
sented and Major Campbell and Lieutenant JMcDougal were sent. 
Hostilities were suspended and Gladwin improved the opportunity 
to lay in ample supplies for the siege, when he ended the conference. 
■I'ut Major Campbell was retained as a prisoner and was subsequently 
murdered. The siege was now closely maintained, a species of hos- 



178 HISTORY OF GEEENE COUWTY. 

tility which the Indians had never before exhibited an aptitude to 
practice, but Avhich the genius of tlieir leader had acquired in his 
fellowship with the French. He organized a system of obtaining 
supplies after the best European methods, scorning the make-shifts 
of the freebooter; but giving his receipt for every thing taken, and 
issuing his promissory notes, written on the bark of the papyrus 
birch, and executed with the outline of an otter, which passed cur- 
rent among the French farmers, all of which he faithfully i-edeemed. 
Lieutenant Cuyler, with a force of ninety-six men and supplies 
for Gladwin, was dispatched from the fort at Niagara; but landing 
at the mouth of the Detroit River, he was attacked in his camp at 
midnight of the 28th of May, and utterly defeated, losing three of 
his boats, two only escaping with Cuyler, who returned to Niagara. 

On the 29th of July, Captain Dalzell, taking advantage of the 
darkness of the night, had reached the fort with a reinforcement of 
some two hundred men. Dalzell was full of fight, and with but one 
day's rest insisted on marching out to oifer battle. Gladwin knew 
the numbers and temj^er of the Indians and their treacherous methods 
better than the Captain, and counseled strongly against the advent- 
ure; but the latter was confident and the commandant yielded a 
reluctant assent. At the head of two hundred and forty-seven 
chosen men, Dalzell bravely led out of the fort at a little past mid- 
night of the 30th of July, accompanied by two barges in the river. 
Unfortunately the French had notified Pontiac of the intended attack. 
The course of Dalzell was along the river bank by Canadian cottages 
and gardens. A mile and a half above the fort was a small creek, 
since appropriately known as Bloody Kun. Over this was a narrow 
bridge and on the heights beyond were the entrenchments of the 
foe, straggling fences and cabins, behind which they were in 
waiting for the approach of Dalzell. Scarcely had the advance 
crossed this bi-idge than the savages poured into their faces a 
volley from tlieir safe hiding places. A charge was ordered before 
which the Indians vanished in the darkness, but soon reappeared in 
the rear with the design of cutting off escape; and now the red men 
had taken shelter behind houses and attacked in flank. This threw 
the line into confusion and in disorder, a retreat along the river com- 
menced. Major Rogers with a squadron of provincials took position 
in a house, which covered the retreat, and succeeded to check the 
onrushing savages. Captain Grant with another party gained an 
advantageous position for covering the retreat, when the forces were 
finally brought within the shelter of the fort, but with the loss of 
fifty-nine men, including the bold leader Dalzell. 

In the meantime one of the schooners had been dispatched to 
Niagara for supplifes. On its return the savages, who had learned 
tliat it was manned by only ten men, planned to attack and capture 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 179 

it. In canoes they approached in the darkness in great numbers and 
in face of a rapid musketry lire were boarding the vessel, when the 
commander gave the order to tire the magazine and blow up tlie ship, 
which the Indians hearing, leaped overboard and swam to shore to 
escape the explosion, \\hen the vessel moved up under cover of the 
fort unmolested. 

The peace of Paris liad been concluded in April, yet tlie intelli- 
gence was tardy in reaching the frontiers, and when finally it was 
known, the hatred of the English and the hope of yet driving them 
away through Indian warfare was still kept alive. But the stubborn 
defence of Detroit tinally convinced the more considerate of the 
French that it was their best policy to submit to the Euglisli author- 
ity. Accordingly Neyon informed Pontiac that no further assistance 
could be expected from the King of France, a tale of whose coming 
with a great army to annihilatt' the English having l>een persistently 
dinned into his ears, that peace had been concluded, that France had 
surrendered everything in America, and that the English were now the 
only rightful rulers. The sullen Pontiac received the tidings with 
disgust, broke the siege in no sjjirit of submission, and declared that 
he would return again in the spring and renew his warfare. 

From the tirst the will of Pontiac ruled all the frontier, though 
absent in person. The war belt which he sent was a sufficient com- 
mission for stealthy murders and midnight scalpings and l>urnings 
along all the borders. On the receipt of news of the conclusion of 
peace, the settlers who had been driven from their cabins during the 
continuance of hostilities, supjjosing that the pacification would be 
nade complete, hastened back to their settlements in the hope of 
getting their plantings and sewings made in season for crops that 
should be their support for the coming winter. But the decree of 
Pontiac disappointed all their hopes, and made this summer of 1763 
the most bloody of all the seven. "About tiie first of June," it is 
recorded in tlie History of Western Pennsylvania, "the scalping 
parties perpetrated several murders in the vicinity of Fort Pitt. 
Upon receipt of this intelligence Governor Hamilton, with the assist- 
ance of the provincial commissioners, immediately reinforced the 
garrison at Augusta, and sent out small parties to protect the 
frontiers. As the first attack was not immediatelj followed up l>y 
tlie Indians, the government was willing to believe it to have been the 
eflect of some private resentments, rather than a general combina- 
tion for war. But such hopes were dissipated by inroads upon the 
settled parts of the province and the flight of the inhabitants to the 
interior. Tlie whole country west of Shippenslnirg became the prey 
of the fierce barbarians. They set fire to houses, barns, corn, hay, 
and everything that was combustible. The wretched inhabitants 
whom they surprised at night, at their meals, or in the labors of the 



180 IIISTOKY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

fields, were massacred with the utmost cruelty and barbarity; and 
those who lied were scarce more happy. Overwhelmed by sorrow, 
without shelter or means of ti'ansportation, their tardy flight was im- 
peded by fainting women and weeping children. The inhabitants of 
Shippensburg and Carlisle, now become the barrier towns, opened 
their hearts and their houses to their afflicted brethren. In the 
towns, every stable and hovel was crowded with miserable refugees 
who, having lost their houses, their cattle and their harvest, wei-e 
reduced from independence and happiness to beggary and despair. 
(On the 25th of July, 1763, there were in Shippensburg 1,384 of 
poor, distressed, back inhabitants, viz: men, 301; Avomen, 345; 
children, 738; many of whom were obliged to lie in barns, stables, 
cellars, and under old leaky sheds, the dwelling houses being all 
crowded.) The streets were filled with people; the men, distracted 
by grief for their losses and the desire for revenge, more jjoignantly 
excited by the disconsolate females and bereaved children who wailed 
around them. In the woods, for some miles, on both sides of the 
Susquehanna Eiver, many families with their cattle sought shelter, 
being unable to find it in towns." 

While the scattered settlers fled for safety before the roving 
bands, the garrisons of the isolated forts far out beyond the farthest 
verge of the settlements were shut off from communication with their 
comrades whence succor could come, and were made the objects 
against which the best resources of the savages were directed. It 
was a new kind of warfare to tliem; but they had seen enough of 
siege work iii the operations of the English against the Frencli, to 
understand its nature, and to undertake it with all the relish inspired 
by a new thing. They had no artillery, but they could shoot- flei-y 
darts, mine with the zeal of a beaver, preserve constant vigils, and 
destroy by combustibles whatever was destructible that they could 
reach. 

•Presque Isle, next to Niagara and Detroit, was the most im- 
portant post along the line of defenses, as it guarded the communica- 
tion east and west, and being on water communication could be easily 
reached with supplies and reinforcements. On the 22d of June it 
was attacked, it had a garrison of twenty-four men and was easily 
defensible for any period. But the commander, Ensign Christy, 
after defending himself two days, in the most shameless manner 
capitulated, giving up all his men, who were no sooner in the hands 
of the savages than they were treacherously given over to the scalp- 
ing knife, he himself being carried away a prisoner to Detroit reserved 
for future torments. The fort at Le Boeuf (Waterford), but a few 
miles away, on the head waters of the Venango River (French Creek), 
one of the tributaries of the Allegheny, had been attacked four days 
before. The fort was of combustible material, and at midnight the 



lU.^TOKY (IF (iUEKNK fOlXTV. 181 

savages succeeded in tiring it, when the garrison, seeing that tiie 
flames could not be stayed, secretly withdrew nnder cover of the 
darkness into the woods and made good their escape, the Indians 
believing them burned. On their way down the river they saw at 
Venango the ruins of the fort, the garrison there having all been 
massacred, not one escaping to tell the tale. 

Fort Pitt (Pittsburg), which hail been laid out and its construe 
tion pushed with so much energy, had never been linished, and 
the floods of spring which had eaten in upon the hanks with great 
violence had opened it on three sides. Captain Ecuyer, who was 
in commniand, had with him a garrison of three hundred and thirty 
men. With energy and skill he had reared a rampart on the unpro- 
tected sides, had palisaded the interior work, and had constructed an 
engine for extinguishing tire should the foe succeed in tiring the 
work. 

On the 22(1 of June, the very day on which the attack had been 
made at Presque Isle, the dusky warriors made their appearance before 
Fort Pitt, and commenced the attack, investing it on all sides, killing 
one ancj wounding another. With prying eye they skulked around 
at night peering in on every side to discover if possible its weak 
part. Concluding, probably, that the work would be a difticult one 
to overcome, and judging that strategy would be surer of success 
than force, after niidnigiit tliey asked for a parley. Turtle Heart, 
chief of the Delawares spoke: '' brothers," he said, "all your posts 
and strong places, from this backwards are burnt and cut oft". This 
is the only one you have left in our country. AVe have prevailed 
with six dift'erent nations of Indians, that are ready to attack you, to 
forbear till we came and warned you to go home. They have fur- 
ther agreed to permit you and your people to pass safe to the inhabi- 
tants. Therefore, brother, we desire that you may setofl' to-morrow, 
as great numbers of Indians are coming here, and after two days we 
shall not be able to do anything with them for you." Their purpose 
in this exhortation was doubtless to get the garris'on in their power 
and then massacre them as they had done at Presque Isle, which had 
induced General Amherst to observe, " I am surprised that any oflScer 
in his senses would enter into terms with such barbarians." 

To this a]iparently innocent and reasonable appeal, Ecuyer sternly 
refused to listen, but reminded them that three English armies were 
on their way to chastise them, and that it was they who should be 
seeking safety. The fort was now closely invested and no intelli- 
gence could be sent through, either to or from the fort. Though 
surt'ering for lack of many things necessary for the comfort and suc- 
cessful defence of the fort, the gallant captain vigilantly held and 
guarded it, though wounded by an Indian arrow, the foe using most 
skillfully all their savage implements of warfare. Again and again 



182 niSTOUY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

was tlie demand foi' tlie surrender of the fort made. Shingiss and 
Big Wolf speaking for the Uelawares and Shawnees said, " You know 
this is our country. You yourselves are the people that liave dis- 
turbed the chain of friendship. All the nations over the lakes are 
soon to be on their way to the forks of the Ohio. Here is the wam- 
pum. If you return quietly home, to yonr wise men, this is the 
furthest they will go. If not, see what will be the consequence; so 
we desire you to remove off." In his answer Ecuyer said, " You 
suffered the Fi-ench to settle in the heartof your country, why would 
yon turn us out of it now? I will not abandon this post; I have 
warriors, provisions, and ammunition in plenty to defend it three 
years against all the Indians in the woods. Go home to your towns, 
and take care of your women and children." 

The siege was now pushed with redoubled vigor, digging holes 
by night and running their trenches close up to the walls of the fort, 
and keeping up a galling fire of musketry and fiery arrows from 
their safe hiding places upon the defenders. This close investment 
.was continued till the close of July; but on the Istof August all had 
disappeared, a danger which Ecuyer had threatened now impending. 
General Amherst, who was still in command of the English army in 
America, when informed of the general Indian war which had broken 
out under the inspiration of the savage Pontiac, was without suf- 
ficient troops with which to meet the threatened danger, a large part 
of the British regulars having been sent to the "West Indies. His 
energies were bent with what scattered forces he could gather up, to 
the relief of Detroit, Niagara and Fort Pitt. Fortunately Niagara 
was not attacked. For the relief of Fort Pitt Colonel Boquet was 
dispatched with the fragments of the Forty-seventh and Seventy- 
seventh i-egiments of Highlanders, comprising only 214 and 133 men 
respectively, and these greatly weakened by their severe service in 
the siege of Havanna. At Carlisle, he was to be furnished with sup- 
plies; but upon his arrival there, no supplies were collected, and 
eighteen days were consumed in gathering them. Plenty of grain 
stood ripe ready for the sickle, but the reapers were gone, and the 
mills were deserted. With scarcely five hundred men Boquet moved 
boldly forward on that bloody path which had been so often traversed 
before with such disastrous results, driving two hundred sheep, and 
half the number of kine, bearing ammunition, flour, and provisions 
carried upon pack-horses and in wagons drawn by oxen. Beyond 
the Alleghanies was Fort Ligonier, held by a small garrison under 
command of Lieutenant Blane. It was of the utmost importance 
that this should be held, as the stores of ammunition deposited there 
if allowed to fall into the hands of the Indians would afford them the 
means of prolonging the war. Besides, it furnished a rallying point 
for the force in advancing, and falling back if misfortune should 



mSTOUY OK fiUEENK COUNTY. 183 

overtake them. Accordingly, Boquet dispatched thirty picked men 
under a discreet officer to jiroceed by forced marches to f5;ain the fort. 
This tiiey successfully accomplished, carrying succor to the closely 
beluayuered post. A party of skilled woodsmen had previously been 
sent out from Fort JJedford, a point midway between Carlisle and 
Fort Pitt, one hundred miles from either point. 

Boquet could get no information on the way, as roving bands of 
Indians picked oti:" any one who ventured to pass from one point to 
the other, though the savages were kept constantly informed of every 
movement of the troops. Arrived with his main body at l^igonier, 
the Colonel determined to leave his wagons, and proceed only en- 
cumbered with pack-liorses. By the road that he was to follow, was 
a dangerous defile of several miles in extent overhung by high craggy 
hills. This he was familiar with, and intended to pass it by a night 
march, hoping thus to surprise the foe and escape an attack by them 
on this difficult ground. At ]>usliy Run, a tributary of Brush Hun 
and that of Turtle Creek, and twenty-one miles from Pittsburg, he 
had intended to halt for rest; but when arrived within a half mile of 
this point, on August 5th, he was suddenly attacked by an unseen 
foe, who came upon him unaware?. A charge upon the attacking 
party sent them fleeing; but when pushed in one direction tliey ap- 
peared in another, and soon they attacked along tlie whole flank. 
A steady charge of the regulars sent them back, but only to ap- 
pear again in another part, until they had the little force of Boquet 
completely surrounded by a continuous line, and were becoming 
every moment more daring and eager for the fight. They, no doubt, 
believed that they now had the whole force completely in their power, 
and would soon have the fighting men picked ofl" from their hiding 
places. It must be acknowledged that the prospect seemed gloomy 
enough. Should this army ■ be now sacrificed, the whole frontier 
would be thrown open to the attacks of the stealthy savages, and the 
tomahawk and the scalping-k)ufe would bear undisputed sway, even 
to the very doors of Philadelphia. 

I>ut Boquet understood the methods of savage warfare better than 
Braddock, and Ilalket, and Dunbar, and was unmoved by the fierce 
whoop of the Red Man or his gleaming scalping knife. He could 
not advance in any direction and leave his pack-horses and his stores, 
as they would immediately fall into the hands of the foe. He, ac- 
cordingly, formed his forces in a circle facing outwards, and drew up 
his trains in the center. Noticing that the Indians were becoming 
more and more eager for the fray, and every moment more venture- 
some, Boquet determined to give them a taste of their own tactics. 
At dawn of the second day of the action the enemy were early awake, 
and opened the battle with the most horrid and unearthl}' screech- 
ings. Having the advantage of elevated ground, and being sojne- 



184 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

what concealed by the foliage of the trees and bushes, Boquet could 
maneuver his forces without disclosing his movements. Seeing that 
the savages were eager to rush forward whenever they saw the least 
disposition of the troops to yield, he determined to feign a retreat. 
He accordingly ordered the two companies occupying the advance to 
retire within the circle, and the lines again to close up, as if the 
whole force was commencing the retreat. Bnt before commencing 
this movement he had posted a force of light infantry in ambuscade, 
who, if the Indians should follow the retreating troops, would have 
them at their mercy. The stratagem succeeded precisely as had 
been anticipated. The Indians, seeing the troops retreating, and 
the feeble lines closing in behind them, as if covering the retirement, 
rushed forward in wildest confusion and in great numbers. Bnt 
when the grenadiers who had been posted on either side, saw their 
opportunity they advanced from their concealment, and charged with 
the greatest steadiness, shooting down the savages in great numbers, 
who returned the fire, but soon broke in confusion and disorderly 
flight. But now the companies of light infantry which had been 
posted on the opposite side, rose up from their ambush and received 
the flying mass with fresh volleys. Seized with terror at this un- 
expected disaster, and having lost many of their best fighting men 
and war chiefs, they became disheartened, and seeing the regulars 
giving close pursnit, they broke and fled in all directions. All 
efforts of their surviving chiefs to rally and form them were unavail- 
ing. They could no longer be controlled; but breaking up they fled 
singly and in parties to their homes, many of them not pausing till 
they had reached the country of the Muskingnm. 

Boquet, though entirely successful in this, the battle of Bushy 
Run, had lost nearly a fourth of his whole avmj, fifty killed, sixty 
wounded and five missing, and nearly all, his pack-horses, and there- 
fore took evei-y precaution to avoid a surprise and further loss. He 
destroyed all his stores which he could not carry with him, that 
they might not fall into the enemy's hands, and moved forward in 
close order; but without further molestation, and in four days reached 
Fort Pitt, the enemy having been so thoroughly broken that they 
did not again show themselves before the fort. The savages lost 
in this engagement sixty killed and many wounded in the pursuit. 

As the tidings of the fall of post after post, along the whole 
frontier, came day after day to General Amherst, who had his head- 
quarters at New York, and of the savage attacks upon Detroit and 
Fort Pitt, his anger knew no bounds. He recognized in Pontiac 
the chief of the conspiracy and the investigator of all their savage 
designs. Before receiving news of the success of Boquet, he wrote 
to Gladwin, by the hand of Gardiner: — "The Senecas, and all these 
hostile tribes must be deemed our enemies, and used as such; not 





<^^vC<^ 



IIISTOKY OF GKEENK COUNTY. 187 

as a generous enemy, but as the vilest race of beings that ever in- 
fested tile eartli, and wliose riddance from it must be esteemed a 
meritorious act, for tlic good of manl^ind. You will, therefore, take 
no prisoners, lint put to death all that fall into your hands of the 
nations who have so unjustly and cruelly coinmitted depredations. I 
have thought ]iroper to promise a reward of one hundred pounds to 
the man who shall kill Pontiac, the chief of the Ottawas — a cowardly 
villain." 

Though the campaign of 1763 had been disastrous to English 
arms in America, yet its termination in the triumph of Bushy iluii 
and relief of Fort Pitt, and the complete foil given to all the plans of 
Pontiac, which he personally conducted, gave the Indians a gloomy 
outlook for the futnre. Nevertheless, Pontiac returned in the spring 
of 1764 to the siege of Detroit. General Gage, who had succeeded 
Amherst in command in America, determined to push the campaign 
with a strong hand. Two expeditions were planned, one to advance 
under Colonel P)radstreet by Niagara, Pres(|ue Isle and kSandnsky, and 
a second under Colonel Eoquet by way of Fort Pitt and the country 
of the Muskingum. Sir William Johnson had always possessed 
great influence with the Indians, especially with the Six Nations, 
occupying the greater j)art of New York, and during the winter of 
176.3-64 had sent out messengers to all the tribes advising peace. 
Hence when Bradstreet reached Presque Isle, he was met by the chiefs, 
Shawnees and Delawares, and at Sandusky by the Ottawas, Wyan- 
dotts, and Miamis, who, under the garb of j)eace and friendship, de- 
sired to make a treaty of paciflcation. But, notwitlistandiug their 
promises, mnrders and massacres continued. At Detroit, he was met 
by the Ottawas, Ojibwas, Pottawattamies, Sacs, and Wyandotts, who 
likewise made treaties of peace; but they were unable either to control 
the young warriors, or they never meant to comply with the terms they 
liad agreed to, and the whole campaign proved fruitless, Bradstreet 
returning to Niagara, and Gage issuing orders to annul all his 
treaties. 

Not so with iioquet, who knew the Indian tactics better. ' AVith 
Ave luindred regulars and a thousand provincials he marched from 
Carlisle on the 5th of August, and arrived at Fort Pitt about the 
middle of Septemljer. lie had received a message from Bradstreet 
on the way informing him that he liad concluded treaties of peace 
witli all the western tribes, and that it would be unnecessary to pro- 
ceed further. But Bo(juet knew that the Colonel had been duped, 
and pushed forward with his army. At Fort Pitt Boquet learned 
that the messenger sent by him to Bradstreet had been murdered 
and his head set up upon a pole in the road. The chiefs of Delawares, 
Senecas, and Shawnees waited upon him on his arrival and advised 
peace, and that he proceed no further, alleging that their young men 



188 HISTOT.Y OK GREENE COUNTY. 

had coiiiinitted tlie outrages charged without authority. Boquet 
boldly charged faitljlessness, and that they should punish their young 
men if they disobeyed. He boldly marched on down the Ohio into 
the very lieart of the Indian country, and so stern were his words 
and so summary his threats, and the taste of his figliting had inspired 
such dread, that the tribes sent their chiefs to sue lor peace. Boquet 
met them in the midst of his army, and in answer to their entreaties 
for peace charged them with constantly breaking their promises. 
" You have," said he, " promised at every former treaty, as you do 
now, to deliver up all your prisoners, and liave received at every 
time presents, but have never complied with the engagements. 1 
am now to tell you, therefore, that the English will no longer be im- 
posed upon by your promises. This army shall not leave your country 
until you have fully complied with every condition that is to precede 
a treaty with yon. * * * If I iind you faithfully execute the follow- 
ing preliminary conditions, I will not treat you with the severity you 
deserve. I give you twelve days to deliver into my hands all the 
prisoners in yoTir possession, without any exception: Englishmen, 
Frenchmen, women and children, whether adopted in. your tribes, 
married or living amongst you under any denomination and pretense, 
whatsoever, together with all the negroes." 

The stern tone of the brave Colonel had the desired effect. They 
saw before them a man determined to enforce his commands sur- 
3'ounded by soldiers ready to execute vengeance. They became sub- 
missive and a part of them asked for peace, but the Colonel refused 
to take them by the hand until their promises were fulfilled, and the 
terms of peace fully agreed upon. The chiefs were much grieved by 
this lack of confidence, and used their utmost endeavors to induce 
their people to bring forward their captives. By the 9th of Nov- 
ember all the captives had lieen brought in and delivered up, to the 
number of two hundred and six, — Virginians, thirty-two males and 
fifty-eight females, and Pennsylvanians, forty-nine males and sixty- 
seven females. This number did not include nearly a hundred in 
the han^s of the Shawnees, who were to gather and deliver them up 
in the following spring. 

When all had been accomplished, Keyashuta, chief of the Sen- 
ecas, a tribe of the Delawares spoke: "Brother, the misfortune 
which has happened of one of your people being murdered, gives us 
the same sorrow it gives you. By this string of wampum (giving 
one) we wipe the tears from your eyes, and remove from your heart 
the resentment which this murder has raised against us. * * * 
We have strictly complied with your desire, and now deliver j'ou 
tliese three prisoners, which are the last of your flesh and blood that 
remain among us. * * * Brother, we cover the bones which 
have been baried, in such a manner, that they never more be re- 



HISTORY Ob" GREENE COUNTY. 189 

meinbered. AV^e cover thein again with leaves, that the place where 
they are buried, may never more lie seen. As we have been a long 
time astray, and the path between us and you stopped, we hope the path 
will be again cleared, and we now extend this belt of wampum be- 
tween you and us, that we may atjjain travel in peace to see our 
brothers as our ancestors formerly did. * * * As we have now 
extended a belt representing the road between you and us, we beg 
that you will take fast hold of it, that the path may always be kept 
open between us." 

In answer to these earnest sentiments of peace Colonel Boquet 
replied: •'! bury the bones of the peojile who fell in the war, so 
that the place be no more seen (presents a belt). Your readiness in 
complying with every condition 1 have already required of you, con- 
vinces me that your intentions are npright, and I will now treat you 
as brethren (presents a belt). Brother you ask peace. The King, 
my mastev, and your father, has appointed me to make war upon 
you; but he has other servants who are employed in the work of 
peace, and his majesty has been pleased to empower Sir AVilliam 
Johnson to make peace with the Indians." Before departing, how- 
ever, he required that the four hostages to be kept at Fort Pitt until 
peace was linally settled, should be delivered to him, and that the 
deputies to be sent to Sir William Johnson should be fully em- 
powered to conclude the terms of peace, and that they should agree 
to abide by the terms thus concluded. These conditions luuing 
been settled, Boquet shook hands with them in token of his satisfac- 
tion, which greatly rejoiced the hearts of the savages. 

The Shawnees were ,the most resolute in their emnity and were 
tlie last to yield. Boquet was ready to move against them; but on 
the 12th of November they met the Colonel in conference and said, 
Ked Hawk speaking: " CJne year and a half ago we made peace 
with you at Fort Pitt, which was soon after broken; Init that was 
neither your fault nor ours; but the whole blame is to be laid to the 
Ottawas (Pontiac's ti'ibe), who are a foolish people, and are the cause 
of this war. When we now saw you coming this road, you advanced 
towards us with a tomahawk in your hand, but we, your younger 
brothers, take it out of your hand and send it up to God to dispose of 
it as he pleases, by which means we hope never to see it any more. 
And now, brethren, we beg leave that you, who are warriors, will 
take hold of this chain of friendsliij) and receive it from us, who are 
always warriors, and let us think no more of war, but to take pity on 
our old men, women and children." 

Boquet received the captives whom they brought, but sternly 
reminded them of their long holding back and tardiness in 
bringing in the prisoners. He demanded the rest of the captives, 
and that six of their chiefs should be delivered into his hands as 



190 HISTORY OF GKEENE COUNTY. 

hostages. When these terms had been agi*eed to he said: " I came 
here determined to strike you, with a tomahawk in my hand; bnt 
since you have submitted, it sliall not fall upon your heads. I will 
let it drop, and it shall no more be seen. I bury the bones of all the 
people who have fallen in this war, and cover the place with leaves 
so that it shall no more be perceived." 

The long captivity of many of those who were brought in had 
efi'aced from their recollection all memory of their former relatives 
and friends, and they preferred to remain with the savages, having 
come now to know no other way of life. The savages religiously 
observed their promises, bringing in all their captives even to the 
children who had been born to the women during their cap- 
tivity. So wedded were many of the captives to the Indians 
that the Shawnees were obliged to bind many of them in order 
to bring them in. Some, after being delivered up, escaped and 
returned to their life in the woods. - The Indians parted with their 
adopted families not without many tears. Many affecting scenes 
transpired when the captives were brought, and those who had lost 
friends and relatives recognized their own after long separation. 
The children who had been carried away in tender years and had 
grown up in savage life, knowing no other, could not recognize their 
own parents and timidly approached them. The Shawnees chief 
gave those who had recovered children or friends some good advice: 
" Father, we have l)rought your flesh and blood to you; tliey have all 
been united to us by adoption, and although we now deliver them 
up to you, we will always look upon them as our relations, whenever 
the Great Spirit is pleased that we may visit them. We have taken 
as much care of tliem as if they were our own flesh and blood. They 
are now become unacquainted with your customs and manners, and 
thei'efore we request you will use them tenderly and kindly, which 
will induce them to live contentedly with you." 

Many of the Indians, who had given up captives whom they 
loved, followed the army back, that they might be witli them as long 
as possible, bringing them corn, skins, horses, and articles which the 
captives had regarded as their own, hunting and bringing in game 
for them. A young Mingo had loved a young Virginia woman and 
made her his wife. In deflance of the dangers to life which he sub- 
mitted himself to in going among the exasperated settlers, lie per- 
sisted in following her back. 

"A number of the restored prisoners were brought to Carlisle, 
and Colonel Boquet advertised for those who had lost children to 
come to this place and look for them. Among those that came was a 
German woman, a native of Kentlingen, in Wittemberg, Germany, 
who with her husband had emigrated to America prior to the French 
war, and settled in Lancaster County, Tulpehocken, where two of her 



IIISTOUY f)l-' OUKKNK COUNTY. 191 

daughters, Barbara and Kegina, were ahdiicted by tlie Indians. The 
motlier was now unable tu designate her children, even if tliey should 
be among the number of the recaptured. With her brother, the dis- 
tressed, aged woman lamented to Colonel Boquet her hopeless case, 
telling him how she used, years ago, to sing to her little daughters, 
hymns of which they were fond. The Colonel requested lier to sing 
one of the hymns, which she did in these words: 

Allein, und doch niclit ganz alleine 

15in ich iu meiner Einsamkeit; 
Daun waun ich gleich verlassen sclieine, 

Veitreibt mir Jesus selbst die zeit : 
Icli bin bei ilim, und er bei mir. 

So kommt mir gar nichts einsam fiir, 

Alone, yet not alone am I, 

Tliough iu this solitude so drear; 
I feel my Savior always nigh. 

He comes, my dreary hours to cheer — 
I'm with him and he with me 

Thus, I cannot solitary be — 

And Regina, the only daughter present, rushed into the ai'nis of the 
mother. Barbara, the other daughter, was never restored." 

Though Pontiao still persisted in his hostility in the Detroit 
country, yet he could have no prospect of success. Tlie French had 
lield out in their hostility to the English even after the treaty of 
Paris had been concluded, and this enmity was especiall}' persevered 
in by the more lawless and revengeful, yet the frnitlessness of this 
course was becoming day by day more apparent. OtKcial notice, by 
order of the French court, was given of relinquisliment of all power 
in Canada. De Neyon, the commandant at I'^ort Cliarters, " sent 
belts," says Bancroft, '' and peace pipes, to all parts of the continent, 
exhorting the many nations of savages to bury the hatchet, and take 
the English by the liand for they would never see him more. * * * 
The courier wlio took the belt to the north offered peace to all the tribes 
wherever he passed; and to Detroit, where he arrived on the last day of 
October, 1764, he bore a letter of the nature of a proclamation, inform- 
ing the inhabitants of the cession of Canada to England; anotlicr ad- 
dressed to twenty-five nations by name, to all the Red Men, and ]iar- 
ticularly to Pontiac, chief of tlie Ottawas; a third to the commander, 
e.xpressing a readiness to surrender to the English all the forts on tlie 
Ohio, and east of the Mississippi. The next morning Pontiac sent 
to Gladwin, that lie accepted the peace which his father, the French, 
had sent him, and desired all that had passed might be forgot on 
both sides." 

Thus ended the conspiracy of Pontiac, a warrior unexcelled by 
any of his race for vigor of intellect and dauntless courage. His 
end was ignoble. An Enjjlish trader hired a Peoria Indian for a 



192 HISTORY OF GEEENE COUNTY. 

barrel of rum to murder him. The place of his death was Cahokia, 
a small village a little below St. Louis. Pie had been a chief leader 
in the army of the French in the battle with Braddock, at Mononga- 
hela, and he was held in high re2:)Ute by the French General Mont- 
calm, and at the time of his death, Pontiac was dressed in a French 
uniform presented to him by that commander. 



CHAPTER XII. 



FiEST Settlers — Lands Must be Acquieed of Indians — Kino-'s 
Peoclamation — Lands West of the Alleghanies — " Fair 
Plat " Couet — Two Roads Leading West — Peoclamation of 

GOVEENOE PeNN LiTTLE HeED TO ThEJI SA(_'nEj\IS CoMPLAIN 

— Settlees Placate the Local Teibes by Kindness — Gage 
TO Penn and Reply — Law Passed Giving the Settlees to 
Death Who Do Not Move Off — ISTotice Given — Indians In- 

TEEFEEE SeTTLEES WilLING TO ReiMOVE THOUGH EnCOUEAGED 

TO Remain — Postsceipt to Repoet — Names of Settlees — In- 
dian CbNFEEENCE AT FoET PiTT MuEDEE OF InDIANS SAT- 
ISFIED BY Peesents — Indians Ageee to Waen Off the Set- 
tlees — Finally Decline — Reasons — Plan to Secuee the 
Removal by Indians in the Inteeest of Philadelphia Specu- 

LATOES HiLLSBOEOUOH ATTEMPTS TO DeSTEOY VieGINIA ClAIM 

— Eageeness to Secuee Blocks of these Westeen Lands by 
Speculatoes — Geeat Gatheeing at Foet Stanwix — Teeaty 
Made — Lands Acquieed — Pennsylvania Land Office Opened 
— Rush of Applicants — Case of Heney Tayloe — Testi- 
mony — Dishonest Claimants. 

HITHERTO no permanent settlements had been made in the 
limits of what is now known as Greene County. Traders had 
for some years previous passed through all this section of country, 
and had tarrying posts, where the natives were met and 
bartered with for valuable skins and furs, furnishing them in 
return with traps, axes, knives, guns and ammunition. But no perma- 
nent settlements, in which families had come and taken up the land 
they proposed to reclaim, and erected huts for shelter and a home, 
had been attempted. Veech, in his Monongaheia of Old, states that 
the Brown's, Wendell and his sons, Mannus and Adam, wei-e among 



HISTORY (IF (iliKENE COUNTY. 193 

tlie earliest thus to come. Tliey caiiic in 1750, or perliaps a little 
earlier, and settled in Jacolj's Creek valley in what is now Fayette 
County. Early in the 'oO's, Christopher Gist, whom we have pre- 
viously mentioned, planted himself in the valley east of the Monon- 
gahela, and others followed into tiiese pleasant regions. Though we 
have no definite information respecting the number of settlers up to 
this time, yet tliere must have heen a considerable population 
gathered in during the period from 1760 to '70: for Mason and 
Dixon record in their field notes under date of September 30, 1767, 
" Sent to Redstone for more hands." 

The colonial governments nominally -held that settlers had no 
right to occupy any lands that had not Deen formally purchased of 
the Indians, and the purchase been confirmed by treat^stipulations. 
None of the territoi-y west ot the Alleghany Mountains had been 
thus secured previous to 176S, though the Ohio conqjany, which had 
beeen formed in Virginia in 174.^, had stipulated for the settlement 
of 100 families within seven years. A treaty had been "held at 
Lancaster, as before noted, on the 21st of June, 1744-, at which 
repi-esentatives of Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia were pres- 
ent, and a vast tract west of the mountains was purchased and paid 
for in goods and gold. But the Indians who dwelt upon these 
lands repudiated the purchase, as did the Six Nations, and indeed 
the British government subse(|uentl3'. But the Ohio Company pro- 
ceeded to send settlers on the strength of this purciiase, as did the 
government of Pennsylvania. However, wlien the seven years' war 
broke out in 1756, all settlements in this western country were 
abandoned. During the pendency of the operations under Colonel 
Boquet against the Indians in the Pontiac war, the King of Great 
Britain had issued his proclamation, in the liope of pacifying the 
Indians, forbidding settlements in these words: " AV^hereas, it is 
just and reasonable, and essential to our interest, and the security 
of our colonies, that the several nations or tribes of Indians witli 
whom we are connected, and who live under our protection, should 
not be molested or disturbed in tlie possession of such parts of our 
dominions and territories as, notliaving been ceded to, or purchased 
by us, are reserved to them, or any of them, as their huntinggrouuds; we 
do, therefore, with the advice of our privy council, declare it to be 
our royal will and pleasure * '•■' ■" that no Governor or Com- 
mander-in-chief of our other colonies or plantations in America, do 
presume for the present, and until our further pleasure be known, to 
grant warrants of survey, or pass patents for any lands beyond the 
lieads or sources of any of the rivers M'hich fall into the Atlantic 
Ocean from the west or northwest, or upon any lands whatever, 
which never having l)een ceded to, or purchased by lis, are reserved 
to the said Indians * * * and we do hereby strictly forbid, on 



194 HISTORY OF GEEENE COUNTY. 

pain of our displeasure, all our loving subjects from making any 
purchases or settlements whatever or taking possession of any of the 
lands above reserved, without our special leave and license for that 
purpose first obtained. And we do further strictly enjoin and re- 
quire all persons whatever, who have either wilfully or inadvertently 
seated themselves upon any lands within the countries above de- 
scribed, or upon any other lands * * * which are still reserved 
to the said Indians, forthwith to remove themselves, from such 
settlements." 

It will be seen by this royal proclamation, that all lands west of 
the sources of the rivers falling into the Atlantic Ocean wei'e with- 
held from settlement, as not having been legally purchased of the 
Indians, and settlers who had taken lands there were summoned to 
vacate them. But the settlers paid little heed to this proclamation, 
and when the peace secured by Colonel Boquet was declared, in 
1764, hardy settlers hastened back to the tracts which they liad 
previously selected, and many more followed in their footsteps. As 
they could claim no protection from the government, entering upon 
their lands in direct violation of the royal proclamation, they be- 
came a law unto themselves. In a note to Smith's laws. Vol. II, 
he says: "In the meantime, in violation of all laAv, a set of hardy 
adventurers had from time to time seated themselves upon this 
doubtful territory. They made improvements, and formed a very 
considerable population. It is true so far as regards the rights to 
real property, they were not under the protection of the laws of the 
country; and were we to adopt the visionary theory of some philos- 
ophers, who have drawn their arguments from a supposed state of 
nature, we might be led to believe that the state of these people, 
would have been a state of continual warfai'e, and that in contests 
for property the weakest must give way to the strongest. To pre- 
vent the consequences, real or supposed, of this state of things, 
they formed a mutual compact among themselves. They annually 
elected a tribunal, in rotation of three of their settlers, whom they 
called Fair-pky-men, wlio were to decide all controvei'sies and set- 
tle disputed boundaries. From their decision there was no appeal. 
There could be no resistance. The decree was enforced by the whole 
body, who started np in mass, at the mandate of the court and 
execution and eviction were as sudden and irresistible as the judg- 
ment. Every new comer was obliged to apply to this poAverful tri- 
bunal, and upon his solemn engagement to submit in all respects 
to the law of the land, he was permitted to take possession of some 
vacant spot. Their decrees were however just; and when their set- 
tlements were recognized by law and "Fair-play" had ceased, their 
decisions were received in evidence and coniirmed by judgments of 
courts." The "Fair-play " dominions were embraced in the purchase 





/^'^ 



HISTORY OF OUEENK OOtTXTV. 197 

whicli was made in 1768, of which tlie territory of Greene formed 
a part. 

There were two roads leading through the rugged ranges of 
tiie Alleghany Mountains, which led from the settlements on the 
Delaware and the James to the country of the Monongaliela; that 
opened by Wills' Creek (Cumberland) the Great Meadows, and Red- 
stone (Brownsville] for the passage of Hraddock's army, which be- 
came substantially the route of the national road of Jefferson's time, 
and that by Bedford, Ligonier and Koyalhanna, oijened for the pas- 
sage of the army of General Forbes. Strictly, the English armies 
according to the royal proclamation above quoted, e.xcept the ever 
ready one of military necessity, had no right to cut these roads and 
march armies over them. Indeed, the Ohio Company, which claiined 
its authority from the crown, was acting in contravention to that 
proclamation, though they held that the treaty which their agents 
had concluded with the Indians, was their warrant. " During the 
snmmer of 1760," says Albach, " General Monkton, by a treaty at 
Fort Pitt, obtained leave to build posts within the wild lands, each 
post having ground enough about it to raise corn and vegetables for 
the use of tiie garrison. Nor were the settlements of the Ohio 
Company and the forts the only inroads upon the hunting grounds 
of the savages. In 1757, by the books of the secretary of Virginia, 
three millions of acres had been granted west of the mountains. 
Indeed, in 1758, that State attempted by law to encourage settle- 
ments in the West." 

So disastrous had been the wars with the Indians, and so bitter 
their hatred of the settlers, that government exercised care in pre- 
venting encroachments and in removing intruders upon unacquired 
territory. Governor Penn, in September, 1766, issued his proclama- 
tion warning " all his majesty's subjects of this or any other province 
or colony from making any settlements, or taking any possession of 
lands, by marking trees or otherwise, beyond the limits of the last 
Indian purchase, that of 1758, within this province, upon pain of the 
severest penalties of thelaw^ and of being excluded from the privilege 
of securing such settlements should the lands where they shall be 
made be hereafter purchased of the Indians." A little earlier, in 
June of this year, Captain Mackay, with a squadron of English regu- 
lars was sent out from Fort Pitt to Redstone, to order the settlers 
away. Governor Farquier, of Virginia, issued a proclamation of a 
tenor similar to that of Governor Penn. 

But notwithstanding the loud words of royal and governor's 
proclamations, and the presence of the king's troops, it is probable 
that little heed was given to these commands by the hardy pioneers 
who had ventured forth in small parties and pressed into this beau- 
tiful and fruitful country, where they could get tlie best lands by 



198 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

" squatting" on them, and driving a few stakes. They made fast 
friends of tlie Indians, whom they casually met, by gifts and Itind- 
nesses. But the great war Sachems looked with a jealous eye npon 
these encroachments, and made load complaints to the colonial au- 
thorities. So threatening had these protests become near the close 
of 1767, that General Gage, who had succeeded General Amherst in 
the command of the royal forces in America, wrote to Governor 
Penn, that Sir William Jolmson, who was the most trusted medium 
between the English and the Indians, to whom the latter were ac- 
customed freely to unbosom themselves, had advised him that there 
was danger of an immediate rupture, the chief ground of complaint 
being " the obstinacy of the people who persist to settle on their 
lands." 

In his reply. Governor Penn very judiciously and candidly ob- 
serves: " With respect to the inefficiency of the laws to secure the 
Indians in their persons and properties, I would beg leave to observe 
that the remote situation of their country, and the dispersed and 
vagrant manner in which the people live, will generally render the 
best laws that can be framed for those ends in a great measure inef- 
fectual. The civil officers, whose business it is to see that they are 
duly enforced, cannot exert their authority in so distant and extensive 
a wilderness. In the execution thereof, of the present interesting mat- 
ter, I am persuaded that, notwithstanding, all the Legislature can do, I 
shall Und it necessary to apply the military aid, which you have so 
readily offered me in support of the civil power. Yet I fear that while 
tlie severity of the weather in the winter season continues, it will be 
found extremely difficult, if not impracticable, to oblige these lawless 
people to abandon their present habitations, and to remove with their 
families and effects into the interior part of the countrj^, and I am of 
the opinion that it would be unadvisable to make any attempt of 
that kind before spring." 

At the opening of the legislative session of 1768, the Governor 
called attention to these irregularities, and called upon the Assembly 
to pass such a law as will effectually remedy these provocations, and 
the first law of the session was one providing that if any person 
settled upon lands not purchased of the Indians by the propri- 
etaries, shall refuse to remove for the space of thirty days after 
having been requested so to do, or if any person shall remove and 
then return, or shall settle on such lands after the notice of the pro- 
visions of this act have been duly proclaimed, any such persons on 
being duly convicted shall be put to death without benefit of clergy. 

This statute having been duly enacted, it was printed with a pro- 
clamation of the Governor, and a committee consisting of John Steel, 
John Allison, Christopher Lemes and James Potter, were dispatched 



HISTORY OF OliEKNE COUNTY. 199 

to the Moiiongahela country to distribute these docuinents aud give 
the necessary notice. 

This embassage was faithfully performed, the settlers being called 
together and the law and the message of the Governor being read to 
them, and the occasion of the action. Upon their return they made 
a report of their proceedings in which they say: '-We arrived at the 
settlement on liedstone on the twenty-third da)' of March. The 
people having heard of our coming had appointed a meeting among 
themselves, on the twenty-fourth, to consult what measures they 
should take. We took the advantage of this meeting, read the act 
of assembly and proclamation, explaining the law, and giving the 
reason of it as well as we could, and used our endeavors to persuade 
them to comply, alleging to them that it was the most probable 
method, to entitle them to favor with the honorable pro2:)rietaries 
when the land was purchased. After lamenting their distressed 
condition, they told ns the people were not fully collected; l:)ut as 
they expected, all would attend on the Sabbath following, then they 
would give us answer. They, however, affirmed that tlie Indians 
were very peaceable, and seemed sorry they were to be removed; 
and said they apprehended the English intended to make war upon 
the Indians, as they were moving otF their people from their neigh- 
borhood. We labored to persuade them that they were imposed on 
by a few straggling Indians, that Sir William Johnson, who had in- 
formed our government, must be better acquainted with the mind 
of the Six Nations, and that they were displeased with the white 
people settling on their unpurchased lands. On the Sabbath a con- 
siderable number attended, and most of them told us they were 
resolved to move off, and would petition your honor for preference 
ill obtaining their improvements when a purchase was made." 

" While we were conversing, we were informed that a number of 
Indians had come to Indian Peters! We, judging it might be suli- 
servient to our main design that_^the Indians should be present while 
we were advising the people to obey the law, sent for them. They 
came, and after sermon delivered a speech, with a string of wam- 
pum to be transmitted to your Honor. The speech was: ' Ye are 
come, sent by the great men to tell these people to go away from 
the land, which you say is ours; and we are sent by our great 
men, and are glad we have met here this day. We tell you the 
white people must stop, and we stop them till the treaty, and when 
George Croghan and our great men will talk together we will tell 
them what to do! * * * After this the people were more con- 
firmed that there was no danger of war. They dropped the design 
of petitioning, and said they would wait the issue of the treaty. 
Some, however, declared they would move off." 

By a similar manner of procedure, the settlers on Cheat Rivei, 



200 • HISTORY OF GUEEKE COUNTY. 

and 8tewart's crossings of Yonghiogheiiy were met, and copies of 
tlie law and proclamation were sent to Turkeyfoot, and other scattei'ed 
settlers. In conclusion they say: "It is our opinion that some 
will move off, in obedience to the law, that the greater part will wait 
the treaty, and if they find the Indians indeed dissatisfied, we think 
that the whole can be persuaded to remove. The Indians coming to 
liedstone and delivering their speech greatly obstructed our design." 

This closed the report of tlie commissioners; but a private letter 
of the chairman, John Steel, to the Governor, discloses the secret 
spring that niay have been moving in this whole matter, and gives 
a smack of the milk that is in the cocoanut. Pie says: " Sir, there 
is one thing which, in preparing tiie extract of our journal, happened 
to be overlooked, viz.: The people at Redstone alleged that tlie re- 
moving them from the unpurchased lands was a contrivance of the 
gentlemen and merchants of Philadelphia, that they might take 
rights for their improvements when a purchase was made. In con- 
firmation of this, they said tliat a gentleman of the name of Harris, 
and another called Wallace, with one Priggs, a pilot, spent a con- 
siderable time last August in viewing the lands and creeks there- 
abouts. We promised to acquaint your honor with this." It was a 
most fortunate lapse of memory on the part of the commissioners 
that they forgot to put any mention of this little scheme into their 
report, as it might liave been made public and defeated the underly- 
ing motive of their mission. Mr. Steel adds in this note, " I am of 
opinion from the appeai-ance of the people and the best intelligeTice 
we could obtain, that there are but about an hundred and fifty fami- 
lies in the different settlements." 

The commissioners appended the names of the men whom they 
met, and as this gives a clue to the earliest settlers in the country of 
the JVIonongahela they are given as one of the very early records 
of 1768: " John Wiseman, Henry Prisser, William Linn, William 
Colvin, John Vervalson, Abraham Tygard (Teagarden), Thomas 
Brown, Richard Rogers, John Delong, Peter Young, George Martin, 
Henry Swartz, Joseph McLeon, Jesse Martin, Adam Hatton, John 
Vervul, Jr., James Waller, Thomas Douter, Captain Coburn, Michael 
Hooter, Andrew Linn, Gabriel Conu, Thomas Down, Andrew 
Gudgeon (Gudgel), Phil Sute (Shute), James Crawford, John Peters, 

John Martin, Hans Cock, Daniel McCay, Josias Crawford, 

Province." At Gist's place were: "James Lyue, Blounfield 

(Brownfield), Eze Johnson, Thomas Guesse (Gist), Charles Linsey, 
James Wallace, Richard Llarrison, Jet. Johnson, Henry Burken 
(Burkham), Lawrence Harrison, Ralph Ilickenbottom, and at Tur- 
keyfoot, Henry Abrahams, Eze Dewit, James Spence, Benjamin 
Jennings, John Cooper, John Enslow, Henry Enslow, Benjamin 
Pursley." It is probable that many of these names have a different 



HLSTOUY OK (iKEENE CUL'XTV. 201 

form from the names borne by descendants of the same families; but 
there is no doubt that many of the inhabitants of the Monungahela 
country at tlie present day are tlie descendants of these people who 
had planted themselves here in the wilderness nearly a century and 
a (piarter ago. 

Preparations had been for some time in jjrogress for holding a 
conference with the Indians at Fort Pitt. George Croghan, who 
was the deputy under Sir AVilliani Johnson, had the matter in charge, 
and had infornied Governor John I^enn that if he wished to be I'cp- 
resented he should send delegates. The council convened on the 
26tii of April and lasted till the 'Jtli of May, John Allen and Joseph 
Shippen, Jr., representing Pennsylvania. The records show tliat the 
Indians were very fully represented, twelve Sachems, six war chiefs, 
and two hundred and ninety braves, besides women and children 
(which accompanied all the tribes) of the Six Nations; thirteen 
Sachems, nine war chiefs, and three hundred and eleven braves of 
the Bela wares; ten Sachems, eight war chiefs, and one hundred and 
forty braves of the Shawneese; live Sachems and one liundred and 
ninety-six braves of the Munsies; three Sachems and ninety warriors 
of the Mohickions; seven of the AVyandots; in all, eleven hundred, 
Ijesides women and children. 

The first business considered was the atonement for the murder 
of Indians which had recently been perpetrated by the enraged 
settlers, who had taken it upon themselves to avenge^ the outrages 
which had been perpetrated by the red men in the way of murders, 
scalpings and burnings in the progress of the late wars — the victims 
in most cases being wholly innocent, whose oidy crime was that of 
having a red skin and being clotlied in feathei-s and paint. Much 
palaver was had over tiiis subject, the great chiefs airing their wild 
rhetoric of the woods very freely. The representative of the white 
men, Croghan, shrewdlv admitted everything charged, bewailing 
their losses, and grieving over their wounded feelings. But he had 
come prepared to amend all, and when lie brought out the " piled 
up'' presents to the amount of over fourteen hundred pounds, the 
warrior braves regarded them with grunts of satisfaction, and freely 
forgave all. 

The council M'as a long time in reaching the second subject of 
consideration, what should be the decision in regard to settlers on 
the lands not purchased of the rightful owners. There appear to 
have been no friends of the settlers admitted to the council, tiie 
agents of the Pennsylvania government, Allen and Shippen, being 
only intent on securing the execution of that barbarous statute which 
prescribed hanging if they did not summarily give up their homes. 
Tohonissawgorrawa, the sound of whose name was enough to inspire 
terror, at length was induced to enter a complaint addressed to 



202 HISTORY OF GKEKNE COUNTY. 

Brother Ouas (Peiin) against tlie English for entering upon lands 
not yet bought, and demanding that they be removed. The answer 
made by the Pennsylvania commissioners disclosed the sole purpose 
which they had. They explained the provisions of the law recently' 
passed, relating to this subject of removal, showed the result of the 
labors of the agents sent to deliver printed copies of the law and 
Governor's proclamation; but bewail the fact, that after the settlers 
had been persuaded to leave, there came certain Mingo Indians, who 
exhorted them to stay until the result of this treaty should be 
made known. Allen and Shippen now demanded that discreet 
chieftains should be sent to the settlers to order their immediate 
departure. Aiter this is done say the}': "If they shall refuse to 
remove by the time limited them, you may depend upon it the gov- 
ernment will not fail to put the law into execution against them." 
The proposition of the Pennsylvania agents that the Indians should 
send some of their wise men to warn the settlers off, and undo the 
mischief done by the Mingo messengers was agreed to, and a delega- 
tion was named on the part of the Six Nations, who i-eceived formal 
written instructions, and John Frazer and John Thompson were 
designated to accompany them on their errand. It was understood 
that they were to proceed on this mission at once. But after wait- 
ing several days and vainly importuning them to set off, they finally 
came to the commissioners and said that "they had been seriously 
considering the business they were going to be sent on, and it now 
appeared to them so disagreeable that they could by no means con- 
sent to undertake it, and immediately returned the wampum which 
had been given them. * * * The driving of white people away 
from their settlements was a matter which no Indians could with 
any satisfaction be concerned in, and they thought it most proper 
for the English themselves to compel their own people to remove 
from the Indians' lands." 

Though the settlers had no representative admitted to the great 
conclave to speak for them, yet it is very evident that they had some 
shrewd member present with the Indians counseling with them and 
inspiring their replies. For while these answers are in entire har- 
mony with the native dignity of these men of the forest; yet we can- 
not but believe that the timely appearance of the Mingo braves at 
Redstone, and their plea for the sitting of the settlers for the present, 
and now the refusal to undertake the embassage which they had for- 
mally agreed to in council and their very cogent and dignified reasons 
therefor, were inspired by an agent of the settlers. And this 
view is greatly strengthened when we consider the following written 
statement, which Guyasutha delivered to the Pennsylvania com- 
missioners: " I now find that not only the Indians appointed by us, 
but all our other young men, are very unwilling to carry a message 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 203 

from lis to the white people, ordering them to remove from our lands. 
They say they would not choose to incur the ill-will of those people; 
for if tliey should be now removed they will hereafter I'eturn to their 
settlements when the English have jiurchased the country from us. 
And we shall be very unhappy if, b^^ our conduct towards tliem at 
this time, we shall give them reason to dislike us, and treat us in an 
unkind manner when they again become our neighbors. We there- 
fore hope, brethren, you will not be displeased at us, for not performing 
our agreement with you, for you maybe assured we have good hearts 
towards all our brethren, the English." 

The true secret of this ■whole attempt to remove the settlers west 
of Alleghauies was this: Since the surveys made by Mason and 
Dixon which had l)een stopped by the Indians at the great war patli 
on Dunkard Creek, Greene County, and within some thirty-six miles 
of the western boundary of the State, the State authorities and the 
magnates of Philadelphia being now definitely apprised of the 
southern limits of the colony, beheld a large number of settlers, 
mostly Virginians, whom the Ohio Company had been instrumental 
in bringing there, seated upon some of the finest lands in this wliole 
Monongahela Valley, and they desired them dispossessed by the In- 
dians, so that when all this stretch of country west of the Alleghauies 
should be acquired by purchase, it would be open for occupancy by 
Peunsylvanians. But in this business the Indians showed themselves 
unwilling to draw the chestnuts from the embers to accommodate 
the prospective purchasers. The settlers themselves were entirely 
innocent of any evil designs, having come upon these lands in tiie 
belief that the (^hio Company, which had the authority and en- 
couragement of the British government, had acquired a just title to 
them, and that thev owed allegiance to the State of Virginia which 
assumed a rightful authority over them. Having selected tiieir 
lands, and with great toil and hardship made clearings and cultiva- 
tions, tliey felt a deep reluctance to give them up, and believed that 
they could not be rightfully dispossessed. Hence, these early Vir- 
ginia settlers were anxious to cultivate a good understanding with 
the Indians, which tended to promote further settlements, and came 
to look with an evil eye on the government of Pennsylvania, which 
had authorized their hanging if tliey did not remove. 

In all these negotiations the Indians intimated that they expectetl 
to sell these lands west of the Alleghauies to the English. For in 
their excuses for not ordering off the white people, as they had agreed 
to do, they used this expression, "when the English shall have pur- 
chased the country from us." Virginia was the only colony which 
laid claim to the country drained by the Ohio River. The New Eng- 
land States, except Connecticut, were entirel_v cut off; New York 
could only extend westward to the lakes, Pennsylvania had exact 



204 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

limits prescribed by charter on the west, even if that limit was allowed, 
although Virginia was claiming the portion west of the Alleghany 
M-ountains. But Virginia laid claim to the entire Ohio Valley 
north as well as south. Tliis claim Hillsborough, the English Sec- 
retary, determined to curtail, by coniirming the Indians in their 
claims to all these lands, at least until tlie claim of Virginia was 
broken, and accordingly ordered his agent, Stuart, to continue the 
line which he had traced along the western limits of the Garolinas, 
from Chiswell's mine to the mouth of the Kanawha. This line was 
confirmed by treaty with the Cherokees at Hard Labor on the 14th 
of October, 1768. By this procedure all of Kentucky, as well as 
the entire territory northwest of the Ohio, would be relieved of the 
claim of Virginia, and the Indians be confirmed in absolute owner- 
ship. 

The English Secretary was moreover Jealous of the encroach- 
ments of the Spanish at St. Louis and New Orleans, who were bidding 
for the fur trade of the lakes, and the Western settlers. By establish- . 
inor tlie native tribes in their rights he thought to cut off this trade 
through their country, and not only stop emigration to these "Western 
lands, but clear ofl' the few who had already made improvements. 
Hence this savage law of the Pennsylvania Legislature, imposing 
death on these settlers if they did not leave, was well pleasing to him. 
There was much contention at this time both in the colonies and 
at the English court to obtain grants of these Western lands. The 
Ohio Company, Mississippi Company and Walpole's grants, which 
will be referred to further on, were specimens of this grasping spirit. 
Franklin was in England urging these grants and was in cori-espondence 
with his compeers in this country. Sir William Johnson was not 
without ambitious designs, and he had accordingly made arrange- 
ments for a grand conclave of Indians from far and near to be held 
at Fort Stanwix, now' Eome, New York, in the mild October days 
of 1768. The conference held at Fort Pitt, detailed above, earlier in 
the season, was but the forerunner of this grander meeting, and the 
munificent gifts there distributed were baits to lure the savages on. 

Thomas Walker represented Virginia; Governor William Frank- 
lin, New Jersey; Governor Penn was present from Penjisylvania, but 
was obliged to leave before the business was completed. Sir Will- 
iam Johnson represented New York and the English government, 
orders having been transmitted to him early in the spring to make 
the proposed purchase of lands and settle all difficulties with the In- 
dians. The number of Indians present was extraordinary, being ac- 
cording to Bancroft a little short of three thousand. " Every art," 
he says, " was used to conciliate the chiefs of the Six Nations, and 
gifts were lavished on them with unusual generosity. They in turn 
complied with the solicitations of the several agents. The line that 



r. 




^^<:^^ ^^r/^,^ 



piiefi 



JIISTOIIY OF GREENE COUXTV. 207 

was established began at tlie north, where Canada Creek joins Wood 
Creek; on leaving New York, it passed from the nearest fork ol' the 
West liranch oftlie Siit^quehanna to Kittauning on the Allegheny, 
whence it followed tliat river and tlie Ohio. At the mouth of the 
Kanawha it met the line of Stewart's treaty. " Had it stopped here 
tlie Indian frontier would liave been marked all the way from north- 
ern New York to I''lorida. I!ut instead of following Ins instructions, 
Sir William Johnson pretended to recognize a right of the Six 
Nations to the largest part of Kentucky, and continued the line down 
the Ohio to the Tennessee River which was thus constituted the 
western boundary of Virginia." This whs in contravention to the 
policy of Secretary Hillsborough, and again opened the extravagant 
claims of Virginia. 

Thus was aci.jnired, by tlie transactions of one day, the 5th of 
November, 1768, a day ever memorable in the annals of Western 
Pennsylvania, this hilarious carnival day of the Indians, a vast 
tract stretching away a thonsand miles or more, enough for an em- 
pire of the largest proportions. It embraced in Pennsylvania the 
very farthest stretch from the Delaware River in the northeast to 
Greene County in the southwest, comprising the counties of Wayne. 
Susquehanna, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Wyoming, Sullivan, a part of 
Bradford, Columbia, Motitour, Northumberland, Lycoming, IJnion, 
parts of Centre, Clinton, Clearfield, Indiana, Armstrong and Alle- 
gheny, and the counties entire of Cambria, Somerset, AYestmoreland, 
Washington, Fayette and Greene. Thus was ended by one sweeping 
purchase a controversy with the Indians/ for possession of the soil 
along the waters of the Monongahela, which was beginning to 
threaten deadly feuds. We say ended; but not ended. The treaty 
was signed by the chiefs of the Six Nations, for themselves, their 
allies and defendants, the Shawnees, Delawares, Mingoes and others; 
but the^hawnees and Delaware deputies did not sign, and hence 
there was left open a plea for individual hostility, which for many 
years proved very greivous to the early settlers of Greene County, 
though the Six Nations claimed the right to themselves to make sale 
of all tliese lands by right of conquest of the natives which in- 
liabited them, a right which the Delawares and Shawnees never 
dared to disurite. 

The title of the government to all the lands along the Mononga- 
hela and upper Ohio being now thought to be complete, having a 
title deed for it from the Six Nations duly recorded, there was lui 
reason why these lauds should not be taken up un der colonial author- 
ity. Virginia was laying claim to all this section of country, on 
what grounds we shall detail further on; but Pennsylvania having 
already extended its southern boundary as claimed l)y chartered right, 
very nearly to its western extremity, felt secure in extending 



208 HISTORY OF GKEEWi; COUNTY. 

the tBgis of its power over these regions, thongli for the most part 
settled to tliis time by Virginians. Accordingly, early in the year 
1769, j)ublic notice was given that the land oitice of the colony 
wlSiTd be opened on the_3d of April for the sale of lands within the 
limits of the new purchase, at a price of five pounds sterling per one 
hundred acres, and a quit-rent of a penny per acre, the Proprietaries 
holding that as they had the land on condition of making of an 
annual payment of two beaver skins, they were obliged to impose an 
annual (j^uit-rent to make a sale binding. A penny an acre, though 
seeming a mere nominal sum, if exacted on the whole territory of 
the State would bring a snug little income. By the rules of the 
office no one person was allowed to purchase more tlian three hun- 
dred acres. v' 

As we have already' seen numbers of hardy pioneers, previous to 
this date, had chosen lands, and made for themselves homes on the 
favorite spots throughout all this picturesque country soutliward 
from Fort Pitt, between the Ohio and Monongahela rivers, though 
they had acquired no recognized right to do so previous to the date 
named above. When the land oflice was opened on the morning of 
that day there was a great rush of applicants desiring to perfect a 
title to their lands. Among others who had settled on lands near 
the mouth of Ten Mile Creek, previous to 1768, was Abraham Tea- 
garden, and among names of those who were granted patents for 
lands west of the Monongahela on this first day were those of Pres- 
ton, Harrison, Pooks and Evans, and subsequently those of Hunter, 
McDowell, 'Drummond, Allman, Marshall, Indian Peter, Parkinson, 
Cox, Grimes and Taylor. 

To illustrate the manner in which titles were acquired and con- 
flicting claims were settled in those early times, the following ex- 
tracts from the testimony in a suit for ejectment which was bi'ought 
by the last named person, Henry Taylor, are here given, the case 
turning upon the question of priority of occupancy. Isaac Will- 
iams testified: "That in the year 1770 he saw Henry Taylor living 
in the forks of Chartiers Creek, he was improving that land that is now 
in dispute, and to make a settlement thereon; that he hired his 
brother, John Williams, to strengthen the improvements then 
claimed by said Taylor; that ho knew the work to be done, as he 
hunted to get provision for the men while they were doing the work; 
that he also knew Taylor to pay his brother a rifle gun and some 
cash when he went away, and on his return paid the sum of eight 
pounds; that when they were doing the work he found a new cabin 
on the White Oak Ridge, appearing to have been built that winter; 
that on Taj'lor's finding that some person had been at work on his 
land he employed me to enquire, and if possible find out who it was, 
and to purchase their claim, which I found it to be Hugh Sidwell, 



IIISTOKY OF GREENE COUNTY. 209 

and purchased the said White Oak cabin and all his claim for the 
sum of twenty shillings." 

In answer to the question whether Bolzer Shilling did not 
make a practice of running about through the woods, marking 
and hazing trees and calling that his improvements, and that in 
great number," AVilliams'aiiswered, •• He knew it well to be his con- 
stant practice." Jolin AVilliains also testified " that he deadened some 
timber and cut and split five hundred rails on the llicli Hill tract, 
live hundred rails on the White Oak llidge tract, that he built a 
good cabin and split five hundred rails on another tract, for which 
the said Taylor paid him before he left the settlement a rifle gun 
and four dollars cash, and the next spring when the said Taylor re- 
turned from Cecil County, Maryland, he paid me the remainder 
honorably, being eight pounds Pennsylvania money." 

Frederick Lamb also testified, "That some time in the montli of 
April, 1772, he came to Bolzer Shilling where he was doing some 
work on a certain tract of land where Richard Yates now dwells on; 
he had seen on a tree a small distance from them, with H. T. on it, 
which at the time he thought it had been Henry Taylor's claim, and 
he asked the said Bolzer, ' Was not this Henry Taylor's claim? ' J'olzer 
answered ' Yes,' it is his claiin, and that he was working there on 
purpose to affront said Taylor; and he wanted Taylor to come there 
on jjurpose to quarrel with him, and give Taylor a thrashing, and 
would black his eyes well' He then told Bolzer that Heniy Taylor 
was a civil man, and would not tight with him, and 'twas better to 
let alone. Then Bolzer said he would go up and let Van Sweringeu 
have it, for Van was not ashamed of any mean action, and he knew 
Van to be rogue enough to cheat Taylor out; of the land." 

lietter than pages of description this testimony of the early 
pioneers, informs us of the trials and hardships which the settlers 
had to endure in getting a foothold upon lands in this goodly country, 
in the face of disputed authority of the State, the jealousy of the na- 
tives, the quarrels of conflicting claimants, and the lying and cheating 
of dishonest bullies. 



210 HISTORY OF GREENj; COUNTY. 



CHAPTER XIII. 

Treaty of 1784 — Cumbeeland Cuunty Skat at Caelislk — Bedfokd 
CouKTY — Pitt and Sfkinghill Townsiiii's — Assessmknts — 
Names of Tax Payi;es — Westmoeeland County Fokmed — 
IIannatown — Aethue St. Claie — JioAu Laid Out feom 
Mouth of Fisiipot eun Eastwaed — Impoetakt Thoeouuhfaee 
— Case of Elizabeth Smith — Delegates Assume ale Au- 

THOEITY OvEE THE CoLONY — CONVENTION TO FoEM A New 

Goveenment — Feanklin Peesident — Committee of Safety — 
GovEENOE John Penn Relieved — The Foundf:e Remembeeeu 
Gratefully — New Constitution, Thomas Wiiaeton, Peesi- 
ijiiNx — Assembly Legalized all Acts of Peeceding Couets 

AND PeOVIDED foe COMPLETING UNSATISFIED CaSES REINSTATED 

Civil Officees — Theead of Authority was Taken Up by 
THE New Peoples' Goveenment Just as Deopped by that Act- 
ing Undee Roy'al Authoeity. 

ALL the territory of Pennsylvania to the north and west of the line 
of counties named in the last chapter, as having been acquired 
from tiie Indians by the treaty of Fort Stanwix of 1768; still re- 
mained in the hands of the Indians, over which tlie government of 
Pemisylvania could exercise no jurisdiction. All this stretch of 
country, embracing a full third of the State, covering all the broad 
northwest, remained to the Indians until after the close of the Revo- 
lutionary war, having been finally acquired by the treaty of Fort Mc- 
intosh concluded in 1784. No provision was made for the civil gov- 
ernment of this territcn-y, acquired by the purchase of 1768, until 
1771. 

Chester was one of the three original counties formed from the 
territory acquired from tlie Indians by Penn in 1682, and by subse- 
quent treaties down to 1736. Lancaster was formed from a part of 
Chester in 1729. Cumberland was apportioned from a part of Lan- 
caster in 1750. Up to 1771 all county business by settlers in all the 
western portion of the State had to be transacted at Carlisle, the 
present county seat of CumbM-land County. For three years, from 
1768 to 1771, the inhabitants of Greene County wei'e oblig-ed to go 
"^ to Carlisle for the transaction of any county bnsii.ess. On the latter 
date, March 9th, the county of Bedford was erected out of portions 



IIISTOIIY 111-' GKKENK COtlNTY. 211 

of Ouiiiberhiiul, and was made to embrace the vast tract as described 
in the list, as beginning on the south wliere the Province line crosses 
the Tuscarora ]\tonntain, the present eastern limit of Fulton Conntj-, 
and running along the suniniit of that mountain to the gap near the 
head of Patli A^alley, thence north to the Juniata River; thence with 
the Juniata to the mouth of Shaver's Creek; thence northeast to the 
line of Berks County; thence along the Berks County line to the 
western boundaries of the Province, thence southward by the western 
boundaries of the Province, to tiie southwest corner, and thence 
eastward by the southern boundary of the Province to the place of 
beginning. As will be seen, this county organization emiiraced the 
territory included in the present County of Greene, and hence for a 
period, all county business was done at the town of Bedford, one 
hundred miles from Pittsburg. Though now having a legal county 
organization, and full protection guaranteed by the Province to all 
its iidiabitants, yet the dream seems to have been indulged in iiy 
many of the early settlers that this territory between the .Mononga- 
hela and Ohio rivers belonged to Virginia, and that its claim would 
ultimately be vindicated. 

The first court held at Bedford, was opened on the lOlhof Ajiril, 
1771, at which George Wilson reported as justice foi- tJie south- 
western corner of the State, whose home was at the mouth of Georges 
Creek, Fayette C^ounty. William Ci'awford, who was the land agent 
of George Washington, who figured prominently afterward in the 
military annals of the country, after whom the county of Crawford 
was named, who was inhumanly Imrned by the Indians at Sandusky, 
and who had previously figured as a justice of Cumberland, was also 
a justice of Bedford, as was also Tliomas Gist, son of Christopher 
Gist, the companion of Washington in his journey to Fort Le Boenf, 
in 1753. JJorsey Pentecost, who afterwards was the second presi- 
dent -ludge of Washington County, and a member of the first board 
of county commissioners of Bedford County, was also a justice. In 
the division of the new county of I>edford into townships, the whole 
territory' west of the Monongahela River, now embracing tiie counties 
ot Greene, Washington and parts of Allegheny and Beaver, was em- 
l)raceil in two townshi[)S, Pitt and Springhill, liounded as follows: 
" Beginning at the mouth of the Iviskeminitas, and running down 
the Alleo-heny River to its junction with the Monongahela, tJien 
down the Ohio to the western limits of the Province, thence with the 
western boutulary to the line of Springhill, thence with that line to 
the moutli of Bedstone Creek, thence down the Monongahela to the 
mouth of Youghiogheny, thence with the line of Ilempfield to the 
mouth of Brush Run, thence'witli the line of said township to the 
beginning." Springhill: "Beginning at the mouth of Redstone 
Creek, and running thence a due west course, to the western boun- 



212 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

dary of the Province, thence south -with the Province line to the 
soutliern boundary of the Province, tlien east with that line to vsrhere 
it crosses the Youghiogheny to Laurel Hill, thence with the line of 
Tyrone to Gist's, and thence with that line to the beginning." 

" The official assessment rolls," says Crumrine, in his history of 
Washington County, " for these townships for 1772, show that Pitt 
Township had tifty-two landholders, twenty tenants, and thirteen 
single freemen; Springhill (which embraced Greene County), three 
hundred and eight land-holders, eighty-nine tenants, and fifty-eight 
single freemen. * * * The assessment roll for 1772 of Spring- 
hill Township shows the following names among others: Thomas 
Brown (Ten-Mile), Jeremiah Beek, (Beck), William Brashear, Will- 
iam Crawford, (the Quaker, afterwards of East Bethlehem), Josiah 
Crawford, Oliver Ciawford, John Casteel, lienry Enoch, John Gar- 
rard, Jr., Zachariah Goben, (Gaben), .James Harrod, William Harrod, 
Levi Harrod, Thomas Hughes (Muddy Creek), Andrew Link, Jacob 
Link, John Moore, David Morgan, John Masterson, Daniel More- 
dock, James Moredock, John Swan, Robert Syre, Abraham Teagar- 
den, George Teagarden, Lienry Michael, Samuel Eckerly, John Hupp, 
William Teagarden and John Williams.' Among the names from the 
Pitt Township list are Jacob Bausman, John Barr, John Campbell, 
Samuel Lleath and John McDonald." But the large numbers em- 
braced in the tax list of 1772, show how rapidly the country filled up 
when once the way was open. When we consider that the right to 
acquire land had only existed for four years, when this assessment 
was made, we must conclude that these lands had a special charm for 
the pioneer. 

But the necessity of making a journey of a hundred miles, over 
rugged mountains, and by roads that wei'e little more than bridle 
paths through the forest, in order to reach the county seat, proved 
too burdensome, and after the lapse of five years, February 26, 
1773, a new county was organized on this side of the Alleghanies, 
embracing a part of the original county of Bedford, and designated 
Westmoreland. Tlie act of incorpoi'ation defining its legal limits 
was in these words: "That all and singular the lands Ij'ing within 
the province of Pennsylvania, and being within the boundaries fol- 
lowing, that is to say: beginning in the province line, where the 
most westerly branch, commonly called the South or Great brand) of 
tlie Youghiogheny River crosses the same; then down the easterly 
side of tiie said branch and river to the Laurel tlill; thence along 
the ridge of the said hill, north-eastward so far as it can be traced, or 
till it runs into the Alleghany Hill; thence, along the ridge dividing 
the waters of Susquehanna and the Allegheny rivers to the purchase 
line, at the head of the Susquehanna, thence due west to the limits 
of the province and by the same to the place of beginning; shall be, 



HISTORY OF GREENE COt'NTV. 213 

and the same is liereby declared to be, erected into a county, hence- 
forth to be called Westmoreland.'' 

It will be seen by reference to any map of this jnirt of the State, 
that the northern boundary " to the purchase line at the head of 
Susquehanna, thence due west to the limits of the province," em- 
braces a considerable territory north of the Allei^heny and Ohio 
rivers which had not yet l)een acquired by purchase of the Indians, 
tiie Fort Stanwix purchase being confined to lands east and soutli, or 
the left bank of these streams. But it is probable that this stretch 
of legal authority was made to accommodate persons who had fixed 
their eyes on some delectable sjjots on the riglit bank, as for example 
Allegheny City. 

"J>y the provisions of the organic act," quoting Crumrine, "the 
courts of Westmorelaiid County were to be held at the house of 
Robert llanna, until the Coui't Ilotise shall be built." Robert Ilanna. 
one of the early pioneers in these then western wilds, had seated 
himself at a point near the site of Greensburg, the county seat 
of the present county of Westmoreland. Here he had opened a house 
for public entertainment, and around him luid gathered the cabins of 
a number of the hardy settlers, the whole taking the pretentious 
name of Ilanna's Town. This point was on the line of the new 
road opened by General Forbes in his expedition to Fort Pitt in 1758, 
and is on the line of the Pennsylvania Railroad. 

The courts were held here for a number of years, and hence, it be- 
came a place of considerable importance, figuring extensively in the 
contentions that ensued to State authority over this territory. Tlie 
commissions issued to justices of the peace for. this county embraced 
many names that became prominent in the future history of the 
State and the nation: Arthur St. Clair, afterwards a prominent 
Major-General in the American army under AVashington, and the 
leader of the unfortunate expedition against the Indians in 1789; 
William Crawford, the land agent of Washington, and the leader of 
an expedition against the western Indians; Alexander McCiean, wlio 
completed the survey of Mason and Dixon's line; Alexander McKee, 
Robert Ilanna, William Louchry, George Wilson, Eneas Maekay, 
Joseph Spear and James Caveat. In the following year, when the 
integrity of Pennsylvania territory was threatened by the encroach- 
ments of Virginia, led by I)i\ Connolly', additional justices were 
commissioned, among whom were Alexander Ross, Van Swearingen, 
who lived just o]ipos)te Greenfield, on the left bank of the Mononga- 
iiela River, and who became the first sheriff of Washington County, 
then embracing Greene'; Andrew MacFarlane, Oliver Miller, and 
subsequently, in 1777, Edward Cook and James Marshel. William 
Crawford, having l>een first commissioned, was the presiding justice. 

The machinery of legal business for the new county was set in 



214 HISTORY OF GREENE COTJNTY. 

motion with very little ceremony, as the following record of the Pro- 
vincial Council for February 27, 1773, abundantly shows: "A law 
having passed yesterday for the erecting a part of the county of Bed- 
ford into a separate county, called Westmoreland, and Arthur St. 
Clair, Esq., the present prothonotary, &c., of Bedford, having re- 
quested the Governor to grant him the offices in the new county, in 
lieu of those he now holds in Bedford county. His Honor this day 
was pleased to appoint him to the several offices following, in the 
said county of Westmoreland, by three separate commissions, under 
the great seal of the Province, viz: Prothonotary, or principal clerk 
of the county court of Common pleas, Clerk, or Register of the Or- 
phans' Court, and Recorder of Deeds." 

St. Clair thus became a sort of fac totum of the new courts. 
Having served in a similar capacity in Bedford County, he was well 
fitted to discharge the duties, and set the wheels of government in 
motion. He seems to have been a man of talent and something of 
a scholar. He was a Scotchman by birth, was educated at the Uni- 
versity of Edinburgh, studied medicine with the celebrated William 
Hunter, of London, entered the military service in the lioyal Amer- 
ican regiment of foot, the Sixtieth of the line, came to this country 
with Admiral Boscawen and served under Gen. Amherst. He was 
with Wolfe at the i-eduction of Quebec on the plains of Abraham. 
In 1762 ho resigned his commission in the British army, and settled 
first in Bedford, and later in the Ligonier valley. In 1770 he was 
appointed Surveyor of Cumberland County, was commissioned a 
justice of the courts, and was sent a member of tlie Supreme Execu- 
tive Council. In the conflict between Virginia and Pennsylvania 
he ardently espoused the Pennsylvania side. At the breaking out of 
the Pevolutionary war he entered the service, rose to the rank of a 
Major-General in the Continental army, and became tlie intimate 
friend and adviser of Washington. At the close of the war he was 
made a member of tiie Council of Censors, served in the Continental 
Congress from 1785 to 1787, and in the latter year was made presi- 
dent of tliat august body. He was appointed Governor of the North- 
western territory in 1788, and two years later fixed the seat of 
government of the territory at the point where Cincinnati now is, 
which name he gave to the place in honor of that order of old soldiers 
styled thef Society of the Cincinnati, of whicli lie was president over 
the Pennsylvania chapter from 1783 to 1789. In an engagement 
with the Indians on the Wabash he was badly defeated in 1791. In 
1802, upon the admission of Ohio as a State into the Union, he de- 
clined election as Governor and retired to a log cabin in the Chest- 
nut liidge in Westmoreland County, ruined in fortune. He made 
imsuccessful application to Congress for certain claims due him, and 




^a^i^/iAA^J^ ^W^/^^^^^^t^ 



HISTORY OF GREENE" COUNTY. 217 

finally died in poverty, uii the Slst of August, 1818, aged eighty- 
four years. 

At the first session of the Court of Quarter Sessions held in the 
newly erected county of Westmoreland at the house of Kobert Hanna, 
Judge William Crawford presiding, an act was passed dividing the 
county into townships, by which the two townshi])S of Pitt and 
Springhill retained the same boundaries as those previously quoted. 
Upon the petition of inhabitants of Springhill Township, which 
embraced Greene County, the court appointed the following named 
persons, John Mooi-e, Thomas Scott, Heniy Beason, Thomas Brown- 
tield, James McClean and Phillip Shute viewers to lay out a road: 
" To begin at or near the mouth of a run, known by the name of 
Fish Pot Run, about two miles below the mouth of Ten Mile Creek, 
on the west side of the Monongahela River, (it being a convenient 
place for a ferry, as also a good direction for a leading road to the 
most western parts of the settlements), thence the nearest and best 
way to the forks of Duulap's path, and General Braddock's road on 
the top of Lanrel Hill." 

This road, thus early authorized to be laid out and constructed, 
became a very important thoroughfare to the West. A strong cur- 
rent of emigration was setting from the east to the Ohio country, 
and this was tlie nearest and best overland course, whether by the 
Eraddock (tiie Virginia) or the Forbes (the Pennsylvania) military 
roads, and was long traveled by settlers seeking the Western country. 
Though early opened, and probably ]>y a route judiciously selected, 
it was undoubtedly a very rough thoroughfare, especially in early 
spring-time when farmers were hurrying forward to commence the 
season's work. John S. Williams, in the American l'ioneei\ as 
quoted by Crumrine, describes the trip of his family from North 
Carolina to Marietta in 1802: "The mountain roads, if roads they 
coidd be called, for pack-horses were still on them, were of the most 
dangerous and dilKcult character. 1 haVe heard an old mountain 
tavern-keeper say that, although the taverns were less than two miles 
apart in years after we came, he has known many emigrant families 
that stopped a night at every tavern on the mountains." 

The records of the county court for the succeeding three years 
show a number of roads were laid out in the townships of Pitt 
and Springhill, a few cases of larceny, of riot, of misdemeanor, a 
number of cases against the noted Baltzer Shilling, and in the year 
1775 that Elizabeth Smith was arraigned for felony, for which offence 
she plead guilty and received the following sentence of the court: 
" Judgment that the said Elizabeth Smith be taken this afternoon, 
being the lllh instant, between the hours of three and five, and there 
to receive fifteen lashes on her bare back well laid on; that she pay 
a fine of eighteen shillings and five pence to liis Honor the Governor; 



218 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. ' 

that she make restitution of the goods stolen; that she pay the costs 
of prosecution and stand committed till complied with." 

In April, 1776, the county court was held for the last time under 
the authority' of the King. The Revolution had now been fairly 
inaugurated, and there were no further sessions held until January 
6, 1778, when the supreme authority of the Continental Congress 
was recognized. 

On the 23d of Januarj"-, 1775, a convention of delegates from the 
several counties of the Province met at Philadelphia, in which resolu- 
tions wei'e passed expressing a strong desire that the ancient harmony 
might be restored between the King and the colonies; but if the 
attempt shoiild be made to force the colonies to submission then 
we hold' it our indispensable duty to resist such force, and at every 
hazard to defend the rights and liberties of America. Recognizing 
the dependent condition of the colonies upon the mother country for 
cloths and military supplies the people were recommended " on no 
account to sell to the butchers or kill for the market any sheep under 
four years old. And where there is a necessity for using any mutton 
in their families, it is recommended to them to kill such as are the 
least profitable to keep." It was also I'ecommended to cultivate 
hemp, and engage in the manufacture of madder, saltpetre and gun 
powder, and a large number of articles of prime necessity in building 
and in housekeeping, which had previously been imported. The 
convention adjourned subject to the call of the Philadelphia dele- 
gates, who were constituted a committee of safety. 

By a resolution of the Continental Congress of the 15th of May, 
1776, it was recommended that all dependence upon the government 
of Great Britain cease, and that such governments in the several 
colonies be adopted, as the exigencies of the situation demanded. 
Accordingly, delegates from the several counties assembled on the 
18th of June, 1776, in Carpenter's Hall, Philadelphia, Edward Cook 
and James Perry representing Westmoreland County, and proceeded 
to " Resolve, 1. That the said resolution of Congress of the 15th of 
May last is fully approved by this conference. 2. That the present 
government of this province is not competent to the exigences of our 
affairs. 3. That it is necessary that a provincial convention be called 
by this conference for the express purpose of forming a new govern- 
ment." It then made provision for the electing of delegates to such 
convention, fixing eight as the number to be sent up from each 
county, and the qualifications of electors. As the payment of a tax 
within one year was one of the qualifications, and as Westmoreland 
had been exempted by law from the paying of any tax for the space 
of three years, the electors of this county were exempted from the 
operation of this item of qualification. When all the qualifications 
of members to be elected and electors were settled, the convention 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 219 

proceeded to divide the counties into election districts, lix the place 
of holding elections, and appoint judges of elections. The county 
of Westmoreland was divided into two election districts, the lirst all 
the territory north of the Voughioghany, with voting place at Han- 
na's Town, and the second all to the south of that stream and voting 
place at Spark's Fort, now Ferry Township, Fayette County. James 
Barr, John Moore and Clement McGeary were appointed as election 
officers for the northern district, and George Wilson, John Kile and 
Robert McConnel for the southern. The day fixed for holding these 
elections was the 8th of July, 1776, just four days after the passage 
of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress. 
As the news traveled very tardily in those days, the probability is 
that the people of Westmoreland County had not heard of it when 
the election was held. The eight members elected to the Provincial 
Convention were John Carinichael, Edward Cook, James Barr, John 
Moor, James Smith, John McClellan, Christopher Lavingair and 
James Perry. 

Heretofore the primal source of authority in the government liad 
been the King of Great Britain; now it was to emanate from the 
people, and these back-woodsmen, eight from each county, were to 
try their iiands in the great experiment of self-govei;ument — " a 
government of the people, by the people and for the people." 

The convention thus chosen met in Philadelphia on the loth of 
July, 1776. As the members were separately to make oath on being 
qualified to a renunciation of all allegiance to King George III., and 
as they in their representative capacity spoke for all their constituents, 
it is evident that by that act the whole legal and governmental ma- 
chinery of the Province was at an end. There was no King supreme 
over all, no proprietary, no council, no judges, justices, sheriffs, 
constables, in short no provincial, county or township officers, but 
all was theoretically in a state of nature, lint the moment this con- 
vention was organized it proceeded to take up the wand of authority 
which had been dropped. The convention thus constituted was 
organized by the election of Banjamin Franklin, president, and on 
the 24:th of July elected what was designated a Council of Safety, 
composed of twenty-five members, to which was assigned the execu- 
tive department of the government — the duties of King and Gov- 
ernor. Of this council Thomas Rittenhouse was chosen chairman, 
ami Jacob S. Howell secretary. By this act the proprietary 
government was entirely superceded. It may here be observed 
that John Penn, who had been appointed Governor in August, 
1773, was the son of Richard, the second of the three sons 
of William Penn, viz: John, Richard and Thomas. At the 
time of his appointment as Governor, his father was proprietor of 
one-third of the Province, and his uncle, Thomas, two-thirds, the latter 



220 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

having inherited the share of his elder brother, John, who died in 
1746. By the assumption of power by the Council of Safety the 
vast proprietary estates of the Penns reverted, amounting, as is 
shown by an estimate commenced by Thomas Penn and completed 
by Franklin, to ten millions of pounds sterling, or $50,000,000. Bnt 
the new government was not disposed to deal harshly by the pro- 
prietors; for, by an act of November 27, 1779, for vesting these 
estates in the Commonwealth, there was reserved to the proprietors, 
all their private estates, including the tenths of manors and they 
were granted one hundred and thirty pounds sterling "in remem- 
brance of the enterprising spirit of the Founder," and "of the ex- 
pectations and dependence of his descendants." Parliament in 1790, 
on account of the inability of the British Government to vindicate 
the authority of the Proprietors as decided in the result of the Revo- 
lutionary struggle, and " in consideration of the meritorious services 
of the said William Penn, and of the losses which his family have 
sustained," voted an annuity of four thousand pounds per annum to 
his heirs and descendants. This annuity has been regularly paid to 
the present time, 1888. 

On the 6th of August, the Council of Safety was Organized by the 
election of Thomas Wharton, Jr., president, which office was equiva- 
lent to that *of Governor. A new constitution was framed and finally 
adopted on the 28th of September unanimously, taking eifect from 
the date of its passage. It provided for an annual Assembly, and 
for a Supreme Executive Council, to be composed of twelve members 
elected for a term of three years. Members ot Congress were chosen 
by the Assembly. Assemblymen were eligible for four years in 
seven, and councilmen but one term in seven years. This constitu- 
tion could not be changed for a period of seven years. At the end 
of that time a board of censors were to determine whether or not 
there was need of change. If such need existed they were em- 
powered to convene a new convention for that purpose. 

The Assembly which convened in January, 1777, passed an act 
early in the session providing that "each and every one of the laws 
or acts of General Assembly that were in force and binding on the 
inhabitants of tlie said province on the lith day of May last shall be 
in force and binding on the inhabitants of this State, from and after 
the 10th of February next, as fully and effectually to all intents and 
purposes, as if the said laws, and each of them, had been made and 
enacted by this General Assembly; and all and every person and 
persons whosoever are liereby enjoined and required to yield obedi- 
ence to the said laws, as the case niay require, * '■'' * and the 
common law and such of the statute laws of England as have hereto- 
fore been in force in the province, except as is hereafter excepted." 
This act of the Legislature revived the operation of the former laws 



IIISTOKY OF (iUEKNK COUNTY. 221 

in the province as completely as though each one had formally been 
re-enacted. It was also enacted that all the several courts held in 
the State should continue to be held at tlie times and with the same 
formality as before, •' and every officer of all and every of the courts 
of this State that is or shall be appointed shall have, use, and exercise 
the same or like powers that such officer or officers of the same title, 
character and distinction might, could or ought to have had, used 
and exercised under the charter and laws of Pennsylvania, until dis- 
placed. And all constables, overseers of the poor, supervisors of the 
highways, and the wardens and street commissioners of the city of 
Philadelphia that were last appointed or elected in the said province 
are hereby authorized and strictly enjoined, and required to exercise 
their several and respective powers, and execute, do and perform all 
the business and duties of their several and respective offices until 
otliers are appointed." 

It was also further provided "that every action that was in any 
court in the province of Pennsylvania, at the last term the said court 
was held, except discontinued or satisfied, shall be and is hereby 
declared to be in the same state, and on the same rule, and may be 
prosecuted in the same manner in the courts in each respective 
county, to be hereafter held and kept, as if the authority of such 
court had never ceased; and if any recognisance has been taken and 
not returned and prosecuted as the laws direct, saving the style; and 
where any person had obtained a judgment before any justice of the 
peace for any debt or sum of money, and such judgment not dis- 
charged, the person in whose favor the judgment is, may (on produc- 
ing a transcript of such judgment to any justice of the peace in the 
county where the defendant dwells or can bo found) demand and 
obtain an execution for the money mentioned in such judgment, 
which shall be of the same force and effect as if the judgment was 
obtained before the justice that granted the execution." 

Thus the thread of authority was taken up by the new peoples' 
government, where the King's and the Proprietor's government had 
dropped it, by that notable act of the Continental Congress assem- 
bled in Carpenter's Hall, Philadelphia, on the ever memoraljle J:th of 
July, 1776, entitled the Declaration of American Independence. 



222 HISTORY OF GREEKE COUNTY. 



CHAPTER XIV. 

Subjects of Contention — Allegiance on the Delaware oe on the 
James — Largely Settled by Virginians and Makylandees — 
" West and Noethwest " — Settlers Innocent — Weit of Quo 
Warranto — King's Peoclajiation — Virginia Only a Eoyal 
Colony — Mason and Dixon's Line Continued — Walpole 
Grant Covered an Empire — Coeeespondenge of Governors — 
Fry had Ascertained Latitude of Logstown — Build a Foet — 
Peopose Commissionees — Civil Commotion — W ilson's Letter 
— Settlers Oppose Penn's Laws and Ask foe a Virginia 
Court — Mateeial of Foet Pitt Sold — Governor Dunmore — 
Connolly's Proclamation — Connolly Arrested — Sheriff 
Peoctor Arrested — Correspondence of Governors — Formal 
Notice of Penn — Connolly Comes With a Detachment of 
Militia- — His Position — Court's Answer — Connolly Arrests 
Justices — Letter of Mackay' Tilghman and Allen Sent to 
Virginia — Dunmore Arbitrary — Penn Counseled Peace — 
Claims Cojiplicate — Dunmore's War — I^eedless — Logan's 
Pevenge on Ten Mile Ceeek — SettleesFlee — Aemies of Lewis 
and Dunmoee — Proclamation of Dunmoee — Penn's Countee 
Proclamation — Vieginia Couet at Pittsburg — Areests and 
Countee — Lexington and Concoed — Patriotism — Advice of 
Congeessmen — Fate of Connolly. 

BUT the early inhabitants of the southwestern corner of the State 
scarcely had one subject of contention settled before another 
arose. Aside from the great impediments to settlement encountered 
in the rugged and mountainous country to be passed in reaching it, 
and its great distance from the abodes of civilization, the emigrants 
had to meet the counter claims of the English and the French to 
this whole Mississippi Valley, which was fought out on this ground; 
then, the hostility of the Indians in asserting their claims to this 
territory, which resulted in the conspiracy of Pontiac, likewise con- 
tended for with great bitterness in this vallej'', and finally settled by 
victories gained on this ground; then the lack of right .to settle all 
this stretch of country not yet having been acquired from the In- 
dians, and the jeopardy of their necks as the penalty of 
the new law unless they quickly removed from their homes, 



IILSTOKY (IK (iREENK COl'XTY. 223 

and gave up tlieir lands; again were they in tribulatiun 
in securing legal rights by reason of the great distance of the 
county seat from their homes; and scarcely was this concluded and 
the court of record and of justice secured within reasonable distaucc, 
when the Revolution canie, and although the transfer of authority 
was reasonably speedy, from the ci'own to the people; yet for eight 
long and troublous years the question was in doubt, whether the new- 
government would be successfully vindicated, or the colonies would 
be compelled to go back under the government of the King of 
Britain; and now, as if their cup of adversity was not yet full, there 
came another which threatened to be more bitter and deadly than 
all the others viz: whether they owed allegiance to Pennsylvania, or 
Virginia; whether they should secure the patents to their lands and 
pay for them at the capital on the Delaware, or at that on the James. 
It doubtless seems strange to the present generation, when the 
well defined limits of our good old Commonwealth are examined, as 
shown by any well drawn map of the State, how any such controversy 
could ever have occurred. And it will seem even more wonderful 
when the precise and explicit words of King Charles' charter to 
William Penn are carefnllj- read. But such a controversy did actual- 
ly occur, which threatened at one time to bring on a conflict of arms 
and to interfere with the paciflc and friendly relations of the two great 
Commonwealths. As Greene County was in the very heart of the 
disputed territory, and the point where Mason and Dixon's line was 
interrupted, at the crossing of Dunkard Creek, near tiie old Indian 
war-path, was the scene of threatened hostilities, its history would be 
incomplete without a brief account of it. 

There can be no question but that this whole Monongahela countrj' 
was originally settled by emigrants largely from Virginia and Mary- 
land. Nor can there be any doubt but that the authorities of A"ir- 
ginia honestly entertained the l)elief that this country was embraced 
in the chartered limits of that colony. Ilence, when the Ohio Com- 
pany was chartered and was authorized to take up a half million of 
acres in this valley, in which the Washingtons were largely con- 
cerned, it is apparent that the company put implicit confidence 
in the right of Virginia to grant these lands, or they certainly 
would never have invested their money in the enterprise and induced 
pioneers to go with their families and settle upon them. Hence, 
the original settlers could have had no question but that their true alle- 
giance was due to Virginia, from whose constituted authorities they 
received their conveyances and paid their fees. Having therefore 
innocently made their settlement under Virginia law, it is not strange 
that they clung with great tenacity to citizenship in that Common- 
wealth. 

But by what right did Virginia claim this territory? As we 



224 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

have already seen Queen Elizabeth, in 1583, a hundred years before 
the time of Penn, granted to Sir Walter Ealeigh an indefinite stretch 
of country in America which practically embraced the whole con- 
tinent, to which he gave the name Virginia, in honor of the virgin 
Qneen, that portion to the south of the mouth of the Chesapeake 
receiving the title of South Virginia, and that to the north of it 
North Virginia. Raleigh spent a vast fortnne, and impoverished 
himself in attempts to colonize the country, but all in vain, and 
the title lapsed. In 1606, James 1, who had succeeded Elizabeth, 
granted charters to the Plymouth Company, who were to have the 
territory to the north, and the London, or Virginia Company, to the 
south; but the boundaries seem to have been drawn indefinitely, the 
two grants overlaping each other by three degrees of latitude. In 
1609, the London Company secured from the Xing a new grant in 
this most remarkable language, probably never before nor since 
equalled for indefiniteness: "All those lands, countries, and terri- 
tories situate, lying and being in that part of America called Vir- 
ginia, from the point of land called cape or point of Comfort, all 
along the sea-coast northward two hundred miles, and from the same 
point or Cape Comfort all along the sea- coast to the southward two 
hundred miles; and all that space and circuit of lands lying from the 
sea-coast of the precinct aforesaid up into the land throughout from 
sea to sea west and northwest; and also the islands lying within 
one hundred miles along the coast of both seas of the precinct afore- 
said." 

On this wonderful piece of scrivener work, which no doubt taxed the 
best legal acumen of all England, in its composition, the authorities of 
Virginia hung all their claims to western Pennsylvania and the entire 
Northwest territory, — that fatal expression, " all that space and circuit 
of lands lying from the seacoast of the precinct aforesaid up into 
the land throughout from sea to sea, west and northwest." It does 
not say due west from the extremities of the four hundred mile coast 
line from sea to sea, which would have been intelligible, though pre- 
posterous, but it was to be " from sea, to sea west and northwest." 
This word northwest could not have meant to apply to the two ex- 
tremities of the coast line, for in that case it would have formed a 
parallelogram having the coast line fixed on the Atlantic and an equal 
coast line somewhere in Alaska on the Pacific and the frozen ocean. 
If it meant that the southern boundary should be a due west line 
from the southern extremity, and the northern boundary should be a 
line drawn due northwest from the northern extremity of the Atlantic 
coast line, then the limits of Virginia W'ould have embraced nearly 
the whole boundless continent, as the coast line of four hundred 
miles would have embraced more than six degrees of latitude, from 
the 34° to the 40°, reaching from some point within South Carolina 




7^/ 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 227 

to the central part of the shore of New Jersey, and the due northwest 
line Would have swallowed Philadelphia, two-thirds of Pennsylvania, 
a part of New York, all the great lakes except Ontario, and would 
have emerged somewhere in the Arctic Ocean. It may seem strange 
that the sober minded men who held the reins of government in Vir- 
ginia should have set up so preposterous a claim. Put if this claim 
was good for anything, and there seems to have been no other 
authority upon which it was based, save the above (quoted grant of 
1609, why were not Maryland and Delaware, the half of New Jersey 
and nearly the whole of Pennsylvania claimed at once? For this 
grant of 1609 antedated that of Maryland, and was made before the 
foot of a wliite man had ever pressed Pennsylvania soil. This e,v- 
travagant claim was not vindicated when the colonies to the north 
of it had become seated. But now, after it had been pushed down 
on the sea-shore from more than two-thirds of its northern claim — 
having left scarcely fifty miles above Point Comfort instead of two 
hundred -by the grants to Maryland and Pennsylvania, and been 
limited to the right bank of the Potomac, it now proposes to com- 
mence tliat northwest line at the head-waters of the Potomac instead 
of at the coast-line. 

• But this whole extravagant claim was settled before either Lord 
Baltimore or Penn had received their charters. On the 10th of 
November, 1623, a writ of quo 'warranto was issned against the 
treasurer of the London Company. The grounds of this action were 
the irregularities in the government of the colony, which had in- 
vited the hostility of the Indians, resulting in massacres and burn- 
ings, which came near the ntter destruction of the settlement, whereby 
the stockholdei's of the Company in London saw their investments 
being annihilated. The party of Virginia made defence ; l)ut upon the 
report of a committee sent out by the King to make examination of 
the Company's affairs, the King's resolution was taken, and at the 
Trinity term of 1621, June, "judgment was given against the Com- 
pany and the patents were cancelled." " Before the end of the same 
term" says the record, " a judgment was declared by the Lord 
Chief Justice Ley, against the Company and their charter, only upon 
a failure or a mistake in pleading." The decree may not have been 
just, as disturbing vested rights; yet it was nevertheless law and the 
Company was obliged to bow. The matter was brought before Par- 
liament; but public sentiment was against the Company, and the 
application came to nothing. Henceforward the Virginia settlement 
became a royal colony, subject to the will of the monarch. 

Soon after the conclusion of the war with France, by which that 
nation was dispossessed of the Mississippi Valley and Canada, the 
King issued his royal proclamation, iji which, after making some 
restrictions regarding the newly acquired territories of Quebec, and 



228 HISTORY OF greeni-: county. 

East and West Florida, he says: "We do, therefore, with the advice 
of our privy council declare it to be our royal will and pleasure that 
no Governor nor_Commander-in-chief of our^colonies or plantations in 
America do presume, for the present, and until our further pleasure 
be known, to grant warrants of survey or pass patents for any lands, 
beyond the heads or sources of any of the rivers which fall into the 
Atlantic Ocean, from the west or northwest, or upon any land what- 
ever, which, not having been ceded to or purchased by us, as afore- 
said, are reserved unto the said Indians, or any of them." 

But it may be.said that this order would have applied to Penn- 
sylvania as well as Virginia, and Avould then have confined the former 
to the eastern slopes of the AUeghanies as well as the latter. But 
there was this difference, Virginia, being now only a royal colony, 
was subject to the absolute will of the Monarch, while Pennsylvania, 
having been purchased for a price, and confirmed under a Proprietary 
government, was placed beyond his power to -alter or annul. It will 
be oberved that by the cutting off of West Virginia, which occurred 
during the war of the Rebellion, Virginia is substantially confined to 
limits fixed by this royal proclamation. 

As we have already seen, the charter of William Penn made his 
southern boundary the beginning of the 40° of north latitude. As 
this encroached upon the the territory supposed to have been 
granted to Lord Baltimore, a compromise was effected between Penn 
and Baltimore, by which Penn gave up a belt of 43' 26" of a degree 
to Baltimore. But this compromise conld only apply to the Colony 
of Marylaiid, the western boundary of which is a meridian line di'awn 
from the head spring of the Potomac River, which strikes the 
southern line of Pennsylvania in the neighborhood of the Laurel 
Hill Ridge. When, therefore, Mason and Dixon arrived at this 
point in running the dividing line between Maryland and Pennsyl- 
vania, they should have stopped, as no agreement had been entered 
into with Virginia touching the partition line, and there was no 
reason why at this point the line. of Pennsylvania should not have 
dropped down to ihe beginning of the 40° parallel, as confirmed by 
the I'oyal charter, which Pennsylvania subsequently claimed. But 
the surveyors. Mason and Dixon, kept on with this Maryland line 
across the Chestnut Ridge and across the Monongahela River to a 
])oint on Dunkard Creek, where they Avere stopped by the Indians at 
their old war-path. What, therefore, was done beyond the Maryland 
western limit, was ex pa?'te, and of no force; though it was open to 
the construction that the Pennsylvania authorities, at that time, were 
willing to make the same liberal concession to Virginia, that it had 
to Maryland, and was damaging, to that extent, to the claim which 
was subsequently set up to the whole fortieth degree of latitude 
from the ending of the thirty-ninth degree. 



HISTORY OF GKEENE COUNTY. 229 

In order to conipreheud the nature and origin of the controversy 
between Pennsylvania and Virginia, it should be observed tliat the 
excellence of the lands along the upper Ohio and its tributaries, and 
indeed of the whole Ohio Valley, excited the cupidity of all who hud 
come to a knowledge of them. As we have seen, the Ohio (lompany 
was formed in Vii'ginia, in which tlie AVashingtons were interested, 
which secured tlie grant of a half million of acres embracing that por- 
tion of Pennsylvania along the Monongahela, the members of this 
Company seeming at the outset to take it for granted that the western 
line of I^ennsylvania woukl correspond with that of Maryland. 

But this grant of a half million acres of the Ohio Company was 
but a drop in the bucket when compared to a project which was to 
follow. It appears that Sir William Johnson, the Indian agent of 
the British government in America, and William Franklin, governor 
of New Jersey, formed the project of founding a great colony on 
the Ohio, and wrote to Doctor Franklin the father of William, then 
in London, to advocate their project at court. The Doctor entered 
heartily into the project, and so persuasive were his arguments, that, 
in opposition to the powerful influence of Lord Hillsborough, on the 
14th of August, 1772, he secured the grant of an immense tract. It 
commenced at the month of the Scioto River, threehnndred miles below 
Pittsburg, extended southwardly to the latitude of North Carolina, 
thence northeastwardly' to the Kanawha, at the junction of New River 
and Green Briar, up the Green Briar to the head of its northeasterly 
branch, thence easterly to the Alleghany Mountains, thence along 
these Mountains to the lines of Maryhind and Pennsylvania, thence 
westerly to the Ohio, and down that stream to the point of beginning. 
Thomas Walpole, Thomas Pownall. Dr. Franklin and Samuel Whar- 
ton had the management of securing the grant, and hence it was 
known as "Walpole's Grant;" but Wharton, in a letter to Sir Will- 
iam Johnson, said, " A society of us, in which some of the first people 
in England are engaged, have concluded a bargain with the treasury 
for a large tract of land lying and fronting on the Ohio large enough 
for a government." 

It will be observed that this grant swallowed bodily the grant of 
the Ohio Company, and it was agreed finally that the latter should 
be merged in the former. This action stimulated interest in this 
vast Ohio country; but the Revolution coming on four years there- 
after, the whole project, after an existence of a little more than fi)ur 
years, came suddenly to an end. / 

It seems that Thomas Lee, who was the iirst president of the 
Ohio Company, was a very just minded man, and suspecting that a 
portion of the lands embraced in the limits of his Company might 
turn out to be within the boundaries of Pennsylvania, by chartered 
rights, wrote to Governor Hamilton on this question. The Governor 



230 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

replied under date of Jan. 2, 1749: "I am induced to desire your 
opinion, whether it may not be of use that the western bounds of this 
province be run by commissioners to be appointed by both govern- 
ments, in order to assure ourselves that none of the lands contained 
in that grant (Oliio Company) are within the limits of this province." 
When Governor Hamilton learned that it was the intention of 
the Ohio Company to erect a fort at the Forks of the Ohio, 
for protection against the Indians, he again wrote, but now to 
Governor Dinwiddle, declaring that he had received instructions 
from the Proprietaries to join in such a work, "only taking your 
acknowledgment that this settlement, shall not prejudice their right 
to that country." 

Without alluding to the matter of boundary, Dinwiddle wrote 
that he had already dispatched a person of distinction (young Wash- 
ington) to the commander of the French, to know upon what 
grounds he was invading the lands of the English, and that he had 
sent working parties to erect a fort at the Forks of the Ohio. Though 
Governor Hamilton had promised conditional aid in defending the 
country, yet little was ever furnished, partly on account of a wrangle 
over taxing the Proprietary estates, which prevented the voting 
much money for any purpose, and partly by reason of the peace 
principles of a majority of the assembly. The question had also been 
raised in the course of their assembly discussions, from a very short- 
sighted motive, whether this Ohio country, which they were asked to 
defend, was really after all within the limits of Pennsylvania. 

When at Logstown, as agent of Virginia, securing a treaty with 
the Indians, Colonel Joshua Fry, who was accounted a good mathe- 
matician and geographer, had taken an observation by which it was 
found that that place, which is nine miles below Pittsburg, was in 
latitude 40° 29', which showed that this was far to the north of 
the southern line of Pennsylvania. From calculations made, it was 
evident to the mind of Governor Hamilton that the Forks of 
Ohio, as well as the French fort at Venango, were far within the 
l)0undaries of Pennsylvania, and this conclusion he communicated to 
the Pennsjdvania assembly and also to Governor Dinwiddle. The 
latter subsequently responded: '.' I am much misled by our survey- 
ors if the forks of the Mohongialo be within the limits of your pro- 
prietory's grant. I have for some time wrote home to have 
tlie line run, to have the boundaries properly known, that I may be 
able to keep magistrates if in this government, * * * and I pre- 
sume soon there will be commissioners appointed for that service. 
* * * But surely I am from all hands assured that Logstown is 
far to the west of Mr. Penn's grant." 

It would seem from this letter that the Governor of Virginia was 
contemplating the establishment of local government in this portion 



HISTOnV Ol' GHEENE OOUNTY. 231 

of Pennsylvania. It would appear, also, that after the organization 
of Bedford County, which was made to extend over all this south- 
western corner of the State, and immediately after tlie purchase of 
these crrounds from the Indians by the treaty of Fort Stanwix, in 
1768, the settlers were called upon to pay taxes for the support of 
the Bedford County Court. Bedford being a hundred miles away, 
they did not relish the paying of taxes for the support of a court 
which afforded them so little convenience. Besides, being natives 
largely of Virginia, and having originally been led to suppose that 
this was a part of Virginia, they petitioned that colony for the or- 
ganization of county governments. 

Early in this controversy over jurisdiction. Colonel George Wil- 
son, a justice of the peace of Bedford County, the grandfather of 
Lawrence L. Minor, of Waynesburg, wrote a letter to Arthur St. 
Clair, of Bedford, in which he says: " I am .sorry that the first letter 
1 ever undertook to write you siiould contain a detail of grievance 
disagreeable to me. * " * I no sooner returned home from 
court, than I found papers containing resolves, as they call them, of 
the inhabitants to the westward of the Laurel Hills, were handing 
fast about amongst the people, in which amongst the rest was one 
that they were resolved to oppose every of Penn's laws, as they 
called them, except felonious actions, at the risque of life, and under 
the penalty of tifty pounds, to be recovered off the estates of the 
failure. The tirst of them 1 found hardy enough to offer it in pui)- 
lic, I immediately ordered into custody, on wliich a large number 
were assembled as was supposed to rescue the prisoner. I endeav- 
ored by all the reason 1 was capable of, to convince them of the ill 
consequences that would attend such a rebellion, and happily gained 
on the people to consent to relinquish their resolves and to burn the 
paper they sio-ned. When their foreman saw that the arms of his 
country, that as he said he had thrown himself into, would not rescue 
him by force, he catched up his gun which was well loaded, jumped 
out of doors, and swore if any man came nigh him he would put 
what was .in his gun through him. The person that had him in 
custody called for assistance in ye King's name, and in particular 
commanded myself. 1 told him I was a subject, and was not lit to 
command, if not willing to obey, on which I watched his eye 
until I saw a chance, sprang in on him, seized the rilie by the muzzle 
and held him, so as he could not shoot me, until more heljj got into 
my assistance, on which I disarmed him, and broke his rifle to 
pieces. 1 received a sore bruise on one of my arms by a punch of 
the gun in the struggle. Then I put him under strong guard and 
told them the laws of their country were stronger than the hardest 
rifle amoncr them." After convincing the discontented party of their 
error, and inducing them to burn the resolves they had signed, 



232 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

the prisoner was discharged on liis good behavior. Wilson closes his 
letter in these words: "1 understand great threats are made against 
me in particular, if possible to intimidate me with fear, and also 
acrainst the sheriffs and constables and all ministers of justice. But 
I hope the laws, the bulwarks of our nation, will be supported in 
spite of those low lived trifling rascals." 

From this letter we can gather the spirit which actuated the par- 
ties to the controversy, and see the beginning of a bitter contention 
which vexed the people of this section for many years. The idea 
that Pennsylvania did not extend west of the Alleghany Mount- 
ains was studiously circulated. Michael Cressap, and George 
Crou'han, who were interested in land speculations here, were sus- 
pected of being privy to these rumors. A petition signed by over 
two hundred citizens was presented to the court at Bedford, under 
date of the 18th of July, 1772, " charging the government and oflti- 
cers with great injustice and oppression, and praying that directions 
might be given to the sheriifs to -serve no more processes in that 
country, as they apprehended it was not in Pennsylvania." Mr. 
Wilson answered the allegations of the petition before the court, 
and showed by documentary evidence that the grounds on which the 
petition rested wei-e imstable, which had a very quieting effect upon 
the settlers, and induced the court to reject the petition. 

Fort Pitt, which had been garrisoned by a detachment of British 
soldiers, from the time of its erection in 1759, by General Stanwix, 
was, by order of General Gage, of date of October, 1772, evacuated^ 
and " all the pickets, bricks, stones, timber and iron which are now 
in the building or walls of the said fort" were sold for the sum of 
fifty pounds. At about this time, upon the death of Lord Bottetourt, 
Governor of Virginia, a new Governor was appointed in the person 
of the Earl of Uunmore, a man of a meddlesome disposition, and 
disposed to exercise the functions of his oflice with a high hand. In 
1773, the year following the erection of Westmoreland County, 
Dunmore made a visit to Fort Pitt, where he met Dr. John Con- 
nolly, a nephew of Colonel Croghan. It appears that the new Gov- 
ernor was determined to act upon the assumption, whatever may 
have been his motive therefor, that all west of the Alleghanies and 
the whole boundless northwest belonged to Virginia. In Connolly 
he found a willing tool for asserting tliis claim; for, soon after the 
departure of the Governor, Connolly published the following pro- 
clamation: "Whereas, his Excellency John, Earl of Dunmore, 
Governor-in-chief, and Captain General of the colony and dominion 
of Viro-inia, and Vice Admiral of the same, has been pleased to 
nominate and appoint me Captain, Commandant of the Militia of 
Pittsburo' and its dependencies, with instructions to assure his Ma- 
jesty's subjects settled on the Western Waters, that having the 



HISTORY OI' GRKENK COUNTY. 233 

greatest regard to their prosperity and interest, and convinced from 
their repeated memorials of the grievances of wliich they complain, 
tliat he proposes moving to the House of Burgesses the necessity of 
erecting a new county to include Pittsburg, for the redress of your 
ct)mplaints, and to take every otlier step that may attend to afford 
you that justice for which you solicit. In order to facilitate this de- 
sirable circumstance I hereby require and command all persons in the 
dependency of Pittsburg to assemble themselves there as a militia on 
the 25th instant, at which time I shall communicate other matters 
for the promotion of public utility. Oiven under my hand the 1st 
day of January, 1774." 

A copy of this high handed proceeding was immediately com- 
municated to the court at Ilannastown, and to (TO\ernor Penn at 
Piiiladelphia. Jjefore receiving instructions from the Governor, 
Artliur St. (Hair, in his capacity as a justice, deeming that he was 
authorized by his commission to put a stop to such a procedure as 
was indicated in this proclamation, issued a warrant for the arrest of 
Connolly, who was apprehended and placed in confinement, (tov- 
ernor Penn wrote immediately to Lord Dunmore informing liim of 
his advices, quoted the langmige of the charter, which gave five full 
degrees of longitude for the east and west extent of the State, which 
would carry the western limit far beyond Pittsburg, and e.vpressed 
the belief that the Governor could not have authorized the procla- 
mation of Connolly. 

In the meantime Dr. Connolly had been released from jail on 
promise of returning in time for his trial. Hut instead of awaiting 
the result of the case he proceeded with the organization of the 
militia and took possession of Fort Pitt. On hearing of this. Sheriff 
Proctor, witli Justices Smith. McFarland and Mackay, proceeded to 
l''ort Pitt, and finding that (Jonnolly still professed the intention of 
delivering himself up for trial at the appointed time of convening 
court, though he had dispatches from Dunmore approving his eon- 
duct and urging him to go forward in asserting Vii-ginia authority, 
the Sheriff took no further action in regard to Connolly, but served 
a writ upon "William Christy, one of Connolly's lieutenants. Where- 
upon Connolly arrested Sheriff Proctor upon a King's warrant, and 
held him in custody. Seeing the commotion incident to these pro- 
ceedings, and the militia drilling with arms in their hands, the 
Indians became very much alarmed. 

In his reph' to Penn, the Governor of Virginia, Lord Dunmore 
freely assumed responsibility for Connolly's acts declaring them per- 
formed by his authority by the advice of his Majesty's council. He 
also referred to that unfortunate declaration made in the Pennsyl- 
vania assembly, when a call was made for troops to serve against t)ie 
French and Indians at Fort Pitt, that Pittsburg was not embraced 



234 HISTORY OF GKEENE COUNTY. 

in the limits of Pennsylvahia. Peun answered this cominunication 
at great length, setting forth all the facts and arguments relied upon 
by the authorities of Pennsylvania to hold this territory, and ex- 
r)ressing at the outset with considerable warmth his surprise that 
JDunmore should authorize these high-handed proceedings, while a 
county government under Pennsylvania authority had already been 
established there, and was in full operation, and before the lines be- 
tween the two colonies had been deiinitely settled by competent 
authority. Governor Dinwiddle, the predecessor of Dunmore, had 
informed Penn, " I have for some time wrote home to have the line 
run," and suggested that if the territory in question actuallj^ was a 
part of Pennsylvania then the quit-rents should be paid to the Pro- 
prietaries of that province instead of to the King. Penn informed 
Dunmore that the declaration of the Assembly, to which he refers, 
was made at a time when no definite limits of the State had been 
hxed by actual surveys; besides, even if the declaration had been 
made by the Assembly in the most positive and formal manner it 
could not atfect the validity of the claims of the Proprietaries secured 
to thenr by Royal Charter, in which the payment of a stipulated 
price was acknowledged. 

That he might not be chargeable with dereliction of duty in assert- 
ing his claims, Penn served a formal notice upon Lord Dunmore in 
these words: "I must take this opportunity of notifying to your 
Lordship, that the Proprietaries do claim, by their said petition, as 
part of their province of Pennsylvania all the lands lying west of a 
south line to be drawn from Dixon's and Mason's line as it is com- 
monly called at the westermost part of the province of Maryland to 
the beginning of the fortieth degree of north latitude to the extent of 
five degrees of longitude from the river Delaware; and I must re- 
quest your Lordship will neither grant lands nor exercise the govern- 
ment of Virginia within those limits till his majesties pleasure may 
be known." 

It will be seen by the wording of this proclamation that Penn 
claimed the full three degrees of latitude granted by his charter, be- 
ginning at the end of the 39th degree beyond the western boundary 
of Marj'land, not allowing tlie compromise with that State to effect 
the line opposite Virginia. 

It will be observed that Connolly had given his word that he 
would return and give himself up for trial at the time of the setting 
of the court, provided he was allowed his liberty in the meantime. 
He did return; but with an armed band of militia of some 180 
which he had recruited and had under discipline. The court having 
notice of his coming with a military force deemed it prudent to 
adjourn, as their business was nearly concluded. On his arrival he 
took possession of the court room, and stationed his sentinals, and 




-'W'"- ^^ 




HISTOKY OF GREENE COUNTY. 237 

then sent word to the court thut he wished to wait on them. They 
received him in a private room, when he read to them the letter uT 
Lord Dun more to Penn, in which he assumes responsibility for Con- 
nolly's action, and the following explanation of his procedures: " I 
am come here to be the occasion of no disturbances, but to prevent 
them. As I am countenanced by government, wiiatever you may 
say or conceive, some of the justices of this bench are the cause ot 
this appearance and not me. 1 have done this to prevent myself 
from being illegally taken to Philadelphia. My orders from the 
government of N^irginia not being explicit; but claiming the country 
about Pittsburg, I have raised the militia to support the civil 
authority of that colony vested in me. I have come here to free 
m^'self from a promise made to Captain Proctor; but have not con- 
ceived myself amenable to this court, by an^' authority of Pennsyl- 
vania, upon which 1 cannot apprehend that you have any right to 
remain here as justices of the peace, constituting a court of that 
province; bnt in order to prevent confusion I agree that you may 
continue to act in that capacity, in all such matters as may be sub- 
mitted to your determination by the ac([uiescence of the people, 
until I may have instructions to the contrarv from Virginia, or until 
his Majesty's pleasure be further known on this subject." 

It will be perceived that Connolly only reflects the sentiments of 
Dunmore, who was at the root of all the trouble. The Westmoreland 
court made a very temperate answer to Connolly. "The jurisdiction 
of the court and officers of the county of Westmoreland rests on the 
legislative authoritj' of the province of Pennsylvania, confirmed by 
his Majesty in council. That jurisdiction has been regularly exer- 
cised, and the court and officers will continue to exercise it in the 
same regular manner. It is far fi'om their intention to occasion or 
foment disturbances, and tliey apprehend that no such intention can 
with propriet}' be inferred from any part of their conduct; on the 
contrary they wish and will do all they can to preserve the public 
tranquility. In order to contribute to this salutary purpose they 
give information that every step will be taken on the part of the 
province of Pennsylvania to accommodate any dift'erences that may 
have arisen between it, and the colony of Virginia, by fixing a tem- 
porary line between them." 

Connolly now marched away with his militia, liaving given him- 
self not as he had agreed to do, for trial, but in defiance of the court, 
at the head of a military band. It was, therefore, as clearly a break- 
ing of his word as though he had not come near the court. Having 
completed their business thecourt adjourned, and three of the justices, 
Mackay, Smith and McFarlane, departed for their homes at Pittsburg. 
Scarcely were tliey returned, when these three were served with 
King's wan-ants issued by Connolly, for the crime of making the 



238 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

answer they did quoted above, and upon tlieir refusal to give bail 
for their appearance at the Staunton court to answer to the charge, 
they were sent in custody to the Staunton jail. On the way they 
were denied the privilege of writing to the authorities at Phila- 
delphia, by the hand of a person just then going there; but before 
reaching Staunton, Mackay was allowed to go to Williamsburg to 
lay their case before the Governor. This functionary listened patient- 
ly, but made answer that their ai-rest was only a dose of their own, 
adininistered in the arrest of Connolly. Nevertheless he consented 
to release them, and allow them to return home. In a dispatch to 
Governor Penn, after describing the interview with Dunmore, 
Mackay says, "We are to set off from this place immediately; but 
how to act after our return, is a matter we are at this time unable 
to determine." In a further dispatch of the 14th of June, 1774, he 
says, " The deplorable state of aifairs in this part ot your government 
at this time is truly distressing; we are robbed, insulted and dra- 
gooned by Connolly and his militia in this place and in its environs, 
all ranks share of his oppression and tyranny, but the weight of his 
resentment falls heaviest on me, because he imagines I oppose his 
unwarrantable measures most. On the 27th of last May he ordered 
a party of his militia to put down and destroy a sheep-house and a 
stable of mine, in a violent and outrageous manner, and told me at 
the time he would take the house I lived in if he wanted it, and 
countenanced a perjured villain, a constable of ours that deserted to 
him before he was three months sworn in, to shake a stick at my 
nose before his face without reproof." 

From this extract some conception can be formed of the state 
of this portion of the colony under the divided authority. Upon 
receiving intelligence of the forcible seizure of his commissioned 
magistrates. Governor Penn lost no time in sending commissioners 
to Dunmore to secure some temporary settlement, until the bound- 
aries could be lixed by lioyal authority. James Tilghman and 
Andrew Allen, members of the Council, were selected to conduct this 
embassage. They were cordially received by Lord Dunmore, who 
agreed to unite in a petition to the King for the appointment of a 
commission to establish the boundaries, but would not agree that 
Virginia should bear half of the expense. The commissioners then 
proposed that a temporary line be fixed at five degrees of longitude 
from the Delaware, and that the western line of Pennsylvania should 
follow the meanderings of that stream. Dunmore would not agree 
to this, but contended that the charter of Penn authorized five degrees 
to be computed from a point on the 42° parallel where the Delaware 
cuts it, he believing that the Delaware run from northeast to south- 
M'est which would, as he believed, carry the western boundary as far 
east as the Alleghau}' Mountains. The commissioners promptly 



HISTORY OF GREENE t'OUNTV. 239 

reiected this iiiterpretion; but iu the interest of peace they would be 
willing to allow a teuiporaiy boundary to follow the Monongahela 
River from Mason and Dixon's line down to its mouth. This would 
have left all west of that stream to Virginia. Dunmore now became 
arbitrary in his manner, charging the commissioners with being 
unwilling to make any concessions, and ended by declaring his un- 
alterable purpose to hold jurisdiction over Pittsburg and surrounding 
territory until his Majesty should otherwise order. 

Until competent authority should establish the boundaries of the 
two provinces there was nowno hope of temporary agreement, as Lord 
Dunmore was arbitrary and dictatorial. Governor Penn saw bnt too 
clearly that civil strife in the disputed district would unavoidably 
lead to a trial of force for the mastery. Uunniore was destined in a 
short time to quarrel with the Legislature of Virginia, and for safety 
betook himself to a British man-of-war. Desiring to avoid a contlict 
over a dispute which Charter stipulations would eventually settle, 
Crovernor Penn decided to bide his time, and accordingly wrote to 
William Crawford, the presiding justice of Westmoreland County, 
as follows: "The present alarming situation of onr affairs in West- 
moreland County, occasioned by the very unaccountable conduct of 
the Government of Virginia, requires the utmost attention of this 
government, and therefore I intend, with all possible expedition, to 
send commissioners to expostulate with my Lord Dunmore upon the 
behavior of those he has thought proper to invest with such power as 
hath greatly disturbed the peace of that County. As the goverii- 
n)ent of Virginia hath the power of raising militia, and there is nut 
any such in this Province, it will be in vain to contend with them, 
in the way of force. The magistrates, therefore, at the same time 
that they continue with steadiness to exercise the jurisdiction of 
Pennsylvania with respect to the distributions of justice and the 
punishment of vice, must be cautious of entering into any such con- 
tests with the ofKcers of my Lord Dunmore as may tend to widen 
the present unhappy breach; and, therefore, as things are at present 
circumstanced, I would not advise the magistracy of Westmoreland 
County to proceed by way of criminal prosecution against them 
tor exercising the government of Virginia." 

Though it was humiliating for the legally and formally consti- 
tuted authorities of Westmoreland County to have their authority 
defied by a set of ofKcers who received their orders to act from Vir- 
ginia, backed by a lawless military force called out by direction of 
another colony, yet it was for the time being judicious not to pro- 
voke a contest. As we view it now, with State lines all fixed and 
all county governments crystalized, it seems strange that any such 
conflict should have arisen. But it must be remembered that the 
matter of priority of charter, the impossibility of making the actual 



240 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

survey's conform to the language of the I'oyal grants, and the fact 
that no accurate .astronomical observations iiad been taken, left this 
whole subject of western boundary at loose ends. Until something 
detinite was settled, it was better, as Fenn advised, that force be 
not resorted to, as the hot-headed Virginia Governor had done. The 
policy thus recommended, while it left the court at Hanna's Town in 
operation, practically yielded all this Monongahela country to the 
authority of the Virginian. 

The result of Dunmore's diplomacy was of course communicated 
to Connolly, and he was strengthened in asserting his authority. He 
discarded the name " Fort Fitt" and gave the fort the name " Fort Dun- 
more," in honor of his chief. On the 21st of April, 1774, Connolly 
wrote to settlers along the Ohio that the Shawnees were not to be 
trusted, and that the whites ought to be prepared to reveng'e the 
wrong done them. This gave authority to the settlers for the taking, 
tlie right of punishment into their own hands, and lighted anew the 
tires of Indian warfare. It was known as Dunmore's war. A boat 
containing goods was attacked while going down the Ohio by a party 
of Cherokees and one white man was killed. In retalliation two 
friendly Indians of another tribe, in no way responsible for this crime, 
were murdered. This was cause enough for the Indians to take up 
the hatchet, and terrible was the penalty paid. On the evening of 
tie same day Captain Cressap, who had led in the aii'air, hearing that 
a party of Indians were encamped at the mouth of Captina Creek, 
went stealthily and attacked it, killing several of them and having 
o;ie of his own party wounded. A few days later, Daniel Great- 
house, with a band of thirty-two followers, attacked the natives at 
Biker's, and by stratagem, in the most dishonorable manner, killed 
twelve and wounded othei's. The murdered Indians were all scalped. 
Of the number of the slain was the entire family of the noted Indian 
chief, Logan. 

The savage instinct of revenge was now aroused. Logan had 
b.'en the tirm friend of the white man, and had done him many ser- 
vices; but, left alone, all his family slain, he thirsted for blood. His 
vengeance was wreaked upon the inhabitants west of the Mononga- 
hela, along Ten Mile Creek, and he rested not until he had taken 
thirteen scalps, the number of his own family who had been slain, 
when he declared himself satisfied and I'eady for peace. The tidings 
of the liostile acts of Cressap and Greathonse, and the stealthy and 
inidnight deeds of savagery by the red men spread terror and con- 
s ernation on all sides, and the inhabitants west of the Monongahela 
lied, driving before them their flocks and herds, and bearing away 
their most easily transportable valuables. " There were more than 
one thousand people," writes Crawford to "Washington, "crossed the 
Monongahela in one day at three ferries that are not one mile apart." 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. '241 

''Upon a fresh i-eport of Indians I innnediately took horse" writes 
St. Chiir to Governor Penn, "and rode np to inquire, and found it, 
if not totally groundless, at least very improbable; but it was im- 
possible to persuade the people so, and I am certain 1 did not meet 
less than one hundred families, and I think two thousand head of 
cattle, in twenty miles riding." 

The Virginia authorities immediately called out the militia. A 
force under Col. McDonald assembled at Wheeling and marched 
against Wapatomica, on the Muskingum. But the Indians being 
unprepared for war, feigned submission, and gave live of their chiets 
as hostages. But the troops destroyed their towns and crops and re- 
treated. Sir William Johnson counselled the Indians to keep jjeace. 
In the meantime Andrew Lewis had organized a force of eleven hun- 
dred men in the neigiiborliood of the since famed AVhite Sulphur 
Springs, and was marching for tlie itiouth of the Great Kanawha, 
■ wiiere he was to meet the force gathered in the northern part of the 
State under Dunmore in person. Before, tlie arrival of the latter 
the Indians, Delawares, Iroquois, Wyandots, Shawnees, under Corn- 
stalk, Logan and all their nu)st noted chiefs, gathered in upon Lewis, 
and attacked him with great fury, the battle raging the entire day, 
l)ut in the end the Indians were driven across the Ohio, though with 
a loss of Colonels Lewis (brother of the commandant) and Field 
killed, Colonel Fleming wounded, and seventy-five men killed and 
one hundred and forty wounded, a fifth of the entire force. The loss 
of the Indians could not be ascertained, though thirty-three dead 
were left behind them. Lewis was determined to follow up his ad- 
vantage, which had been gained at so grievous a loss; but Dun- 
more, who was now approaching with his division of the army, hav- 
ing been visited by the chiefs, who offered peace, and himself having 
little stomach for fighting, accepted their terms, and ordered Lewis 
to desist in his pursuit. Lewis refused to obey and pushed on detei-- 
mined to avenge the slaughter of his men, and it was not until Dun- 
more came up with liini that he could be prevailed upon to give up 
an attack which lie had planned upon the Indian town of Old Chilli- 
cothe. 

The army now retired, though a detachment of one hundi-ed men 
was left at the mouth of the Great Kanawha, and small detachments 
at Wheeling and at Pittsburg. Thus ended as causeless a war, known 
as Dunmore's war, as was ever undertaken, all induced by the med- 
dling policy of Dunmore in a matter which the Crown alone had the 
authority at that time to decide, and the over ofliciousness of Con- 
nolly, who "dressed in a little brief authority " exercised it in an 
arbitrary and anger provoking way. It was provoked by the Virgin- 
ians, and was prosecuted wiiolly by Virginians, known liy tlie In- 
dians as " Long- Knives." 



242 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

Having thus cut a large figure in a military way, at the expense 
of Virginia, Dunmore issued his proclamation: 

" Whereas, The Province of Pennsylvania have unduly laid claim 
to a very valuable and extensive quantity of his Majesty's terri- 
tory, and the executive part of that government in consequence 
thereof, has most arbitrarily and unwarrantably proceeded to abuse 
the laudable advancements in this part-of his Majesty's dominions by 
many oppressive and illegal methods in the discharge of this imagin- 
ary authority; and whei-eas the ancient claim laid to this country by 
the colony of Virginia, founded in reason upon preoccupancy and 
the general acqniessence of all persons, together with the instruc- 
tions I have lately received from his Majesty's servants, ordering me 
to take this country under my administration, and as the evident in- 
justice manifestly offered to hisMajestyby the immediate strides taken 
by the Proprietaries of Pennsylvania in prosecution of their wild 
claim to this country demand an immediate remedy, I do hereby in 
his Majesty's name require and command all his Majesty's subjects 
west of the Laurel Hill to pay a due respect to this my proclama- 
tion, strictly prohibiting the execution of any act of authority on 
behalf of the Province of Pennsylvania, at their peril in this coun- 
try; but, on the' contrary, that a due regard and entire obedience to 
the laws of his Majesty's colony of Virginia under my administration 
be observed, to the end that regularity may ensue, and a due regard 
to the interest of his Majesty in this quarter, as well as to the sub- 
jects in general, may be the consequence." 

Quite ready to join in this War of the Proclamations, and not 
unprepared to wield the ponderous words of authority, Governor 
John Penn caught wp the cudgel and hurled back his claims in the 
following brave pronunciamento: 

" Whereas, I have received information that his Excellency, the 
Earl of Dunmore, in and over liis Majesty's colony of Virginia hath 
lately issued a very extraordinary Proclamation setting forth," here 
is quoted Dunmore's, given above, "And whereas, although the west- 
ern limits of the Province of Pennsylvania have not been settled 
by any authority from the Crown, yet it has been sufficiently demon- 
strated bylines accurately run by the most skillful artists that not only 
a great tract of country west of the Laurel Hill, but Fort Pitt also 
are comprehended within the charter bounds of this Province, a 
great part of which country has been actually settled, and is now 
held, under grants from the Proprietaries of Pennsylvania, and the 
jurisdiction of this government has been peaceably exercised in that 
quarter of the country, till the late strange claim set up by the 
Earl of Dumore, in behalf of his Majesty's colony of Virginia, 
foimded as his Lordship is above pleased to say, ' in i-eason, pi'eoc- 
cupancy, and the general acquiessence of all persons;' which claim 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUXTY. 243 

to lands witliin the said charter limits inust appear still the more ex- 
traordinary, as his most gfracious Majesty, in an act past the very 
last session of Parliament, 'for making more elt'ectnal provision tor 
tlie government of the Province of Quebec,' has been pleased in the 
fullest manner to recognize the Charter of the Province of Pennsyl- 
vania by expressly referring to the same, and binding the said Pro- 
vince of Quebec by the northern and western bounds thereof: "W^liere- 
fore there is the greatest reason to conclude, that any instrnctions 
the Governor of Virginia may have received, from his Majesty's ser- 
vants, to take that country under his administration, must be founded 
on some misrepresentation to them respecting the western extent of 
this province. In justice therefore to the Proprietaries of the Pro- 
vince of Pennsjdvania, who are only desirous to secure their own 
undoubted property from the encroachment of others, I have thought 
tit. with the advice of the Council, to issue this my proclama- 
tion, hereby requiring all persons west of the Laurel Hill, to retain 
their settlements as aforesaid made under this province, and to pay 
due obedience to the laws of this government; and all magistrates 
and other officers who hold commissions or offices under this 
government to proceed as usual in the administration of justice 
without paying the least regard to the said recited proclamation, 
until his Majesty's pleasure siiall be known in the premises; at the 
same time strictly charging and enjoining the said inhabitants and 
magistrates to use their utmost endeavors to preserve peace and good 
order." 

It will be noticed that in the matter of thundering with his 
Whereases and Wherefores Penn is quite equal to Dunmore, and in 
that part where some doubt is thrown upon the statement of the 
latter that he is acting under instructions of the Crown, Penn has 
decidedly the advantage. It had been the intention of Dunmore to 
open a court at Pittsburg with Virginia magistrates, and by Vir- 
ginia authority. But the counter proclamation of Penn had some- 
what cooled his taste for controversy, as he might be compelled to 
defend his usurpations by force. But when he discovered that the 
Pennsylvania authorities were disposed to liave their differences sub- 
mitted to peaceful abitrament he conclnded that he might venture u 
little farther on his scheme of holding possession of this fine country. 
He, accordingly, had the court for Augusta County, which had 
formerly been held at Staunton, adjourn to open its next term on 
the 21st of February, at Pittsburg, Augusta County being made to 
embrace all the western part of Virginia and Pennsylvania. On the 
day appointed the following named persons appeared, took the oath 
of ottice and sat as justices of the Virginia court: George Croghan. 
John Connolly, Thomas Smallman, John Cambell, Dorsey Pentecost. 
William Goe, John Gibson and George Vallandingham. Tliere 



244 HISTOKY OF GREENK COUNTY. 

were now two organized courts, assessors, tax gatherers, slierili's and 
all the machinery for conducting a county government over the 
same territory, Virginia calling it Augusta, and Pennsylvania 
"Westmoreland. Of course what is now Greene Connty was em- 
braced under this double-headed authority, and its inhabitants in- 
volved in the confusion of yielding obedience to two county govern- 
ments, and paying taxes to two sets of officials for the same purpose. 

Having succeeded in setting up their court the new officials be- 
thought them that they must break up any vestiges of a rival court 
and accordingly issued warrants for the arrest of Eobert lianna and 
James Caveat, which were served by the Augusta sheriii', and the 
two offenders wej-e brought in and incarcerated in the Fort Dunmore 
jail, where they languished for three months, in vain seeking for re- 
lease. Finally the sheriff of Westmoreland County, assisted by a 
strong posse, proceeded to Fort Dunmore and released the prisonei'S, 
and arrested John Connolly at the suit of Robert Hanna who claimed 
damages for unlawful imprisonment. Incensed by this treatment of 
their leader his adherents from Chartiers came in force and seized 
three of the Jjarty who had been engaged in the arrest of Connolly: 
George Wilson, Joseph Spear and Devereaux Smith. 

It was probably sometime in June or July before Hanna and 
Caveat were set at liberty, as the records show they were constantly 
entering complaints of their hardships, and petitioning for relief. In 
the meantime an event had transpired which overshadowed all the 
petty strife of contending factions, and united all hearts in a com- 
mon cause. On the 19th of April, of this year, 1775, the battles of 
Lexington and Concord had been fought which aroused all hearts 
with singular unanimity to resistance to' the British Crown all over 
the habitable portion of this broad land, even to the cabins of the 
frontiersmen, far remote from towns or cities. The news of these 
bloody frays had no sooner reached Hannastown and Pittsburg than 
public meetings were held at both those places, at which Virginians 
and Pennsylvanians united in their approval of resistance and pledg- 
ing support. These resolves are important and curious, as showing 
the unanimity with which they, laying aside domestic troubles, 
united in a common cause. These meetings were held on the same 
day, the 16th of May, 1775. The resolves of that at Hannastown 
representing WestuKn-eland County, Pennsylvania, were conceived in 
these temperate woi'ds: ^'■Resolved, unanimounly, that the Parlia- 
ment of Great Britain, by several late acts, have declared the inhab- 
itants of Massachusetts Bay to be in rebellion, and the ministry, by 
endeavoring to enforce those acts, have attempted to reduce the said 
inhabitants to a more wretched state of slavery than ever before ex- 
isted in any State or country, not content with violating the consti- 
tutional and charactered rights of humanity, exposing their lives to 




(^ g4o^ y^l^^^m^ 



HISTORY OK OUKK.VK COUNTY. 2l7 

the licentious soldiery, and depriving them of the very means of 
substance. Jiesolved, unanuno^idij, that there is no reason to doubt 
but the same system of tyrrany and oppression will (should it meet 
with success in Massachusetts Bay) be extended to other parts of 
America; it is therefore become the indispensable duty of every 
American, of every man who has any public virtue or love for his 
country, or an}' bowels lor posterity, by every means which God has 
put in his power, to resist and oppose the execution of it; that for 
us we will be ready to oppose it with our lives and fortunes. And 
the better to enable us to accomplish it we will immediately form 
ourselves into a military body, to consist of companies to be made up 
of the several townships under the foUowinji; association which is 
declared to be the association of Westmoreland County. 

At Pittsburg, now called Fort Diinmore, not only the adherents of 
the Virginia, but the men acknowledging no government but that of 
Peimsylvania, joined in e\])ressing the sentiment of lirm resistance. 
A committee of some thirty inembers was appointed in which not 
only the names of Connolly and Vallandingham, but also those of 
Devereaux Smith and George Wilson appear, and they unanimously 
declare "that they have the highest sense of the spirited behavior of 
their brethren in New England, and do most cordially approve of 
their opposing the invaders of American rights and privileges to the 
utmost extreme." And they proceed to pledge themselves to assist 
by personal service, to contrii)ute of their means, and use their best 
endeavors to influence their neighbors to resist this attempt at sub- 
jugation. As an earnest of their determination they jjroposed to 
contribute half a pound of powder and a pound of lead, flints and 
cartridge paper, which they estimate will cost two shillings and six- 
pence, and accordingly advise the collection of this amount from 
each tithable person. It is indeed surprising that a little skirmish, 
away in a distant part of New England, should arouse a sentiment 
so strong and unwavering, and prompt them, laying aside colonial 
<juarrels, to unite as one man in aid of the struggle soon to open, 
even though they had scarcely a cabin to shelter their defenseless 
heads, and were exposed on tliis distant frontier to the sudden in- 
cursions of the savages. 

Though at the outset, and under the influence of a sudden impulse 
of patriotism, the people seemed to unite to oppose a common enemy, 
yet the civil government must go on, patents for lands must bi' 
issued, deeds for transfer of property must be put on record, and all 
the details of civil government must be performed. Virginia having 
established a court at Pittsburg, and having discovered that Penn- 
sylvania would not use force to prevent the exercise of power, con- 
tinned to authorize the performance of civil functions, and hencr- 
forward, as we shall soon see, monopolized authority west of the 



248 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

Laurel Hills, and although the court of Westmoreland County had 
an existence, little business was transacted. 

In the meantime, in order to quiet any further local contention, 
in presence of the greater peril tliat now confronted the United Col- 
onies, the following named gentlemen, members of the Continental 
Congress from Pennslyvania and Virginia, viz.: John Dickson, 
George Ross, B. Franklin, James Wilson, Charles Humphreys, P. 
Henry, Richard Henry Lee, Benjamin Harrison and Tiionias Jeffer- 
son, united in the following pacitic advice addressed " To the inhabi- 
tants of Pennsylvania and Virginia on the west side of the Laurel 
Hill. Friends and Countrymen: It gives us much concern to find 
that disturbances have arisen and still continue among you concern- 
ing the boundaries of our colonies. In the character in which we now 
address you, it is unnecessary that we inquire intotlie origin of these 
unhappy disputes, and it would be improper for us to express onr 
approbation or censure on either side; but as representatives of two 
of the Colonies united among many others for the defence of tlie 
liberties of America, we think it our duty to remove, as far as lies in 
oiir power, every obstacle that may prevent her sons from co-operat- 
ing as vigorously as they would wish to do towards the attainment of 
this great and important end. Influenced solely by this motive, our joint 
and earnest request to you is that all animosities which have hereto- 
fore subsisted among you as inhabitants of distinct Colonies niay 
now give place to generous and concurring efforts for the prevention 
of everything that can make our common country dear to us. We 
are fully persuaded that you, as well as we, wish to see your differ- 
ences terminate in this happy issue. For this desirable use we re- 
commend it to you, that all bodies of armed men kept up under 
either province be dismissed, that all those on either side who are in 
confinement or under bail for taking part in the contests, be discharged, 
and that until the dispute be decided every person be permitted to 
retain his possessions unmolested. By observing tliese directions the 
public tranquility will be secured without injury to the titles on 
either side; the period, we flatter ourselves, will soon arrive when 
this unfortunate dispute, which has prodixced much mischief, and as 
far as we can learn, no good, will be peacably and constitutionally 
determined." 

This document has been quoted here in its entirety, not only be- 
cause of the ability and cominanding influence of its autliors — such 
as Franklin and Dickinson, and Henry and Jefferson, the very 
" master spirits of this age," but on the account of its timely wisdom, 
and authoritative suggestions. If the title to their lands were to be 
valid and secure, as here intimated, from whichever colony secured, 
a great motive for keeping up the controversy would be j'emoved. 
Tliis assurance, coming from such eminent men, members of the 



uisToKY OF oi;i;k.\k cou.ntv. 2+9 

Congress that was likely to be supi-eine over all tlie cokniies, had 
almost the deciding influence over the minds of the settlers, tliat a 
legal enactment would have had and mnst be regarded as a turning 
point in this heated controversy that was liable at any moment to 
have broken out into acts of sanguinary conflict. It should therefore 
be considered as a vital morsel in the history of these southwestern 
counties. 

Dnnmore bad betaken himself on board the British man-of-war. 
Fowey, lying in Chesapeake Bay, and had taken with him the pow^dor 
from the Virginia arsenal. This, Patrick Henry, at the head of the 
militia, just before setting out to take his seat in Congress, had com- 
])elled Dnnmore to settle for, by the payment of £330 by the hand of 
Corbin, his Majesty's receiver general. 

As the war cloud of the Revolution thickened, and the Virginians 
had Ijroken with their governor, Connolly, probably listening to the 
suggestions of Dnnmore, fancied he saw an opportnnity of cutting 
a larger flgure than contending for the right to act as a justice of the 
peace where his authority was in question, and might be successfully 
controverted. He, accordingly, abandoned his throne at Pittsburg, 
and having received from Dnnmore instructions to repair to General 
Gage, at Boston, commander-in-chief of his Majesty's forces in 
America, he was to make application for authority to raise "an 
army to the westward," in the name of the King, to flglit against 
the colonies. He fancied that he could induce a large force 
to join him from the neighborhood of Pittsburg, and southward, 
to espouse the royal cause, and by making his headquarters 
at Detroit or Canada, he could raise an army of disaflected 
whites and Indians with which to make war from the rear upon the 
Colonies, and " obstruct communication between the Southern and 
Northern Governments." Could anything evince the character of a 
black-hearted traitor more conspicuously than this?" He received 
authority, as desired, and was furnished with blank commissions 
which he was to execute and bestow at his own discretion. But, on 
his way to the field of his exploits, when arrived at Hagerstown. 
Maryland, lie was captured, and. skillfully concealed beneath liis saddle, 
a paper was found disclosing all the details of his traitorous scheme. 
He was held as a prisoner of war until 1780-1 together with his as- 
sociates, when he was exchanged, hi 1782 lie was at the head of a 
force of British and Indians in the neighborhood of Cliatan(jua Lake 
on his way to reduce Fort Pitt, and establish himself there. But pro- 
bably finding his force too feeble for such an enterprise, he abamJoned 
it. To the honor of the friends and relatives of Connolly it should 
be stated that while he was concerting measures for the destruction 
of his country, they were equally earnest in patriotic designs. 



250 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 



CHAPTER Xy. 

YiKGi>iiA Militia Sent to Fittsbubo — Wkst Augusta County 

Ohio, Yoiiogania, Mononghalia Counties — Vikginia Sp;nds 
Ammunition to Pittsbuec; — Teoops Organized — Guns Sent 
— GovERNOK Patkiuk Henry of Yikginia Ukges a Stout 
Defence of Fort Pitt — Many Names of Early Settlers 
Among Militia Officers — Defend to the Last Extremity — 
A JS^E^v State to be Called Westsyl^^-ania Petitioned for to 
Continental Congress to be tWe Fourteenth — Strong Lan- 
guage OF the Petition — Bounds of Proposed ]NIew State — 
240 Miles in Length by 70 to 80 in Breadth, Equal in Extent 

to an Empire — " Vandalia " and " Walpole" Proposed Vir- 

cuNiA Opens Land Offices, Fixes Price of Land — Titles to 
the Greater Part of Soutirvestern Pennsylvania Held by 
Patents Granted by Virginia. 

WHEN the Virginia convention, on the retirement of Lord Dnn- 
more, took the supreme authority of the colony in its own 
hands, measures were adopted for retaining the district of Pittsburo- 
beyond the Laurel Hills in its control, as though the matter of juris'^ 
diction Avas already settled in favor of Virginia." Captain John Neville 
was authorized to raise a company of one hundred men and 
march to and take possession of Pittsburg. Another com- 
pany of one hundred and twenty-five men was summoned from the 
Monongahela country. The colony of Virginia was divided into six- 
teen districtsofwhich West Augusta was one, comprising all the terri- 
tory drained by the Monongahela, Youghiogheny and Kiskiminitasand 
the streams falling into the Ohio. A proposition was made by certain 
commissioners sent out by the Continental Congress, Jasper Yeates 
and John Montgomery, for Pennsylvania, and Dr. Thomas Walker 
and Jr)hn Harvey, for Virginia, to Pittsburg to treat with the Indians, 
that in order to settle the disputed authority temporarily, county 
court_s should be held under the authority of Pennsylvania north of 
the Youghiogheny Eiver, and of Virginia south of that stream; but 
no attention was paid to this advice, probably being equally distasteful 
to each party. 

Understandiug by the establishment of West Augusta district 
that the Virginia colonial convention intended a separate county 



IIISTOUY 01'' GllKKNE COUNTY. 251 

court from that lit'ld at Sti-autoii, tor Augusta County, tlie Justices 
proceeded to organize an independent court and fixed the county 
seat at Augusta town just over tiie ridge west from Washington. But 
tliis arrangement was of short duration; for at tlie session of the Vir- 
ginia assembly held in 177(5, Patriclc Henry being Governor, an act 
was passed tor ascertaining the limits of West Augusta, and for 
dividing that district into three counties, Ohio, Yoliogania and 
Mononghalia; Ohio County to embrace all the territory drained by 
the streams falling into the Ohio liiver as far north as Cross Creek, 
embracing the half of the present Greene County; Yohogania, 
the territory drained by the Youghiogheny and Kiskiniinitas liivers 
as far east as tlie Laurel Hills, and as far south as l)unlap's and Cross 
Creeks; and Mononghalia east and south of the other two and em- 
bracing all the land drained by the Monongalia Eiver, extending far 
into West Virginia, and embracing the eastern slope of Greene 
County. It was provided by the same act which authorized the 
limitations of these counties, " that after the said 8th day of November, 
courts shall be constantly held every month by the justices of the 
respective counties upon the days hereinafter specified for each coun- 
ty respectively, that is to say for the county of Ohio on the first 
Monday, for the county of Monongahela on the second Monday, and 
for the county of Yohogania on the fourth Monday of every month, 
in such manner as by tiie laws of this Commonwealth is provided for 
other counties, and as shall be by their commission directed. It 
was provided that all cases pending in the whole of West Augusta 
district before the division into the three counties, should be tried 
in the court of Yohogania County. The places fixed for holding the 
courts in the three counties were the plantation of Andrew Heath 
for Yohogania, the Plantation of Theopholus Phillips, near New 
Geneva, for Mononghalia, and Black's Cabin, now West Liberty, for 
Ohio. 

The llevolutionary war was now fairly inaugurated, and as the 
British were using every endeavor to enlist the Indians in their 
cause against the colonists, issuing commissions freely to disefi'ected 
Americans to lead them, and to fit out expeditions from Canada to 
attack the settlers from the rear, it became evident near the close ot 
1776, that the Indians were standing in hostile attitude. Accord- 
ingly Patrick Henry, then Governor of Virginia, wrote, under date 
of Uecember 13th, to Lieutenant Dorsey Pentecost, advising him of 
the hostile temper of the savages and that he had ordered six tons of 
lead for the West Augusta district, and counselling that he call a 
meeting of the militia officers of the district to determine on safe 
places of deposit. " I am of opinion," he says, " that unless your 
people wisely improve this winter you may probably be destroyed. 
Prepare then to make resistance while you have time." 



252 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

A council of war was accordingly held at Catfish Camp, now 
Washington County, at which the following officers were present: 
" Dorsey Pentecost, company lieutenant: John Cannon, colonel; 
Isaac Cox, lieutenant-colonel; Henry Taylor, major; David Sheperd, 
company lieutenant; Silas Hedge, colonel; David McClnre, lieuten- 
ant-colonel; Samuel McCullough, major; Zacheriah Morgan, com- 
pany lieutenant; John Evins, major. Captains — John Munn, David 
Andrew, John Wall, Cornelius Thompson, Gabrial Cox, Michael 
Ilawlings, William Scott, Joseph Ogle, William Price, Joseph 
Tumbleson, Benjamin T^Ty, Mathew Richey, Samuel Measou, Jacob 
Lister, Peter lieasoner, James Rogers, David (Swings, Henry Hog- 
land,' John Pearce Davall, James Printon, Vinson Colvin, James 
Buclvhannan, Abner Howell, Charles Ci-ecraft, John Mitchell, John 
Hoo-land, Reason Virgin, William Harrod, David Williamson, 
Joseph Cisnesy, Charles Martin, Owin Daviss." In glancing over 
these names it will be noticed that a considerable number are com- 
mon to Crreene County, and represent the families wlio were its 
earliest settlers. 

According to the i-equest of Governor Henry these officers desig- 
nated the points suitable for magazines, and called for three tons of 
gun-powder, ten thousand flints, and one thousand rifles. On the 
28th of February, 1777, Governor Henry again wrote requesting 
that a detail be made of a hundred men " to escort safely to Pitts- 
buro-, the powder purchased by Captain Gibson. I suppose it is at 
Fort Louis on the Mississippi, under the protection of the Spanish 
Government. I have ordered four 4-pound cannons to be cast for 
strengthening Fort Pitt, as I believe an attack will be made there 
ere long. Let the ammunition be stored there, and lu^ it be defended 
to the last extremity; give it not up but with the lives of yourself 
and people. Let the provisions be stored there, and consider it as 
the bulwark of your country." ' It will be observed that all this 
leo-islation and military preparation is had under authority of the 
Assembly and Governor of Virginia, for the government and pro- 
tection of territory rightfully belonging to Pennsylvania, which was 
at this time, and until 1780, remained a part of Virginia, which the 
authorities of Pennsylvania determined not to quarrel about, until 
such time as its cliarter limits could be fixed and vindicated by com- 
petent autiiority. 

We come now to a passage in this early history which shows a 
phase which might have been realized, that would have changed the 
whole future not only of Greene County, but of this whole valley, — 
which is no less than the project for a new State, the capital of which 
would possibly have been within the limits of Greene County, which 
was to be designated by the euphonious title of Westsylvania. A 
very elaborate ]ietition was di'awn wliich recited the inconveniences 



HISTORY OK GREEN?: COUNTY. 253 

(111 iiccoiiiit cif ilistancc iVom the seats of govcnunent of Vir^fiiiia and 
I'eimsylvtuiia, ot the nuc'ssity ot having to cross lofty and iiitenniii- 
able ranges of mountains, of claims and counter-claims to land, and 
the unsettled boundary between the two States. This petition was 
presented to the Continental Congress, was received and ordered 
tiled; but was never acted on, probably because a life and death 
struggle for existence demanded all the attention of that body, and for 
the reason that the Congress had no jurisdiction as 3'et over territory 
beyond the United Colonies. The language of this petition is uniijue, 
and in detailing wrongs, cumulative. In reciting the effect of the 
authority by the two colonies, it proceeds to point out "the per- 
nicious and destructive effects of discordant and contending juris- 
dictions, innumerable frauds, impositions, violences, depredations, 
feuds, animosities, divisions, litigations, disorders, and even with the 
effusion of human blood to the utter subversion of all laws, human 
and divine, of justice, order, regularity, and in a great measure even 
of Liberty itself." It details " the fallacies, violences and fraudu- 
lent impositions of Land Jobbers, pretended officers and partisans of 
both land offices and others under the sanction of the jurisdiction of 
their respective provinces, the Earl of Duninore's warrants, ofiicer's 
and soldier's rights, and an infinity of other pretexts." It gives the 
details of claims of private parties and companies to fabulous tracts 
of land, the titles to which rest on the pi-etended purchase of the 
Indians. "This is a country," it proceeds, " of at least 21:0 miles in 
length, from tiie Kittanny to opposite the mouth of the Scioto, 70 
or SO miles in breadth, from the Alleghany Mountains to the Ohio, 
rich, fertile and healthy even beyond a credibility, and peopled by at 
least 25,000 families since 1708." It concludes by asking that the 
territory embraced in the limits set below be known as the 
Province and government of Westsylvania, '" * * the inhab- 
itants be invested with every other power, right, privilege and im- 
munity vested, or to be vested, in the other American colonies; be 
considered as a sister colony, and the fourteenth province of the 
American Confederacy: "Beginning at the eastern bank of the Ohio 
opposite the mouth of Scioto and running thence to the top of the 
Alleghany Mountains, thence with the top of the said mountains to 
the north limits of the purchase made from the Indians in 17(58, at 
the treaty of Fort Stanwix aforesaid, thence with the said limits to 
the Allegheny or Ohio Eiver, and thence down the said river as 
]nirchased from the said Indians at the aforesaid treaty of Fort 
Stanwix to the beginning." There were other projects for a new 
State to be known as " Vandalia," or " AValpole," but none so formal 
or enforced with such elaborate arguments as in this petition for 
" Westsylvania." 

To satisfy the complaints of settlers, the General Assembly of 



254 HISTORY OK OltKENK COUNTY. 

Yirginia opened land offices, iixed the limits of the districts, and 
determined the price of land at ten shillings for a hundred acres. 
Commissioners wei-e to be appointed for hearing and determining 
disputes and counter-claims, and count}' snrvej'ors were to be ap- 
pointed to survey and make formal records of sales. It will thus be. 
perceived that Virginia held formal possession of this whole south- 
western stretch of Pennsylvania for a period of contention over 
a dozen or more years; and, as a large proportion of the land in 
Green County was taken np during these years, it will be seen that 
the territory was originally held under Virginia patents. 





W.^ihwm^ 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 257 



CHAPTER XVI. 

Attraction's in this Section fok the Settler — Validitv of the 
Ohio and Walpole Company's Titles in Doubt — Continental 
CoNUREss — One Weakness in Pennsylvania Charter — Penn- 
sylvania Publication — Propositions for Settlement — Com- 
missioners Meet at Baltimore — To the 41° — To the 40° — To 
Mason and Dixon's Line — Western Boundary Extend West- 
ward INTO Ohio — To the 39°, 30', With a Western C(n{REs- 

PONDING TO THIO MeANDERINGS OF THE DeLAWAKE EhER To 

the 39°, 30', With a Meridian Line for the Western Bound- 
ary — Mason and Dixon's Line With a Meridian Line i<-or the 
Western Boundary Settles the Controversy- — ViritInia 
Sends Land Commissioners to Redstone and Issues Patents 
FOR Vast Tracts — Remonstrance Sent to Congress — Recom- 
mendation of Concjress Unheeded — Joint Address of Council 
AND Assembly- of Pennsy-lvania — Pennsylvania Becomes Bel- 
ligerent — Proposition of Virginia Accepted — Commissioners 
Appointed to Run and Mark the Line — Jefferson Advises a 
Temporary Line — Settlers Rise up in Arms to Oppose Run- 
ning Line — Cry- Against Taxes and Desire for a New State, 
FiN.u. Report of Commissioners Made — Meridian Line Found 
BY Astronomical Observations — The Long Sought Southwest 
Corner of the State Finally- Found and Marked — Western 
Line of Pennsylvania Run and Marked — The Vexed Ques- 
tion OF the True Limits of the State Finally- Settled. 

THE interest which Virginia manifested for this Monongahela and 
Ohio conntry was first aronsed by the reports of the beauty of 
the scenery, the fertility of tlie soil, and the salubrity of its climate. 
The desire to obtain vast tracts of this country led to the formation 
of the Ohio Company with a grant of a half million acres, which was 
subsequently swallowed up by Walpole's grant of fabulous extent. 
To defend these grants against the French, Washington's embassy to 
Le Boeuf was authorized, and military expeditions of Washington, 
Braddock, Forbes, Boquet and Stanwix were undertaken. After the 
French had been finally expelled, Virginia was more eager than be- 
fore to hold these, claims, to justify them, and to establish Virginia 
civil polity. But the failure of the Britisli government to vindicate 

IS 



258 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

its authority broke the validity of the claims of these companies, and 
for eight years wliile the JKevolntionary war lasted, it was left in 
doubt whether these titles would eventually be established or lost. 
During that period, therefore, Virginia continued anxious to assert 
its authority. But when the surrender of Cornwallis and the break- 
ing of the military force of Britain upon this continent led to a 
treaty of peace, which left the Continental Congress in supreme au- 
thority, then the titles of the Ohio and Walpole companies which 
claimed their legal status from British government were left without 
validity, and were valueless. 

. When Lord Dunmore assumed the Governorship of Virginia he 
proposed to assert his authority with a high hand, regardless of the 
rights of other parties, and Patrick Henry, who succeeded to the 
Gubernatorial power, seemed disjjosed to take np the cudgels which 
Dunmore had dropped. But when the delegates from Virginia to 
the Continental Congress met those from Pennsylvania, the whole 
subject of disputed aiithority and mutual boundary seems to have 
been fairly and candidly canvassed, and more moderate views enter- 
tained. And, as we have seen, the paper drawn np by the combined 
wisdom of these delegates, was the first word that had a quieting 
effect. There were very able men in those delegations. John Dick- 
inson, the author of the Farmer's Letters, was an accomplished 
scholar and statesman, and Benjamin Franklin was possessed of 
practical sense araonnting to genius. Besides, the Congress sat at 
Philadelphia where a strong influence centered favorable to the 
claims of Pennsylvania. A sentiment was early manifested <m the 
part of both colonies to have commissioners appointed to settle the 
dispute. 

The terms of the Charter of Pennsylvania were very explicit with 
one exception. The charter proceeded upon the supposition that the 
perimiter of the circle drawn with a radius of twelve miles from 
New Castle, would, at some point, cut the beginning of the 40° 
of north latitude; whereas this parallel fell far to the south of it. 
This left the beginning of the boundary unfixed and uncertain, and 
was the original cause of much wrangling and contention, not only 
on the part of Virginia, but also of Maryland. But the matter of 
five degrees of longitude and three of latitude were as definite and 
imchangeable as the places of the stars in the heavens. Earthquakes 
might change the surface and the subsidence of the land might yield 
the place to the empire of the waves, yet the boundaries would re- 
main unchanged, and could be easily identified. Some observations 
had been made at Logstown, a little below Pittsburg, l)y which it 
was evident that this place was considerably within the boundaries 
of Pennsylvania both from the west and south.* On any clear 
night the altitude of certain stars would give the latitude of the 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 259 

pjace and a good chronometer would show, by difference in time, the 
longitude. The Virginia delegates in Congress were scholars enough 
to understand that. It is probable that tliey saw at the outset that 
the Pennsylvania title was good, and would eventually prevail. This 
accounts for the conciliatory temper manifested in that first communi- 
cation quoted above, and in subsequent action. 

During the past few years the government of Pennsylvania have 
had commissioners engaged in rectifying the boundary lines of the 
State, and planting monuments to mark them. By an act approved on 
the 7th day of May, 1885, the reports and maps of these commission- 
ers, together with the complete journal of Mason and Dixon, from 
December 7, 1763, to January 29, 1768, have been published. From 
that volume many facts upon this subject have been drawn. 

It appears that as early as the 18th of Deceml)er, 1776, the as- 
sembly of Virginia passed a resolution, agreeing to tix the south- 
ern boundary of Pennsylvania from the western liujit of Maryland 
due north to the beginning of the 41° parallel and thence due west 
to the western limit of tlie State. This was a concession on the part 
of Virginia, as it had previously claimed all west of the summits of 
the Alleghany Mountains to the New York line. This would have 
made a break northward from the western line of Maryland, and would 
have left the counties of Fayette, Greene and a portion of Washing- 
ton in Virginia. Pennsylvania would not agree to this. Proposi- 
tions and counter propositions continued to pass between the assem- 
blies of the two colonies, resulting in nothing until the session of 
1779, when it was determined to submit the whole matter in contro- 
versy to tlie arbitrament of commissioners. In a letter of 27th of 
May, 1779, Patrick Henry, Governor of Virginia, communicated to 
the council of Pennsylvania the intelligence that commissioners had 
been appointed. On the 27th of August, 1779, the commissioners 
met at Baltimore; James Madison and Robert Andrews on the j^art 
of Virginia, and George Bryan, John Ewing and David Ilitten- 
house for Pennsylvania. Their proceedings Avere in writing. 

The first paper was drawn by the Pennsylvania delegates, in 
which the points in controversy are fully argued, and this demand 
made: "For the sake of peace, and to manifest our earnest desire of 
adjusting the dispute on amicable terms, we are willing to recede 
from our just rights | the beginning of the 40° north,] and there- 
fore propose, that a meridian be drawn from the head spring of 
the north branch of the Potomac to the beginning of the 40° of 
north latitude, and from thence that a parallel of latitude be drawn 
to the western extremity of the State of Pennsylvania, to continue 
forever the boundary of the State of Pennsylvania and Virginia." 
This would have made a break southward at the western extremity of 
Maryland and would have carried into Pennsylvania a large tract of 



260 HISTORY OF GKEENE COUNTY. 

what is uow West Yirginia, nearly the whole of the territory drained 
by the Monongahela and its tributaries, a tract equal to six counties 
of the size of the county of Greene. 

This proposition the Yirginia commissioners rejected in an ela- 
borate argument in which all the points made by the Pennsylvaniaus 
were considered, and they close with the following counter proposi- 
tion: "But we trust, on a farther consideration of the objections 
of Yirginia to your claim, that you will think it advantageous to 
your State to continue Mason and Dixon's line to your western 
limits, which we are willing to establish as a perpetual boundary 
between Yirginia and Pennsylvania on the south side of the last 
mentioned State. We are induced to make this proposal, as we^ 
think that the same principle which effected the compromise between 
Pennsylvania and Maryland should operate equally as strong in 
the present case." This proposition was the line which eventual- 
ly prevailed and is the present boundary. 

But the Pennsylvania commissioners were unwilling to give up 
the territory reaching- down to the beginning of the 40°. They ac- 
cordingly made this compensatory proposition : " That Mason and 
Dixon's line should be extended so far beyond the western limits of 
Pennsylvania, as that a meridian drawn from the western extremity 
of it to the beginning of the 43° of north latitude, shall include 
as much land as will make the State of Pennsylvania what it was 
originally intended to be, viz: three degrees in breadth, and five de- 
grees in length, excepting so much as has been heretofore relin- 
quished to Maryland." This would have put on to the western end 
of the State a narrow patch, embracing the Panhandle and a part 
of Ohio, stretching up to the lake, which should be equal in area to 
the block of West Yirginia, which Pennsylvania would give up if 
Mason and Dixon's line shoiild be adopted. 

This proposition was promptly rejected, and the following sub- 
mitted: " Considering how much importance it maj' be to the fut- 
ure happiness of the United States, that every cause of discord be now 
removed, we will agree to relinquish even a part of that territory 
which you before claimed, but which we still think is not included in 
the charter of Pennsylvania. We, therefore, propose that a line run 
due west from that point where the meridian of the first fountain of 
the north branch of the Potomac meets the end of the 30', of the 
39° of northern latitude, five degrees of longitude to be computed 
from that part of the river Delaware which lies in the same parallel, 
shall forever be the boundary of Pennsylvania and Yirginia, on the 
southern part of the last mentioned State." This gave Pennsylvania 
a break south into West Yirginia, not to the amount of six counties of 
the size of Greene, but less than two; but it also provided that the 
western boundary of Pennsylvania should, instead of being a due 



HISTORY OF OREENE COUNTY. 261 

nortli and south line, coiifonn to the ineanderings of the Delavfare, 
being at all points just live degrees from the right bank of that 
stream. 

To this the Pennsjdvania commissioners made the following re- 
ply: "We will agree to your proposal of the 30tli of August, 1779, 
for running and forever establishing the southern boundary of Penn- 
sylvania in the latitude of thirty-nine degrees, thirty minutes west- 
ward of the meridian of the source of the north branch of the Poto- 
mac River, upon condition that 3'ou consent to allow a meridian line 
drawn northward from the western extremity thereof as far as Vir- 
ginia extends, to be the western boundary of Pennsylvania." This 
would have given the narrow strip of West Virginia, and a due 
north and south line for the western boundary as at present. 

This proposition was rejected by the Virginia representatives; 
but they submitted in lieu thereof the following: " We will continue 
Mason and Dixon's line due west live degrees of longitude, to be 
computed from the river Delaware, for your southern boundary, and 
will agree tliat a meridian drawn from the western extremity of this 
line to your northern limit shall be the western boundary of Penn- 
sylvania." 

To this the Penns^-lvania commissioners returned the following 
answer: " We agree to your last proposal of August 31st, 1779, to 
extend Mason and Dixon's line due west five degrees of longitude, to 
be computed from the river Delaware, for the southern boundary of 
Pennsylvania; and that a meridian drawn from the western extremity 
thereof to the northern limit of the State, be the western boundary 
of Pennsylvania forever." This ended the conference and forever 
settled the southwestern boundary of our good old Commonwealth 
and brought to an end a controversy that at one time threatened to 
result in internecine war. 

So far as it could be done in theory the controversy was now at an 
end, though the approval of the two governments was yet to be bad, 
and when that was secnred, the actual running of the lines and mark- 
ing the bonndaries, which, as the sequel proves, were subject to 
delays and irritating contentions. The labors of the commissioners, 
who held their sittings in Baltimore, were concluded on the 31st of 
August, 1779. The Assembly of Pennsylvania, at the sitting of 
November 19th, 1779, promptly passed a resolution " to ratify and 
finally confirm the agreement entered into between the commissioners 
from the State of Virginia, and the commissioners from this State." 
In good faith Pennsylvania promptly acted. But the Virginia As- 
sembly delayed, and in the meantime commissioners had been 
appointed to adjust and settle titles of claimants to unpatented lands. 
Althougli tiie commissioners had come to a settlement of differences 
on the last day of August, as late as December of this year, Francis 



262 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

Peyton, Phillip Pendleton, Josepli Holmes, and George Merriweather, 
land commissioners from Virginia, for the West Augusta district, 
embracing the counties of Yohogania, Ohio, and Monongalia, Virginia 
counties, but Westmoreland County, under Pennsylvania authority, 
came to Kedstone on the Monongahela, and held a court at which a large 
number of patents were granted to Virginia claimants to vast tracts 
of the choice lands along the Monongahela valley to the prejudice of 
Pennsylvania claimants, though it was now known that all this 
country, by the award of the Baltimore conference, was within the 
limits of Pennsylvania. Though Virginia could claim that the award 
had not been ratified by the Virginia Assembly, yet high minded 
statesmanship would have held that all questions of the nature of 
actual sale of lands should have been held in abeyance, at this stage 
of the settlement. The surveys of lands thus adjudicated averaged 
in quantity from 400 to 800 acres to each claimant, and the number 
of claims passed upon was almost fabulous. 

As soon as intelligence of this procedure, on the part of Virginia, 
reached the council of Pennsylvania, wliich was communicated by 
Thomas Scott, as member of the council from the Westmoreland 
district, the President of the council, Joseph Peed, addressed the 
Cdntinental Congress upon the subject, in which, after recounting 
the facts, he says, " We shall make such remonstrance to the State 
of Virginia as the interest and honor of this State require; if these 
should be ineffectual, we trust we shall stand justified in the eyes of 
God and man, if, availing ourselves of tlie means we possess, we 
aftbrd that support and aid to the much injured and distressed inhabi- 
tants of the frontier counties, which their situation and our duty 
require." As soon as the state of affairs was known to Congress, a 
resolution was passed, on December 27th, recommending to the two 
parties to this controversy not to grant any part of the disputed land, 
nor to disturb any in possession of such lands, and on the following 
day, the President of the council of Pennsylvania, issued his procla- 
mation reciting the fact that a Virginia commission was sitting at 
Redstone issuing certificates for land, quoting the language of the 
resolution of Congress upon this subject, and closing by calling on 
all Pennsylvania officers, civil and military, to obey the recommenda- 
tion of Congress, and directing all Pennsylvania claimants of land to 
continue in possession and cultivation of their lands, regardless of 
the claims set up by Virginia. Fifty copies of this proclamation 
were sent for distribution in the disputed district. But the Virginia 
commissioners sitting at Redstone refused to be governed by the 
recommendation of Congress, and returned the reply that such objec- 
tion should be made to the Governor of Virginia, under whose 
authority they were acting. 

The authorities of Pennsylvania were now becoming thoroughly 



HISTORY OF GREENE COTTNTY. 263 

aroused, and on the 24tli of March, 1780, a joint address of the 
Council and Assembly was presented to Congress, setting forth in 
strong light their grievances, and closing in a belligerent spirit. " If 
Pennsylvania must arm for her internal defence, instead of recruiting 
her Continental line, if her attention and supplies must be diverted 
in like manner, if the common enemy encouraged by our division 
should prolong the war, interests of our sister States and the common 
cause be injured or distressed, we trust we shall stand acquitted 
before them and the whole world ; and if the eft'usion of human blood 
is to be the i-esult of this unhappy dispute, we humbly trust that the 
great Governor of the universe, who delights in peace, equity and 
justice, will not impute it to ns." 

But all this had small effect upon the authorities of Virginia; for 
the Legislature, which met in May, enacted that a further time of 
eighteen months was allowed to obtain certificates from the commis- 
sioners to enter their claims, provided they did not secure sucli 
certiticates to land north of Mason and Dixon's line, claimed by 
Pennsylvania, yet her surveyors continued to act under Virginia 
authority, as late as June, 1782. 

Finally, on the 23d of June, 1780, the Virginia General Assembly' 
took up the matter of boundary and agreed to the terms adopted by the 
Ealtin:ore commission, but with this important, and to Pennsylvania, 
humiliating condition: "On condition that the private property and 
rights of all persons acquired under, founded on, or recognized by 
the laws of either country previous to the date hereof, be saved and 
confirmed to them, although they should be found to fall within the 
other, and that in the decision of disputes thereupon preference shall 
be given to the elder or prior right whichever of the said States the 
same shall have been ac(piired under; such persons paying to that 
State, within whose boundary their land shall be included, the same 
purchase or consideration money which would have been dne from 
them to the State under which they claimed the right; and where any 
such purchase or consideration money hath, since the Declaration of 
American Independence, been received b}^ either State for lands which, 
according to the before cited agreement, shall fall within the territory 
of the other, the same shall be reciprocally refunded and repaid. 
And that the inhabitants of the disputed territory, now ceded to the 
State of Pennsylvania, shall not before the first day of December, in 
the present year, be subject to the payment of any tax, nor at any 
time to the payment of arrears of taxes, or impositions laid by either 
State." 

Though distasteful and manifestly unjust to Pennsylvania, yet 
" determining to give to the world the most unequivocal proof of 
their earnest desire to promote peace and harmony with a sister State, 
so necessary during this great conflict against the common enemy," 



264 HISTORY OF GKEENE COUNTY. 

it agreed to the terms proposed, and the legal forms of settlement 
were finally at an end. 

Nothing now remained to be done but to have the actual surveys 
made upon this basis of settlement, and to set up the bounds, in order 
to close the controversy. On the 21st of February, 1781, John 
Lukins and Archibald McLean were appointed on the part of Penn- 
sylvania, and on the 17th of April, James Madison and Kobert An- 
drews, on the part of Virginia, to make these surveys. Thomas 
Jefferson was at this time Govei-nor of Virginia, and he recom- 
mended that the five degrees of longitude be determined by astrono- 
mical observations, as being the most accurate, though Mason and 
Dixon had made actual measi;rement and reduced it to horizontal 
distance, and offered to send westward the instruments necessary, 
viz: "a good time-piece, telescopes and a quadrant." That there 
should be no interruption from disaffected parties, James Marshall 
was ordered to call out accompany of militia to the number of forty 
to act as a guard. As the careful shrvey and marking of the line 
would unavoidably consume considerable time, Governor Jefferson 
proposed that a temporary line be run from the point where Mason 
and Dixon stopped on Dunkard Creek, a distance of thirty-six miles, 
in order that the settlers might know as soon as possible under what 
State government they were living. Mr. McLean was appointed on 
this service from Pennsylvania, and the Surveyor-General of Yoho- 
gania County for Virginia. In the meantime it was ascertained tliat 
there was a party among the settlers who were strongly opposed to 
the running of the line, preferring to i-emain under Virginia rule, 
and gratified to see the question kept open, as thereby escaping the 
payment of taxes and doing military service. 

Benjamin Harrison succeeded Thomas Jefferson as Governor of 
Virginia, and in a communication of the 26th of April, 1782, he 
objects to commencing to survey from Dunkard Creek where 
Mason and Dixon left it; but insists that it shall begin at 
the point where the west line of Maryland cuts Mason and Dixon's 
line. But now a new impediment is interposed to the running of 
the temporary line; for Mr. McLean writes to Governor Moore of 
Pennsylvania, " We proceeded to the mouth of Dunkard Creek, where 
our store were laid in on the 10th day of June, and were preparing 
to cross the river that night, when a party of about thirtj' liorsemen 
armed on the opposite side of the river, appeared, damning us to 
come over, and threatening us to a great degree; and several more^ 
were seen by our bullock guard, which we had sent over the river, 
one of which asked them if they would surrender to be taken as 
prisoners, with other language of menacing." A conference was 
proposed, and a ;Committee of the settlers opposing was met, but no 
arguments were of any avail with them. "The cry," writes Mr. 




c^ 



\y^(:pf Cylfci-^' 



-^-77 zJf-^' 



HISTORY OF GUKENE COUNTY. 267 

McLean, " against taxes in specie is general; this, together with the 
idea of a new State, which is artfully and industriously conveyed, are 
only expedients to prevent the running of the line." 

Finally, on the 26th of Marcli, 1783, John Dickinson, who liad 
now hecome Governor of Pennsylvania, issued his proclamation, coni- 
manding all persons within the limits of the commonwealth to take 
notice of the provisions made by the two States for running tiie line, 
and " to pay due obedience to the laws of this commonwealth." On 
September 11, 1783, the following persons were appointed on the 
part of Pennsylvania: Jolin Ewing, David Rittenhouse, John Lukens 
and Thomas llutchins, and on August 31 the following, James 
Madison, Robert Andrews, John Page and Andrew EUicott, on the 
part of Virginia, were designated to make a final settlement of the 
bounds. Their joint report is as follows: "AVe, the underwritten 
commissioners, tosether witli the gentlemen M'ith whom we are 
joined in commission, liave, by corresponding astronomical observa- 
tions made near the Delaware and in the western country, ascertained 
the extent of the said five degrees of longitude; and the underwritten 
commissioners have continued Mason and Dixon's line to the termin- 
ation of the said five degrees of longitude, by which work the south- 
ern boundary of Pennsylvania is completed. The continuation we 
have marked by opening vistas over the most remarkable heights 
whicli lie in the course, and by planting on many of these heights 
in the parallel of latitude, the true boundary posts marked with tlie 
letters P and V, each letter facing the State of which it is the initial. 
At the extremity of tliis line, wliich is the southwest corner of the 
State of Pennsylvania, we have planted a squared unlettered white 
oak post, around whose base we have raised a pile of stones." At 
the Wilmington observatory the commissioners commenced their 
observations at the beginning of July, and continued observing the 
eclipses of Jupiter's satellites till the 20th of September, that they 
miglit have a sufficient number of them, both before and after liis 
opposition to the sun, making near sixty observations. At the other 
extremity of the line the observations were commenced about the 
middle of July, and between forty and fifty notes of the eclipses of 
Jupiter's satellites, besides innuinerable observations of the sun and 
stars were made, and "completed their observations with so much 
accuracy as to remove from tlieir minds every degree of doul)t con- 
cerning their final determination of the southwest corner of the 
Stale." 

Thus was settled the location of the southwest corner of the 
State, and consequently of Greene County. But the western bound- 
ary was still unmarked, though this, being a 'simple meridian line, 
was not difficult of adjustment. Accordingly a commission, consist- 
ing of David Rittenhouse and Andrew Porter, in behalf of Pennsyl- 



268 HISTORY OF GREENE COUWTY. 

vania, Andrew Ellicott, of Maryland, and Josejjh Neville, of Vir- 
ginia, was constituted for this purpose, and on the 23d of August, 
1785, made this report: " We have carried on a meridian line from 
the southwest corner of Pennsylvania, northward to the River 
Ohio, * * * and we have likewise placed stones duly marked 
on most of the principal hills, and where the line strikes the Ohio." 
From the Ohio River northward the line was surveyed by Alex- 
ander McLean and Andrew Porter, Rittenhouse and Ellicott having 
been put upon the northern line, between New York and Pennsyl- 
vania, who made their final report on the 4tli of October, 1786, 
"that we have ascertained and completed said line by astronomical 
observations as far as Lake Erie, having opened a vista and planted 
stones in the proper direction, marked on the east side P., and that 
said line extends some distance in the lake." Thus was finally 
•settled amicably the question of boundary, which for the full space 
of a hundred years had vexed the inhabitants of the border and the 
governments of three of the original colonies, and which had re- 
peatedly been carried up to the place of last resort, the King in 
council. Considerable space has been given to this subject, that it 
might here be fully understood in all its bearings, as Greene is the 
county most nearly touched in this whole difficulty, and as it fur- 
nishes one of the most interesting topics of American history. 



IIISTOKT OF GREENE COUNTY. 269 



CHAPTER XVII. 

Titles to Lands Lakoely Deuived from Virginia AuthokitV — 
Crl'mrink Gives Entries — P?;titions for a New Cointy — 
AVASiiiNciToN County Organized — County Officers — Tribula- 
tions — George Rogers Clark's Expedition — To Advocate 
New State, Treason — County Ofi-icers — Henry Taylor First 
JuDcjE — Alleghany County Erected — Portion taken from 
Washington County — Boundary of Tract taken from Wash- 
ington County, which Forms the Southern Part of Alle- 
ghany. 

AS we liave already seen, that portion of the present State of Penn- 
sylvania west o'^f tlip Laurel Hills and south of the Alleghany 
and Ohio rivers was embraced in three counties under Virginia 
authority, and though the County of Westmoreland with county seat 
at Ilannastown, near the present Greensburg, embraced this same 
territory, at which courts were held under Pennsylvania anthority, 
yet the greater share of the county court and county office record 
business in all that territory of Pennsylvania west of the Mononga- 
hela and south of the Ohio rivers was transacted in Virginia County 
courts, for a period of a dozen or more years, and until the southwest 
corner of Pennsylvania was iinally discovered, and a bound set to 
mark it. That spot which three great States had been searching for 
and struggling about, and which was disturbing the quiet even of 
the King in council, and rendering his life uneasy, was at last dis- 
covered and marked, and from that time forward the minds of the 
pioneers became settled, and Assembly, and Governors, and King had 
peace. Indeed that white oak post with the cone of stone piled 
about it was the great peace-maker, more potent in its authority than 
governments and courts. That post, which marks the southwest 
corner of Greene County, set up the Pennsylvania anthority over 
tliis region, which for the space of more than a hundred years has 
been unquestioned and undisturbed. 

It will be remembered that the commissioners of the two States 
of Pennsylvania and Virginia had agreed upon terms of settlement 
of the dispute, as early as the 31st of August, 1779, and had these 
terms been approved by the two State governments at once, and the 
astronomical oliservations been promptly ordered, the place of the 
corner might have been easily found, and the bound set up before 



270 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

tlie opening of the year 1780. But on account of the delay on the 
part of the Virginia assembly in acting, and then the seeming inter- 
minable delays in ordering out the surveying parties, it was the close 
of 1784 before the reports of the surveyors were adopted and the 
■whole subject legalized and set to rest. In all this time, therefore, 
the courts under Virginia authority were kept busy in making entries 
and perfecting titles to land. Hence, it will be found that 
a large proportion of the original titles to lands in the present limits 
of Greene County were obtained under Virginia authority. The 
records of these Virginia courts are of interest to the students of legal 
lore; but would probably fail to engage the attention of the general 
reader. Mr. Crumrine, in his history of Washington County, has 
made quite an extensive collation of these records, to which work the 
curious reader is referred. 

The settlers in the district of Pennsylvania, who were adherents 
of the Pennsylvania rule, as soon as tliey learned that the commis- 
sioners had agreed upon terms of settlement of the disputed bound- 
ary, commeiaced addressing the Governor upon the propriety of form- 
ing a new county of this territory. Among these was Thomas Scott, 
who had been prominent in Lord Dunmore's time. Governor Keed, 
who was now at the head of the government in Pennsylvania, regard- 
ing the subject favorably, in a message to the council of Nov. 6, 
1780, recommended the laying off of " one or more counties so as to 
introduce law, order, and good government, where they have long 
been much needtd." In compliance M'ith this recommendation, as ear- 
ly as the 28th of March, 1781, the act was passed erecting Washington 
County, to comprise all of the territory inclosed by the Monongahela 
and Ohio rivers and the south and west bounds of the State, em- 
bracing what are now the counties of Greene, Washington, and 
parts of Alleghany and Beaver. Authority was given for the elec- 
tion of inspectors of election of members of the Assembly and 
Council, two sheriffs, two coroners, and three commissioners. By 
the tenth section it was " made lawful to and for James Edgar, 
Hugh Scott, Van Swearingen, Daniel Leet, and John Armstrong or 
any three of them, to take up or purchase, and to take assurance to 
them and their heirs, of a piece of land situated in some 
convenient place in the said county, in trust and for the use 
of the inhabitants of the said county, and thereupon to erect 
and build a court-house and prison, sufficient to accommodate 
the public service of the said county." Full provisions were made 
for the transfer of authority from Westmoreland courts to Washing- 
ton, and the executive council appointed Thomas Scott to be protho- 
notary, James Marshall lieutenant, and John Cannon and Daniel 
Leet to be sub-lieutenants of the new county. 

It will be observed that the act creating the County of Washing- 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 271 

tou antedated the tiiial niiniing and marking of the boundary line by 
several years. During all this period of uncertainty there was con- 
stant friction and irritation. Indeed the organization of Washington 
as well as Westmoreland County, was effected in the midst of great 
tribulation, and the decision on the part of Pennsylvania, not to re- 
sort to force to assert authority, tended to encourage those favoring 
the 'C'irginia ownership in their lawless procedures. The Indians 
during the whole period of the Revolution, and until General "Mad" 
Anthony Wayne, by his victory over the Indians in his campaign in 
the northwestern territory, put a period to Indian barbarity, 
there was scarcely a day whe7i the settlers did not live in constant 
dread of the Indian war whoop. 

A commission, consisting of Edgar, Scott, Swaringen, Leet, and 
Armstrong, proceeded to divide the territory into thirteen townships, 
the number of the colotiies, Amwell, Bethlehem, Cecil, Cumberland, 
Donegal, Fallowfield, Hopewell, Morgan, Nottingham, Peters, Rob- 
inson, Smith and Strabane. Preparations were in progress, under 
George Rogers Clark, for an expedition against the Britisli and 
Indians in the northwest, and the Virginia authorities in 
the three counties of Ohio, Yohogania, and Monongalia, pro- 
ceeded to raise troops by drafting, and the irritation incident to en- 
forcing the draft tended to keep up the discontent. Again was the 
project for a new State revived, as the best panacea for all ills. This 
latter idea was so much advocated and kept before the settlers, that it 
Avas found necessary to pass an act declaring it was treason to longer 
agitate this question. 

At the first general election for Washington, the returns show 
that Dorsey Pentecost was elected counselor; James Edgar, and 
John Cannon were elected representatives; Van Swearingen, and 
Andrew Swearingen, sheriffs; William McFarlane and AVilliam Mc- 
Comb, coroners; George Vallandingham, Tliomas Crooks, John Mc- 
Dowell, commissioners. Henry Taylor as tlie first commissioned 
justice, was president ot the court, and was succeeded on the 31st of 
October, 1783, by Dorsey Pentecost; but on the 29th of November, 
1786, Pentecost having removed from the State, his commission was 
I'evoked hj the council, and Henry Taylor again became president 
judge, which office he held till he was superceded by the appointment 
of Alexander Addison, under the constitution of 1790. The limits 
of Washington County as originally laid out seemed very natural, 
bounded as it was by two great streams and the State limits. But 
the town of Pittsburg soon becoming a point of great commercial 
and manufacturing importance it proved a sore inconvenience for 
its inhabitants to post ofi" to Ilannastown for the transaction of legal 
business. Accordingly, on the 28th of September, 1788, Alleghany 
County was erected, by which Washington County gave up all that 



272 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

poition of its northern territory bordering on tlie Oliio and Monon- 
gahela rivers, and by act of assembly passed on the 17th of Septem- 
ber, 1789, a still further portion bounded as follows: "Beginning 
at the river Ohio, where the boundary line of the State crosses said 
river, from thence in a straight line to White's Mill (Murdocksville) 
on Kaccoon Creek, fi-om thence by a straight line to Armstrong's 
mill, on Millei-'s run, and from thence by a straight line to the 
Monongahela River, opposite the mouth of Perry's run, where it 
strikes the present line of the county of Alleghany." 



CIIAPTEE XYIII. 



CUETAILMENTS OF WASHINGTON CoUNTY CoUNTY SeAT NoT CeNTEAL 

Act Cebating Geeene County — Name Given — Notice of 
General Geeene — Where Bueied — Acquiee Land foe County- 
Seat — Land of Thomas Slatee — Deed — Named Eden — 
Steeets Named — Cider and Whiskey — Name of the New 
Town — General Wayne, Notice of — Incident Described by 
Whitman — Purchasers of Lots — Prices Paid — Commissions 
Issued to .County Officers — Court of Common Pleas, Five 
Districts — Judge Addison — Notice of his Life — Impeached 
AND Removed — Charges Prefeeeed Against Him — Sentence 
OF CouET — Associate Justices — Judge Roberts — Thomas H. 
Baird Over the New Fourteenth District —NoricE of Judc+e 
Baird — National Road, Nathaniel Ewinc^ in 1838 — Term 
Ten Years — Notice of Judge Ewing — Samuel A. Gilmoee 
IN 1848 — Notice of Judge Gilmore- — James Lindsey" in 1861 
— Notice of JudctE Lindsey^ — Minute of Fay'ette County 
Court. 

By these curtailments of Washington County on the north, and 
the farther one made on the 26th of March, 1800, for the forma- 
tion of Beaver County, the county seat, which had been established 
at what is now the town of Washington, was thrown considerably to 
the north of the centre of the territory, and the inhabitants dwelling 
in the southern portions of the county became restless, under what 
thej regarded an injustice in being compelled to travel so much 
farther to the county seat than those dwelling in the northern por- 
tions. Accordingly, in response to a memorial numerously signed, 



III.STOKY OF OIIEENE COUNTY. 273 

praying for tlie crcctidu of a new county out of the southern por- 
tions of Washington, tiie Legislature passed an act on tlie 9th of 
February, 1796, as follows: "Section 1. He it enacted, etc., That all 
that part of Washington County lying within the limits and bounds 
hereinafter described shall be, and is hereby erected into a separate 
county, that is to say l)eginning at the mouth of Ten Mile Creek, 
on the Monongahela River, thence up Ten Mile Creek, to the junction 
of the north and soutli forks of said creek; thence up said north 
fork to Colonel William Wallace's Mills [West Bethlehem]; tiience 
up a southwesterly direction to the nearest part of the dividing line 
between the north and south forks of Ten Mile Creek; thence along 
the top of the said ridge to the ridge which divides the waters of 
Ten Mile and Wheeling Creeks; thence a straight line to the head 
of Eulow's branch of the AVheeling; thence down said branch to 
the western boundary line of tlie State; thence south along said line 
to the southern boundary line of the State; thence east along said 
line to the river Monongahela; and thence down the said river to 
the place of beginning; to be henceforth known and called by the 
name of Greene County." 

, This gave a very compact and well situated body of land for a 
county, and connected by roads of easy grades for reaching its cen- 
tral portion, wherever the county seat should be erected. 13ut there 
being some dissatisfaction as to a portion of the northern line, the 
Legislature, at its session of 1802, made the following emendation, 
viz: " that the following alteration shall take place in the line between 
the counties of Washington and Greene, viz: beginning at the pres- 
ent line, on the ridge that divides the waters of Ten Mile and Wheel- 
ing creeks, near Jacob Bobbet's; thence a straight line to the head 
waters of Hunter's fork of Wheeling Creek; and thence down the 
same to the mouth thereof, where it meets the present county line." 
This gave back to Washington a small strip of territory, not material 
to Greene, but desired l)y Washington. 

' It will be seen that a patriotic motive swayed the originators of 
Washington County in giving its name. General Washington was 
then at the zenith of his military fame, and was approaching that 
period in his career when he should compel the British General, 
Cornwallis, to surrender with his whole army, which would pi-acti- 
cally put a period to the war. This county was the only one erected 
in the State during the period of the Bevolntion. What more suit- 
able name could be given it than that of the military leader whose 
name was on every tongue? 

If Washington was an appropriate name for all this stretch of 
country lying to the west of the Monongahela, what name more 
proper for the tract, cut from the side of Washington — the rib as it 



274 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

were — than Greene, that one of his Generals above all others, whom 
Waslungton loved? 

Nathaniel Greene was born of Quaker parents in 1740, at War- 
wick, Ehode Island. His father was a blacksmith, in which trade 
the boy was schooled, or rather an anchorsmith; for at this time this 
was one of the most considerable of all the States in mercantile ma- 
rine. While yet a youth he learned the Latin language, and became 
well-read in military history. He was chosen a member of the 
Rhode Island Legislature when he had scarcely attained his majority. 
When intelligence reached him of the battle of Lexington, his mil- 
itary ardor, as well as his burning patriotism, was aroused, and he 
determined to take up arms for the defense of his imperiled country, 
and was appointed to lead the three regiments raised in his State to 
the army of Observation then stationed at Koxbury, Massachusetts. 
This act of the young Quaker cost him his membership in that body. 
The practiced eye of Washington soon detected his cool judgment 
and zeal for the cause, and recommended his appointment in the fol- 
lowing year as Major-General in the Continental Army, a remarkable 
promotion from a plain officer of State Militia; but, as events sub- 
se(piently showed, worthily bestowed. He served with distinction 
in the battles of Trenton, Princton, Brandywine and Germantown, 
when he was appointed Quartermaster-General of the American 
Army, a position of great difficulty and responsibility in view of the 
straightened circumstances of the colonies, and the absolute neces- 
sity that the troops be fed. In 1780 he was assigned to active duty 
in the field, and was invested with the supreme command of the 
armies of the South, relieving General Gates. At the conclusion of 
the war he returned to Rhode Island; but soon after returned to 
Georgia to look after an estate near Savannah. Not mindful of the 
intensity of the Southern siin, he was overcome by the heat in what 
is commonly known as "sun stroke," and died from its effects on the 
19th of June, 1786, at the early age of forty-six. His body was 
placed in a vault in Savannah, but so imperfect was the bnrial that 
no name or o'her means of indentification existed, and when, in 
1820, a search was made for his remains, they could not be found, 
and no one knows the sepulchre of the ablest of Washington's Gen- 
erals. But the Congress of the new nation was prompt in acknowl- 
edging his services, and on the 8th of August of that year passed the 
following resolution: "That a monument be erected to Nathaniel 
Greene, Esq., at the seat of the Federal Government, with the fol- 
lowing inscription: 'Sacred to the memory of Nathaniel Greene, a 
native of the State of Rhode Island, who died on the 19th of June, 
1786; late Major-General in the service of the United States, and 
commander of their army in the Southern Department. The United 
States, in Congress assembled, in honor of his patriotism, valor, and 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 277 

ability, have erected this monument,' " It lias been said of him that, 
"In person General Greene was rather corpulent, and above the 
common size. His complexion was fair and florid; his countenance 
serene and mild. His health was generally delicate, but was pre- 
served by temperance and exercise." 

By the act ei'ecting the new county it was provided that David 
Gray, Stephen Gapin, Isaac Jenkinson, William Meetkerke and James 
Seals be appointed commissioners to procure by grant, bargain, or 
otherwise any quantity of land not exceeding five hundred acres, 
within five miles of the center of the county, and survey and lay out 
the same into town lots; and on due notice given sell lots at public 
auction, so many lots as to raise a fund sufficient, with certain Coun- 
ty taxes, to pay for the purchase of the land and the erection of a 
court-house and prison. Until a court-house was erected the courts 
were diretted to be held at the house of Jacob Kline, on Muddy 
Creek. 

In pursuance of the power thus delegated to the above named 
commissioners, a site for the county seat was selected in a fine sweep 
of the South Fork of Ten Mile Creek, on land owned by Thomas 
Slater, James Seals owning land to the north of it, and John Jones 
to the south of it. Among the first records in the books of the 
Prothonotary's office is " Deed of Thomas Slater and Uxor to the 
Trustees of Greene County. This indenture made the twenty-eighth 
day of October, in the year 1796, between Thomas Slater and Elenor, 
his wife on the one part, and David Gray, Stephen Gapin, William 
Meetkerke, Isaac Jenkinson and James Seals, trustees appointed for 
the county of Greene, by an act of the general assembly of the State 
of Pennsylvania, dated the 9th day of February, 1796, entitled an 
act to erect a part of Washington County into a separate county of 
the other part. Whereas, a certain tract of land called Eden, was 
granted to the said Thomas Slater by patent dated 7th of March, 
1789, and enrolled in the IlolFs office of said State in patent book 
number 14, page 507, etc. Now this Indenture witnesseth that the 
said Thomas and Elenor his wife, for and in consideration of the 
sum of $2,376, lawful money of Pennsylvania to them in hand paid 
by the said [commissioners], for and in behalf of of the county of 
Greene the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, and the said 
Thomas Slater and Elenor his wife, therewith fully satisfied and paid, 
have granted, bargained and sold, and by these present do grant, 
bargain and sell unto the said [commissioners] in trust for the use 
of the county of Greene, and for the purpose of erecting thereon a 
Court House and Gaol and other public buildings for the use of the 
said county all the following described and bounded part of the said 
tract of land that is contained in the following bounds and limits: 
Beginning at a post and running thence b}' said Slater's land east 



278 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

218 perches to a post in John Jones' line, thence with the same 
south 12° -J east 128 perches to a post, thence by said Slater's land 
west 188 perches, to a thorn bush on the bank of the South Fork of 
Ten Mile Creek, thence up the same, and by land of James Seals 
north 43° and ^ west 17 perches -^^ to a white walnut tree, north 
41° "I west 47 perches y^-j^.to a white oak, north 15° west 32 perches 
to the place of beginning, containing 158 acres -J strict measure, be 
the same more or less, together with all and singular, the appurten- 
ance unto the same belonging, or in any ways appurtaining, and the 
reversions, and remainder rents, issues and profits thereof. To have and 
to hold the said bounded and sold tract of land and premises with the 
appiirtenances unto the said [commissioners] and their assigns to the 
only proper use and behoof of the said [commissioners] in trust for 
the use aforesaid, and according to the true intent and meaning of 
the above cited act of Assembly, and the said Thomas Slater and 
Elenor his wife, for themselves, their heirs, executors, and admin- 
istrators do hereby covenant, promise and grant to and with the said 
[commissioners] and their assigns that they the said Thomas Slater 
and Elenor his wife, the aforesaid tract of land containing 158 acres 
and ^ strict measure against them and their heirs, and against all and 
and every other person or persons lawfully claiming the same shall 
and will warrant and forever defend by these presents. In testi- 
mony whei'eof they have hereunto set their hands and seals the day 
and year first above written. 

Sealed and Delivered in "] Received the day and year within writ- 
presence of I ten of 

Dan. McFaeland, f $2,376 being consideration money with- 

Philip Ketchum. J in mentioned in full. 

Thomas Slater. 

Witness Acknowledged before 

Jan. Thompson, Wm. Seaton. 

Chkistian Fair. Received 28 th October, 1796. 

Examined 

John Bokeman, Recorder." 

This tract of land thus promptly obtained and secured by deed 
in trust, then only encumbered by the cabin of its owner, has come 
to be the home of a numerous and busy population, distinguished for 
intelligence, and the seat of justice for this beautiful and well settled 
county. It would seem by reference to the provisions of the above 
recited deed, that the original owner had given it the name of Eden, 
a name not inappropriate, when we consider its location, upon this 
commanding ground, the rich and beautiful vallej' stretching away, 
above and below, and the pleasant heights and verdant hillsides across 



HISTOKY OF GREENE COUNTY. 279 

the stream which sweeps around and seems to hold it in its fond 
embrace. 

A draft of the plot of the town accompanies the deed, and is ac- 
cordingly made of record. A street, running north from the extreme 
south bend of the creek, cuts the tract nearly at its center, and is 
designated Washington street, and parallel with this to the west are 
Morris street. Blackberry alley. Rich Hill street and West street, and 
to the east Cider alley, Morgan street. Whiskey alley, Cumberland 
street, Findlay alley and East street. Huniiiug east and west is 
High street cutting the tract near its center, and to tlie north in 
succession are Strawberry alley, Franklin street, North street, and be- 
yond it the common, fronting on which are the imposing buildings 
of Waynesbui'g College and the public school building, and on the 
summit still further to the north is the reservoir of the waterworks. 
To the south of High street are Cherry alley, Greene street. South 
alley, Lincoln street. Walnut alley. Elm street. Locust alley, First 
street and Water street. The railroad follows the valley up the 
northwest. Between Washington and Morris streets, running north 
and south, and High and Greene streets extending east and west, in 
the central and most commanding portion of the tract are located 
the county l)uildings, — court-house and jail, — on grounds which now 
seem contracted, considering that the commissioners could have ap-. 
propriated as much land and in such location as they chose. The 
names of the streets are in the main patriotic and descriptive of 
their location; but the two alleys, Cider and Whiskey, in close 
proximity to the courts of justice, seem in these days of prohibition 
to be misnomers, though in the age when given may have aifbrded 
the mouth a good flavor when pronounced. 

A name for the new town was early considered. It has been 
already observed that this section of the country had been for a 
period of over thirty years debatable ground for the savages, as it 
was in the meantime by the inhabitants of two neighboring States. 
During the quarter of a century preceding the formation of the 
town this section had been the scene of more Indian outrages, scalp- 
ings and burnings than any other equal area in the country. 
Though peace had been declared between the United States and 
Great Britain, British troops still occupied forts in the northwestern 
territory, and encouraged and led the Indians in their warfare against 
the United States. Two armies, one under Ilarmer and the other 
led by St. Claire, had Ijeeii defeated and sadly cut to pieces by the 
united strength of British and Indians, and as a consequence the 
savages were more active than ever in their work of blood. But an 
army led by General Anthony Wayne had proved more successful, 
and, having marched into the heart of the Indian country, inflicted 
so crushing a defeat that the tribes were glad to unite in suing for 



280 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

peace, and in giving hostages for an observance of their treaty stipu- 
lations. Nowhere were the happy effects ot this triumph more felt 
than in this territory of Greene County. What name, then, more 
suitable for the capitol of the new county than the honored one of 
Wayne, and hence Waynesburgh perpetrates the name of the hero. 
Perhaps none of the generals in the American army had so much 
the character of dash, of sleepless vigilance, of heroic daring in the 
face of the foe, as Wayne. He was born in Chester County in 
1745. He was in early life a surveyor, a member of the Assembly 
of 1774, the friend of Franklin and member of the Committee of 
Safety of 1775. Seeing war impending, he gave himself earnestly to 
the study of the military art. He was with Sullivan at Three Rivers, 
Canada, and had charge of the posts at Ticonderoga and Mt. In- 
dependence. In February, 1777, he was commissioned a Brigadier- 
General, and participated in the New Jersey and Brandywine cam- 
paigns with Washington. On the night of the 20th of September, 
1777, while encamped at Paoli, with 1,500 men, the location of his 
camp was betrayed to the British, when General Gray, with a strong 
detachment of the enemy, stole upon the camp, and put the occu- 
pants to the sword, an exploit in civilized warfare little better than 
a massacre. AtGermantown he led the right wing with gallantry, and 
received the especial commendation of Washington for his conduct 
in the battle of Monmouth. His surprise an capture of Stony Point 
gained for him the thanks of Congress. He was transferred to the 
South during the last of his service in the Revolution, where, by his 
ceaseless vigilance and energy, he gained no less renown than at the 
North. In councils of war he always favored the aggressive policy, 
and won the title of " Mad Anthony Wayne." In 1792 he was 
called from his farm in Chester County, to which he had retired, 
and placed in command of an army to operate against the hostile 
Indians. At Maumee, in August, 1784, after a two year's campaign, 
he gained so signal a victory as to put an end to Indian barbarities, 
and give peace to the settlers. The most subtle of the savage chief- 
tains had counseled against risking a battle with him, for " that man 
never sleeps," he declared. The event showed that he had judged 
correctly. Wayne was afterwards appointed sole commissioner to 
treat with the natives, and concluded a treaty in 1795, at Greenville, 
Ohio, which gave peace and secured the emigrant complete immunity 
from peril. In the autumn of 1796, having concluded the object of 
his mission, he embarked on a small vessel at Detroit, bound for 
Presque Isle, now Erie, on his way home. On the way down the 
lake he was attacked with the gout, a disease to which he was sub- 
ject. Upon his arrival he was taken, at his own request, to one of 
the block houses on the garrison tract, and a messenger was dis- 
patched for Surgeon J. C. Wallace, at Pittsburg, who had attended 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 281 

liiiii on liis campaigns, and was familiar witli his disease. The 
Doctor started at once, l)Ut on arriving at Franklin, on his way up, 
he was pained to learn that his old commander was dead, having ex- 
pired on the 15th of December, 1796. Two days after lie was buried, 
as he liad directed, with liis uniform and boots on, in a plain coffin, 
with the letters "A. W." cnt upon the lid, and his age, 51, and date 
of his deatli marked Ijy means of round brass headed tacks driven 
into the wood. At the age of thirty-two he was described as "about 
middle size, with a firm manly countenance, commanding port and 
eagle eye. His looks corresponded with his character, indicating a 
soul noble, ardent and daring. In his intercourse with his offices 
and men he was affable and agreeable, and had the art of communi- 
cating to their bosoms the gallant and chivalrous spirit which glowed 
in his own. His dress was scrupulously neat and elegant, his move- 
ments were quick, his manners easy and graceful." 

Here we might well put a period to the narrative; but a circum- 
stance connected with the remains occurred, so peculiar, that a brief 
account will be given of it as recorded by Ijenjamin AVhitman in his 
History of Erie County. " In the fall of 1808, General Wayne's 
daughter, Mrs. Atlee, was taken seriously ill. While upon her 
sick bed she was seized with a strong desire to have her father's 
remains moved to the family burying ground. Realizing that it 
was her last sickness, and anxious to console her dying moments, 
Colonel Isaac Wayne, the General's son, consented to come to Erie 
for the purpose of complying with her wishes. The journey was 
made in the spring of 1809, through what was then a wilderness, 
for much of the distance, with a horse and sulky. On arriving in 
Erie, Colonel Wayne sent for Dr. Wallace, the same one who had 
been called to minister to the General. The Doctor agreed to 
attend to the disinterment and preparation of the remains, and 
Colonel Wayne gave him entire charge of the operation, declining 
to witness it on the ground that he preferred to remember his 
father as he knew him when living. Thirteen years having elapsed, 
it was supposed that the corpse would be decomposed; but on 
opening the grave, all present were amazed to find the body petrified, 
with the exception of one foot and leg, which were partially gone. 
The boot on the unsound leg had decayed, and most of the clothing 
was missing. Dr. AVallace separated the body into convenient parts 
and placed them in a kettle of boiling water until the flesh could be 
removed from the bones. He then carefully scraped the bones, 
packed them in a small box and returned the flesh, with the imple- 
ments used in the operation, to the cotRn, which had been left undis- 
turbed, and it was again covered over with earth. The box was 
secured to Ci)lonel Wayne's sulky and carried to Eastern Pennsyl- 



282 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

vania, where the contents were deposited in a second grave, among 
those of the General's deceased relatives. In the labor of dissection, 
which took place on the garrison grounds, Dr. Wallace was assisted 
by Robert Murray, Robert Irwin, Kichard Clement, and others. 
General Wayne's sound boot was given to James Duncan, who found 
it fitted him, had a mate made for it, and wore the pair until they 
could no longer be used. At the time of the disinterment Captain 
Dobins and family were living on the garrison grounds in a large 
building erected for the use of the commanding officer. Mrs. Dobins 
M^as allowed to look at the body, with some of her lady acquaintances, 
and obtained a lock of the dead hero's hair. She had a vivid recol- 
lection of the incident when nearly in her hundredth year. The 
body she said was not hard like stone, but was more of the con- 
sistency of soft chalk. The hairs of the head pulled out readily, and 
the general appearance of the corpse was much like that of a plaster 
of Paris cast. In explanation of Dr. Wallace's course, it is argued 
that he acted in accordance with what the circumstances of the case 
seemed to require. It was necessary that the remains should be 
placed in as small a space as possible to accommodate the means of 
conveyance. Colonel Wayne is reported to have said in regard to 
the affair, ' I always regretted it. Had I known the state the re- 
mains were in before separated, I think I should certainly have had 
them again deposited there and let them rest, and had a monument 
erected to his memory.' * * * Largely through the efforts of 
Dr. Germer and Captain AVelsh, an appropriation was obtained from 
the Legislature, with which a substantial log block-house in imita- 
tion of the original was built to mark the site, and the grounds were 
surrounded by a railing with cannon at eacli of the four corners. 
The grave has been neatly and substantially built up with stone, 
and the coffin-lid, with other relics of the early days, is carefully 
sheltered within the block-house. The Wayne family burial ground, 
where the bones of the gallant General repose, is in the cemetery 
attached to St. David's Episcopal church, at Radnor, Delaware 
County, not far from the Chester County line, less than an hour's 
walk from Wayne Station, on the Pennsylvania Railroad, and four- 
teen miles west from Philadelphia. Not far distant is Paoli, the 
scene of the massacre, which was so brilliantly avenged at Stony 
Point. The Pennsylvania State Society of the Cincinnati erected a 
monument over the grave on the 4th of July, 1809." 

As soon as it was known that the site of the capital of the coun- 
ty had been determined and the tract acquired, building lots were 
disposed of rapidly. The records of the county, which were kept 
with care, the chirography being in a very even legible hand, which 
puts to shame some of the records made at a later date, show that 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUXTY. 283 

the following named persons purchased lots of the commissioners, 
paying the snms set opposite their several names: 

1st. Rev. Robert Davis $25 

2d. John Denny 84 

3d. Phillip Ketchum 75 

4th. John Smith 34 

5th. John Smith 106 

6th. James Ilook 59 

7th. Job. Smith 12 

8th. Ignatius Ross 15 

9th. John Boreman 68 

10th. Samuel Clarke 

11th. Daniel McFarland 16 

12th. Daniel McFarland 78 

13th. Daniel McFarland 14 

14th. Daniel McFarland 13 

15th. Daniel McFarland 50 

16th. John Wilson 78 

17th. William Hunter 70 

18th. James Brown 65 

19th. Robert Adams & Patrick Moore 51 

20th. Robert Ilazlett & Robert Wilson 110 

21st. Isaac Jenkinson 139 

22d. Clement Brooke 50 

23d. Thomas Reinhart 50 

24th. Asa McClelland 40 

25th. William Wood 18 

26tli. James Eagan 50 

27th. John Baptist Nuglet 66 

28th. AVilliam Caldwell 70 

29th. Jacob Burley 42 

The forms and legal authorization of procedure in setting in 
motion the machinery of government over the new county were 
promptly observed. The first commission issued was to John Bore- 
man, executed under the hand of Governor Thomas MitHin, July 13, 
1796, which authorized him to administer oaths. The second com- 
mission was issued to 

John Minor to be Associate Justice under date of July 13, 1796. 

John Boreman to be Recorder of Deeds under date of March 17, 
1796. 

John Boreman, Prothonofary, March 17, 1796. 

John Boreman, Clerk of the Court of Quarter Sessions, ]V[arch 
17. 1796. 



284 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

John Boreman, Clerk of the Court of Oyer and Terminer, March 
17, 1796. 

John Boreman, Clerk of the Orphans' Court, March 17, 1796. 

John Boreman, Eegister of Wills, March 17, 1796. 

David Gray was commissioned to sit as Associate Judge on 
March 17, 1796. 

As Greene County was a part of the Fifth Judicial District, the 
President Judge of that district continued to hold the courts for 
Greene County, as before its erection, for the same territory. By 
the constitution of 1790, the Court of Common Pleas became the 
principal court of the Commonwealth for the original hearing of 
causes. The judges, not fewer than three, nor more than four, in 
each county, were to be appointed by the Governor. At the session 
of the Legislature for 1791, an act was passed dividing the counties 
of the State into live judicial districts — Philadelphia, Bucks, Mont- 
gomery and Delaware to compose the 1st; Chester, Lancaster, York 
and Dauphin the 2d; Berks, Northampton, Luzerne and Northum- 
berland the 3d; Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Huntingdon and 
Mifflin the 4th; and Westmoreland, Fayette, Washington and 
Alleghany the 5th. When Greene was erected in 1796, tliat con- 
stituted a part of tiie hftli. The act provided that for each judicial 
district " a person of knowledge and integrity, skilled in the laws," 
shall be appointed and commissioned by the Governor to be Presi- 
dent of the courts of Common Pleas. Any two of the judges of the 
CJommou Pleas Court should constitute a quorum, which should con- 
stitute the Court of Quarter Sessions, of the Peace and Orphans' 
Court, and the Register of Wills. 

The first President Judge of tlie Fifth district was Alexander 
Addison. lie was a native of Ireland, where he was born in 1759, and 
was ediicated at Edinburgh, Scotland, and licensed to preach by the 
Presbytery of Aberlow. While yet a youth he emigrated to Amer- 
ica, and came to western Pennsylvania. Plaving been taken in 
charge by the Redstone Presbytery, he was given permission to 
])reach and ofhciated for a while at Washington. He subsequently 
turned his attention to the law, studying in the tiftice of David Red- 
flick, and was admitted to practice in the courts of Washington 
County. He was a man of strict probity, of large understanding, 
well schooled in the polite learning of the day, and was well fitted 
by native talent, by culture, and legal acumen to preside in the 
courts of justice. In conducting the courts of this district he had 
a difficult part to perform. It was at a time when the laws of both 
State and Nation were new and untried; the district was one of op- 
]>osing factions, composed of stui-dy frontiersmen; the tax upon dis- 
tilled spirits had to be enforced over unwilling subjects, among 
whom was inaugurated the Whiskey Rebellion. In the midst of all 




au/?^^ C]^^ 



HISTORY OF OltEKNE COUXTT. 287 

these tvyiug circmnstaaces, he is acknowledged to have performed 
the duties of his high office with a strict regard to justice, and with 
honesty of purpose. J]ut he did not escape the shafts of party strife, 
and rancor, whicli finally culminated in his impeachment before the 
Senate of Pennsylvania. The formal charges were as follows: 

"1st. That Judge Addison, after Judge Lucas [an associate judge 
of Alleghany County], had in his official character and capacity of 
judge as aforesaid, and as he of right might do, addressed a petit 
jury, then and there duly impaneled, and sworn or affirmed re- 
spectively as jurors in a cause then ponding, then and there openly 
did declare, and say to the said jury, that the address delivered to 
them by the said Uohn Lucas, had nothing to do with the question 
before them, and they ought not to pay any attention to it. This 
question will be better understood l)y lawyers when informed that a 
justification was pleaded as a defense in an action of slander, and 
was unsupported by the testimony, and Judge Lucas' charge was in- 
tended to reduce the damages of the plaintift" to a small if not a 
nominal sum. 

"2d. That the said Alexander Addison did under pretense as afore- 
said of discharging and performing his official duties then and 
there in time of open court, illegally, and unconstitutionally stop, 
threaten, and prevent tlie said John Lucas, from addressing as he of 
right might do a grand jury of the said county of Alleghany then 
and there assembled." 

The sentence of the Senate, sitting as a court of impeachment, 
delivered January 27, 1803, was, "That Alexander Addison, Presi- 
dent of the several courts of Common Pleas, in the Fiftli district of 
this State, shall be, and he hereby is removed from his office of presi- 
dent aforesaid, and also is disqualified to hold and exercise the 
office of judge, in any court of law within the commonwealth of 
Pennsylvania." 

The associate judges during his term of office were Henry Tay- 
lor, James Edgar, James Allison, and Matthew Eitchie, commis- 
sioned August 17, 1791; AVilliam Hoge, commissioned April 6, 
1798, and John McDowell, commissioned April 7, 1S02. Samuel 
Roberts was commissioned president judge of the Fifth district on 
June 2, 1803. He was a native of Philadelphia, where he was born 
September 10, 1761, read law with "William Lewis, and was practic- 
ing his profession at Sunbury, when appointed judge. 

The judicial districts of the State were readjusted by the act of 
March 23d, 1818, by which Washington, Fayette, Greene, and Som- 
erset became the Fourteenth district, and Judge Eoberts remained 
over the courts composed of Alleghany, Beaver, and Butler. "Where- 
upon Thomas II. Baird, was ajipointed to preside in the Fourteenth 
district, his commission dating from October 19, 1818. By an act 



288 IIISTOKY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

of the Legislature of March 29, 1824, Somerset County was taken 
from the Fourteenth district to form with Franklin and Bedford the 
new Sixteenth district, Greene, Fayette, and Washington remaining 
the Fourteenth district. Judge Baird was a son of Absalom Baird, 
M. D., and a grandson of John Baird, a Scotchman, who came with 
Braddock's army, was engaged in the battle under that ill-fated Gen- 
eral, and and was subsequently killed on Grant's Hill, in Major 
Grant's Highlander column defeated on September 14, 1758. The 
Judge was born at Washington, November 15, 1787, studied law 
with Joseph Pentecost, and was admitted to practice July, 1808. 
With Thomas McGiffin and Parker Campbell he was interested in 
the construction of the National Road through Washington County, 
and as early as 1830 secured the survey of a railroad up the Chart- 
iers Vallev, at his own expense. He resigned his commission in 
December," 1837, and died November 22, 1866. 

Governor Joseph liitner, who was then in the gubernatorial 
chair, appointed as successor to Judge Baird, Nathaniel Ewing, his 
commission bearing date February 22, 1838. In the same year of 
liis appointment the constitutional convention revised the organic 
law, so as to make the term of a president judge or any other 
judge who is required to be learned in the law, ten years, and associ- 
ate judges, live years. By an act of the assembly passed as early as 
1806, the number of associate judges was limited to two from each 
county. By the amended constitution of 1838, sheriifs, coroners, 
prothonotaries, and clerks were made elective. Judge Ewing was 
the son of William Ewing, who had emigrated from York 
County to Fayette, as a surveyor, in 1790, and was born July 18, 
1794. He was educated at Washington College, read law with 
Thomas McGiffin, and was admitted to practice June, 1816. He 
soon after removed to Uniontown, where he continued to reside till 
his death in 1874. He had the reputation of being an able jurist 
and a just judge. 

Samuel A. Gilmore was appointed at the expiration of the ten 
years' term of Judge Baird, his commission dating February 28, 
1848. Bj an amendment of the organic law, passed by the Leg- 
islature in 1849-'50, and ratified by vote of the people, the judges 
of the Supreme Court of the State were elected by the qualified 
voters at large, the president judges, and such as were required to be 
learned in the law, by tlie electors of the districts over wliich they 
presided, and the associate judges by the voters of the respective 
counties. Accordingly, at the next general election, on November 
6, 1851, Samuel A. Gilmore was elected to be his own successor, 
and was commissioned to serve for the constitutional period of ten 
years. Judge Gilmore was a son of John Gilmore, a lawyer, who 
practiced his profession at Butler. The son was a practicing attor- 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 289 

ney at the bar of that place wlien appointed judge. He resided dur- 
ing his term of office at Uniontown, where he continued to live till 
liis death in 1837. 

James Lindsey was elected president judge at the election in 
1861. He was a descendant of the first settlers. "Thomas 
Hughes, John Swan and Henry Vanmetre were," says Mr. Crum- 
rine, " among the first pioneers on the waters of Muddy Creek, com- 
ing thither from the Shenandoah Valley, in 1767-"68. Charles Swan, 
son of John, married Sarah, daughter of Henry Vanmetre, and their 
danghter Mary, marrying AVilliam Collins, became the mother of 
xinnie Collins who married John Lindsey. and became the mother of 
James, the young judge. John Lindsey's father was James Lind- 
sey, a Scotchman, who, coming from Lancaster County very early, 
settled at Jefferson, Greene County, and married Mary, a danghter 
of Thomas Hughes, Jr., who had married a daughter of John Swan 
before mentioned. Hughes was Irish, Swan was Sco'ch, Vanmetre 
German, Lindsey Scotch — three nationalities well blended into one. 
John Lindsey, the Judge's father, was educated at Jefferson College, 
at Cannonsbnrg, was a leading politician, once sheriff, and twice 
prothonotary of Greene County." 

Judge Lindsey was born November 21, 1827, was educated at 
Greene Academy, Cai-michael's, and was admitted to the bar at 
Waynesburg in 1849. At the Angnst term of 18G4 he presided 
over the conrt at Washington, and tiiough suffering from a slight 
attack of billious fever, he sat through the term, but on his way 
home was seriously attacked at Prosperity. He, however, reached 
his home a few miles out of Waynesburg, where he remained indis- 
posed, but not seriously so, until the 1st of September, 1864, when 
he suffered a relapse that terminated his life suddenly. 

An extract from the minute entered upon the records of the 
Fayette County Court will show the estimation in which he was held 
by the bar. " By those unac(]uainted with him misgivings were natur- 
ally felt when the judical ermine fell upon one so young. * * * 
But whatever fears Judge Lindsey's youth occasioned were quickly 
dissipated by masterly hand with which he laid hold of his offi- 
cial duties, and by the apparent ease with which he carried his great 
burdens." 

Upon the death of Judge Lindsey, Governor Curtin appointed 
James Watson, of Washington, to fill the vacancy until the next 
general election; but Mr. Watson feeling himself disposed to decline 
the honor, J. Kennedy Ewing, son of Nathaniel Ewing, was com- 
missioned on Nov. 19, 1864, to serve until the election of 1865. 
The choice of the people in that election was Samuel A. Gilmore, 
who was commissioned for a third term, in that grave and responsi- 
ble office. By an act of the Legislature, of January 25th, 1866, a 



290 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

Dew judical district was created, comprising tlie counties of Wash- 
ington and Beaver, designated the twenty- seventh judicial district, the 
fourteenth retaining Fayette and Greene, over which Judge Gilmore 
continued to preside. 

On the 3rd of November, 1873, a new constitution was adopted, 
which was to take effect on the 1st of January, 1874:. By the terras 
of that instrument the Legislature was to re-district the State. This 
was done, and forty-three districts were formed, all counties containing 
forty thousand or more inhabitants to constitute a separate judi- 
cial district. The time of the beginning of the judicial terra was 
changed, and instead of the iirst Monday of December it was to be 
the iirst Monday of January next succeeding the election. To fill 
out the unexpired terra the Governor appointed Edward Campbell, 
who was commissioned May 30, 1873, to serve until the first Mon- 
day of December, 1873. At the election held on the 6th of JSTovem- 
ber 1873, Alpheus E. Willson was elected for the term of ten years, 
Judge Willson was a lawyer of acumen and served witli credit to 
himself and advantage to his constituents. At the general election 
for 1883 James Inghram was elected. A full biography of the jndge 
will be found among the sketches given further on in this book to 
which the reader is referred. The business of this judicial district 
having accumulated beyond the ability of a single judge to transact, 
it was provided by the act of June 15, 1887, that an additional Judge 
learned in the law should be elected for this district. Accordingly 
Nathaniel Ewing was appointed and commissioned on August 
25, 1887, to serve until tlie next general election, when Judge Ewing 
was elected by the people and commissioned to serve for the full 
term of ten years. He belonged to the Fayette County bar and is of 
a judicial ancestry. 

A complete list of President and Associate Judges, who have 
served in Greene County since its formation, has been prepared for 
my use under the direction of Ex-Lieut. Gov. Stone, now Secre- 
tary of the Commonwealth, from the records of his office, which is 
given below. 

Greene County — Formed of a part of Washington County, Feb. 
9, 1796. 

LIST OF PRESIDENT JUDGES. 

Fifth District or Circuit — Consisting of the counties of West- 
moi-eland, Washington, Alleghany, Fayette, Greene and Crawford. 
Alexander Addison, August 17, 1791. 

Fifth District — Composed of tlie counties, Washington, Beaver, 
Alleghany, Fayette and Greene. Samuel Eoberts, April 30, 1803. 

Fourteenth District — Composed of the counties of Wasliington, 
Fayette, Green and Somerset. Thomas IL Baird, Oct. 19, 1818. 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 291 

Tlesigned Dec. 31, 1S37, ivsiyiuitiun accepted by the Governor, Jan. 
3, 1888. 

Fourteenth District — Coin posed of the counties of Washington, 
Fayette and Greene. Nathaniel Ewing, Feb. 15, 1838; Samuel A. 
Gilmore, Feb. 28, 1848; Samuel A. Gilmore, Nov. (5, 1851. 

Fourteenth District — Composed of the counties of Fayette and 
Greene. James Lindsey, Nov. 20, 1861; James Watson, Nov. 9, 
1864, until the next general election. In place of Judge Lindsey, 
deceased, declined and commission returned. John Kennedy Ewing, 
Nov. 18, 1864, nntil the next general election; Samuel A. Gilmore, 
Nov. 7, 1865; Edward Campbell, May, 30, 1873, until 1st Monday 
in December, 1873. Alpheus E. Willson, Nov. 6, 1873; James 
Inghram, Dec. 11, 1883. 

Additional Law Judge — Authorized by Act June 15, 1887. 
Nathaniel Ewing, Aug. 25, 1887, until 1st Monday in Jan. 1888; 
Nathaniel Ewing, Dec. 23, 1887. 

Greene Coitntv — List of Associate Judges. 
John Minor, March 17, 1796. Some doubt having been entertained 
by Judge Addison, as to whether the commission issued to Judge 
Minor on March 17th, 1796, was constitutional, the same was com- 
municated by him to the Governor, who, to remove such doubt, (the 
Attorney-General being of the same opinion with Mr. Addison) is- 
sued a new commission to Judge Minor, dated the 28th of February, 
1797. John Minor's resignation accepted Oct. 7, 1833. John Flen- 
niken, March 17, 1796; John Badolet, March 17, 1796; David Gray, 
March 17, 1796; Wm. Crawford, June 13, 1822; Asa McClelland, 
March 6, 1834; Samuel Black, Feb. 10, 1837; Asa McClelland, Feb. 
28, 1842; Thos. Burson, March 3, 1843; Mark Gordon, Feb. 24, 
1847; Thos. Burson, Feb. 15, 1848, Commission from March 3 next; 
Benj. lloss, Nov. 10, 1851; James Crea, Nov. 10, 1851; Jonathan 
Gerard, Nov. 12, 1856; Isaac Burson, Nov. 12, 1850; Jonathan 
Gerard, Nov. 23, 1861; .Thos. P. Pollock, Nov. 23, 1861; 
George Ilaskiiison, Nov. 8, 1866; Israel L. Croft, Nov. 8, 1866; 
Wm. Cotterell, Nov. 17, 1871; Thos. lams, Nov. 17, 1871; 
Wm. Braden, Dec. 8, 1876; Geo. Sellers. Jan. 9, 1876, until first 
Monday of Jan. 1878; Thos. Scott, Dec. 26, 1877; Wm. F. Scott, 
Jan. 8, 1879, until first Monday of Jan. 1880; Silas Barnes, Dec. 4, 
1879; Jesse Philips, Dec. 8, 1881; John T. Elbin, Dec. 22, 1884; 
Bazel Gordon, Dec. 13, 1886. 



292 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 



CHAPTEE XIX. 

Value of Education — " Enoch Flower " Fiest Teachee — Feibnds' 
School — College Academy and Chaeity School — Founding 
Colleges — Founding Academies — Men and Women Make 
' Theie Maeks — Retaeding Causes — Insteuct the " Pooe 
GrEATis" — Speech of Stevens — Law of 1834 — Opposition of 
1835 — Law of 1836 — Goveenoes Wolf and Ritnee — Joue- 

NEY of BuEEOWES FlEST ScHOOL RePOET OPPOSITION WHERE 

Least Expected — Geeene County Slow in Adopting — Show- 
ing OF Greene in 1837 — Utilizing School Peopeety — Solici- 
tude foe its Safety — 1,000 Districts — 700 in Operation — 
Broad Plans of Bueroaves — Progress of a Pupil Through 
THE Whole — Defects Shown by Fifteen Years' Trial — Re- 
vised Law of 1854 — Opposition to County Superintendency 
— Non-accepting Districts — IIonorable Charles A. Black, 
Superintendent — Independent Districts — True Sphere of 
County Superintendent — Circular Letter — Beneficient In- 
fluence OF Law — Recommends Normal Schools — Normal 
School Law of 1857 — Ten Schools — One at California foe 
the Tenth District — Growth — School Arciiitectuee — Edited 
BY T. H. Burro WES — No Retrograde Steps — The Peoples Col- 
leges — Sources of Blessings. 

"VTO subject can be of more vital importance to any people 
i\| than that of a wise education of their youth. In presenting 
some account of the origin and progress of education in Greene 
County it will not be out of place to give a brief sketch of education 
in the State at large. At a meeting of the Council held at Phila- 
delphia ye 26th of ye lOtli mouth, 1683, the following record was 
entered as shown by the printed Colonial Records, Vol. I, p. 91: 
"Present William Penn Propor. & Gov, — Tho. Homes, Wm. 
Ilaigue, Wm. Clayton, Lasse Cock. The Govr. and Provil, Council 
having taken into their Serious Consideration the great Necessity 
there is of a Scool Master for ye Instruction & Sober Education of 
Youth in the towne of Philadelphia, sent for Enock flower, an In^ 
habitant of the said Towne, who for twenty year past hath been 
exercised in that care and Imployment in England, to whom having 
communicated their Minds, he Erabi-aced it upon these following 
terms: to Learne to read English 4s by ye Quarter, to learne to 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 293 

read and write Gs by ye Quarter, to learne to read and cast accot 8s 
by ye Quarter; for J3oarding a Scholar, that is to say, dyet, Wash- 
ing, Lodging and Schooling, Tenn pounds for one whole year." 

It should be borne in mind that this action was taken before 
Pennsylvania was in reality a year old, while the conies still bur- 
rowed unscared in the river bank, and the virgin forest encumbered 
the soil where is now the great city. The frame of government 
adopted provided that " the Legislature shall as soon as may be con- 
venient, provide for the establishment of schools, in such manner 
that the poor may be taught gratis." Among the most wise and 
sententious sayings of Penn was this, " That which makes a good 
constitution must keep it, viz.: men of wisdom and virtue; qualities 
that, because they descend not with worldly inheritance, must be 
carefully propagated by a virtuous education of youth." The Society 
of Friends established a school in Philadelphia in 1689. That was 
as soon as children born in the new city were old enough to go to 
school. Franklin, who had become a well-settled adopted citizen, 
and an acknowledged leader in every enterprise intended to build up 
the city, encourage progress, and diffuse intelligence, in 1749, with 
others, applied for and secured a charter for a " College, Academy 
and Charity school of Philadelphia." This was the beginning of an 
awakening throughout the State upon the suliject of higher education, 
and for the next half century the enterprise and skill of the people 
seem to have lieen directed to the founding and building up of col- 
leges. The University of Pennsylvania, at Philadelphia, was char- 
tered in 1753; Dickinson College, at Carlisle, in 1783; Franklin and 
Marshall College, at Lancaster, in 1787; Jetierson College, at Can- 
nonsburg, in 1802, and Alleghany College, at Meadville, in 1815. 
This provision reasonably well accommodated all sections of the vast 
territory of the Commonwealth. For the support of these institutions 
the colonial assemblies, and subsequently the legislatures, made large 
grants of lands, and revenues accruing from public domain. 

Commencing near the beginning of the present century and con- 
tinuing for a period of over thirty years, great activity was shown in 
establishing county academies. The purpose of these academies was 
to furnish a school of a higher order than the ordinary common 
school, where reading, writing and arithmetic were alone taught, 
in order that a fair English and' classical education could be obtained 
without trenching upon the ground occupied by the colleges. They 
were, on the other hand, regarded as schools preparatory to the col- 
lege. During this period charters were obtained for academies in 
forty-one counties, viz.: Armstrong, Beaver, Bradford, Bucks, But- 
ler, Cambria, Center, Chester, Clarion, Clearfield, Clinton, Crawford, 
Cumberland, Dauphin, Erie, Franklin, Greene, Huntingdon, Indiana, 
Jefferson, Juniata, Lebanon, Lehigh, Luzerne, McKean, Monroe, 



294 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

Miiilin, Montgomery, Nortliuuiberland, Perry, Pike, Potter, Schuyl- 
kill, Somerset, Tioga, Union, Venango, Warren, Wayne, AVestmore- 
land and York. 

It will be seen that Greene is one of the counties thus provided 
for. The State granted charters and money in sums varying from 
two to six thousand, dollars for the purpose of building structures at 
the county seats suitable for the proposed grade of schools, and in 
some instances extensive land grants were secured. The affairs of these 
academies were managed by a board of trustees, elected, as were the 
other county officers, and teachers were employed as they could be in- 
duced to teach for such compension as they could derive from the 
tuition of their jjupils, the invested funds yielding little more than 
enough to keep the buildings and premises in repair. 

Up to this time, a period of a hundred and twenty-five years, 
little attention had been given to the liberal views of the founder to 
make provision for "the education of the poor gratis," which he 
had inserted in the original draft of the organic law. As a conse- 
quence it will be found, by reference to the books in the registers 
offices throughout the several counties of the Commonwealth, that a 
large proportion of the men, as well as women, affixed their signa- 
tures to conveyances by a iqark. 

There were many causes why the common school idea of the 
State making public provision for the reasonable education of every 
child within its broad domain, free of any expense to the child, or its 
parents or guardians, unless they have property on which taxes are 
levied as for other purposes, was slow in taking root. The popula- 
tion was so sparse that in many sections it was impossible to bring 
enough children together to form a school! Diversity of origin and 
language operated as a strong impediment, as many persisted in 
speaking their native tongue and in having their children taught the 
language of the fatherland. Antagonisms of religious sects, and the 
prejudice in favor of having children taught exclusively in schools of 
their own religious denominations, operated as one of the most in- 
surmountable barriers, even after the common school system had be- 
come firmly established. 

By an act of the Legislature of April 4, 1809, provision was made 
for the education of the "poor gratis." The assessors in their 
rounds were required to enroll the names of children of indigent par- 
ents, and they were to be sent to the nearest or most convenient 
school, and the tuition paid from the county treasury. This enact- 
ment proceeded upon the supposition that schools were in existence, 
established by the voluntary contributions of neighborhoods, to which 
the indigent could be sent. This was really the case in many sec- 
tions of the State. This system was continued for a period of about 
a quarter of a century, and the treasurers' books in the several 



-^^i^ 





c^^^^x^e^ 



HISTORY OF GRKENE COUNTY. 297 

counties show considerable sums paid for tuition in tliis way. l!ut 
the natural pride of a free-born American citizen, rebelled at liav- 
ing his name inscribed on the books of the county as a pauper, too 
indigent to pay for the schooling of his children, and probably a 
large proportion of those M'ho were most deserving of help were the 
ones who scorned to receive it in that way. In a burst of impassioned 
eloquence, Thaddeus Stevens, in his great speech in favor of a general 
school law, made on the floor of the House of Reijresentatives in 1834, 
declared that such a law as that, instead of being called a public school 
law, ought to be entitled " an act for hrandhuj ami marklmj the 
poo7\ so that they may be known from the rich and proudy 

Eut tills system subserved a purpose, while the country was filling 
up with population, and the dense forests were being cleared away, 
and the wild beast subdued. It served to keep before tlie people that 
there was such a boon as public scliool education. The Governors 
of the Commonwealth had frequently, during the period that the 
system of educating the poor yratis was in force, from 1809 to '34, 
called the attention of the Legislature to the liecessity of a more 
efficient system. Finally, at the session 1834, the struggle came. It 
is well understood how natural it is for men to cling to established 
methods, and hence we can well comprehend how a radically new 
system would provoke lierce opposition. The new act was prepared 
by Samuel l>ri:eck, a member from Philadelphia, was passed tlirough 
both branches without serious opposition, and was signed by that 
sturdy patriot, Governor Wolf. 

But the law, though in the main just, proved in practice crude, 
and unwieldy, and when Legislature assembled at the session of 1835, 
the mutterings of discontent were heard on every hand. The almost 
universal sentiment seemed to be in favor of repeal, and of going 
back to t\\& poor gratis of 1809. It required the most adroit appli- 
cation of parliamentary rules and strategy of the friends of a common 
school system to ensure non-action for one year more, when it was 
proposed that a new bill, more simple and easily operated, should be 
prepared. 

Accordingly, at the session of 1836, the flnal struggle was to 
come. Dr. George Smith, a n\ember of the State Senate, from Del- 
aware, drew an entirely new bill, more simple and better adapted to 
the wants of the people in all their varied circumstances, and pre- 
sented it. So great was the antagonism engendered by the law of 
'34, that it was with the utmost difficulty that the great body of the 
members could be induced to listen to the provisions of a common 
school law ; but through the firmness and resolution of Governors 
Wolf and Kitner, and the sturdy virtue and powerful appeals of such 
jnen as Stevens, and Brteck, and Smith and ]>urrowes,tlie public school 
system, free alilce to rich and poor, to higli and low, was firmly 



298 HISTORY OP GKEEWE COUNTY. 

established, and from that day to this has been increasing in power 
and perfection. To secure its passage it was necessary to adopt the 
piinciple of local option. It was left to a vote of the peoi^le of the 
several townships to decide whether they would accept the provisions 
of the law or not. But this did not injure the efficiency of the system 
where accepted, and it went rapidly into operation, until finally every 
vestige of opposition disappeared, and it lias steadily grown in favor. 

In order to explain the provisions of the new system and in- 
troduce it to the people of the State, Dr. Thomas H. Burrowes, then 
Secretary of State, and Em officio Superintendent of common schools, 
made a tour of the Commonwealth delivering addresses at the coun- 
ty seats to large assemblies of the people, and commending and en- 
forcing the desirable features of the system and answering objections 
that were brought against it. This official intercourse had an ex- 
cellent effect, and caused a more hearty attempt on the part of its 
friends to establish and improve the schools. 

The feature of the law, which allowed the people to decide by pop- 
ular vote whether they would accept the provisions of the law or 
reject, while it gave an opportunity to prevent its adoption at once 
and thns to retard the progress of tlie system, doubtless proved its 
salvation. For, while the opponents realized that they had the power, 
if they were in the majority, of rejecting the system, they were at 
the same time made to feel that in rejecting it they were assuming a 
fearful resijonsibility, and caused them to reflect that they might be 
guilty of an act that would one day return to plague the inventors. 

Secretary Burrowes, in his first annual report, and indeed the 
first common school report ever made in this Commonwealth, read 
before the liouse of Representatives on the 18th of February, 1837, 
in commenting on this phase of the law says, "We encounter results 
directly opposed to those which the same facts under ordinary circum- 
stances, would produce. Counties among the most intelligent enter- 
prising and devoted to the general interests of education are found to 
be among the most hostile to the system. Others which from their 
wealth, density of population, and moral character, might be sup- 
posed peculiarly adapted to its beneficial action, are scarcely less 
averse than the class just named. On the other hand, as he advances 
from the older counties, with a population somewhat of a homogeneous 
character, he finds the system increase in favor among the new and 
mixed people of the West and Southwest, while it is unanimously 
accepted by the recent and thinly inhabited settlements of the whole 
North." 

By reference to the tables of the secretary it will be seen that 
Greene was one of the counties which was at the first slow in adopt- 
ing the system. Under the head of amount of tax voted at the meet- 
ing held for Greene County on the 2d of May, 1836, the sum is 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 299 

given as $2,315.17. In a comparative statement showing the rela- 
tive standing of the scliools of the county for three years the follow- 
ing is the showing for Greene: Whole number of school districts 
14; for the year 1831 no return. For 1835 one accepting district, 
live non-accepting, and eight not represented. For 1830 ten accept- 
ing, none non-accepting and four not represented. When it is con- 
sidered that for the first few years all tlie resources were required 
for getting suitable school rooms in which to hold schools, and con- 
sequently ver^- little advantage would be obtained bj' way of in- 
struction, this showing is highly creditable. 

In the table for 1837 Greene County has the following school 
districts entered, Cumberland, Franklin, Jefferson, Marion, Moi'gan, 
Morris, Monongahela, and Kichhill. Of these Franklin is credited 
with 35 males and 15 females; schools kept open for two months, as 
paying §20 a month to male teachers, and the character and (pialifi- 
cation of teachers as " Good." Jefferson is credited with 6 schools, 
6 male teachers, 200 male pupils, and 218 female, as paying $20 a 
month for male teachers; four teachers qualified to teach reading, 
writing and arithmetic, and two grammar, geography and mathe- 
matics. Marion is credited with three schools, two male and one 
female teacher, 60 male pupils and 53 female pupils, schools kept 
open three months; paying male teachers $20 a month and females 
$10; qualification of teachers, "Equal to teachers of English schools 
generally." Morgan is credited with four schools, 4 male teachers, 
llO male pupils, 55 females; schools open 3 months; male teachers 
$20 a month, females .$10. Monongahela is credited with 4 schools, 
3 male teachers, 1 female, 75 male pupils, 50 females, salaries of 
male teachers $16.50, females $13. ''Character good, qualification 
various." Eeading, writing and arithmetic taught. Kichhill scliools 
" not yet in operation." 

In commenting upon the lessons to be gathered from a view of 
the tables presented in his report, Dr. Burrowes observes, " In other 
States, having one language, one people, one origin, and one soil, a 
system suited to one district, satifies the whole. Not so here. No 
project, however wisely planned, or systematically adapted, can be 
pronounced sufficient till approved by the test of experience. Hence, 
it becomes the policy — nay it is the duty of the Legislature, neither 
on the one hand, uuduly to press any part of the design, no matter 
how theoretically beautiful it may appear, if it have been con- 
demned in practice, nor on the other, ever to relinquish a point once 
gained in favor of the system however it may fall short of previous 
calculation. It is only by resting on and starting from such mutu- 
ally admitted points, that success can at all be achieved in any great 
enterprise." 

In the first half dozen counties immediately about Philadelphia 



300 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

were assembled the great body of the Society of Fi-iends, followers 
of the great founder of the Commonwealth. To provide for the edu- 
cation of their children, as well as to make provision for their poor, 
is a part of the religions faith of these people. " Hence," proceeds 
the report, " in every one of these counties the common school sys- 
tem has not proved acceptable for the plain reason that a system of 
society schools is already in active operation. For this reason also, 
and in the abstract it is difficult to gainsay it, their citizens say that 
no new system is required by a community, who are already in pos- 
session of one sufficient for all their wants. This disposition is par- 
ticipated in by their immediate fellow-citizens, not members of the 
society, because they, to a certain extent, also receive the benefits of 
the society schools." 

It was not objected that schools and school pi'operty already in 
existence should be absorbed by the common school system. 
Indeed Secretary Biirrowes laid down in his report the following 
principles. " In its effects the system should be made, 1. To supply 
conamon schools, where no system was before in operation. 2. To 
improve and make common the defective primary schools that pre- 
ceded it, and 3, To aid with its funds and render common the good 
schools which it encounters. In a word its duty is to build com- 
mon schools where there are none, and to open the doors of the 
schools already built." In some localities in Gi'eene County at this 
time the inhabitants of a neighborhood had united in building a 
school-house, or in iitting up a room in some private dwelling, where 
schools had been supported by the voluntary contributions of the 
patrons. These were generally turned over to the management and 
support of the legally constituted directors under the common school 
law, and the immediate expense of securing school property was 
avoided; but in most portions of the county provision had to be 
made for setting up schools de novo. Of course the expense of 
either building school-houses, or of renting rooms was quite sorely 
felt, as the State gave nothing for buildings, and consequently 
there was less fund left for instruction. But when the sj'steui once 
got in operation the burden of building was relieved, and the ordi- 
nary workings of the system moved on in something like regular 
order. After classifying the several counties of the State according 
to the peculiar circumstances in which they stood related to the sys- 
tem, and explaining the causes which led to the results shown by the 
reports, the Secretary proceeds in this his first common school re- 
port to sum up the results as follows: 1st. " "We now have a system 
— an_admitted, permanent, and well understood starting point. To 
have attained this is a great advance to success. 2d. We have now 
a class of men set apart to watch over the cause of education in 



IIISTOKY OF OinOKNE COUNTY. 301 

every iieighborliood — six scliotil directiirs. Tliey iimy not yet be 
quulitied for tlie trust, b^it they will be." 

It may seem straiige to us, who see tlie matter of common school 
education tlironghout the broad commonwealth regarded as a neces- 
sity, and as much an clement to be enjoyed as the air we breathe, the 
vapor of the clouds and the ceaseless How of water in the streams, 
that there should ever have been a time when any fear should have 
been entertained lest the systeui should be abandoned, or such legis- 
lation should be adopted as would greatly cripple or destroy its use- 
fulness. Yet there was scarcelj' a moment during the early years of 
the existence of the system when its friends did not entertain the 
deepest solicitude for its safety. 

Superintendent Durrowes in o])eniiig liis report for 1838 says: 
"It is true the system is neither in full operation, nor its machinery 
perfect. But the momentous question, 'Can education be made as 
general and as nnbought as liberty?' has been determined in the af- 
lirmative by the intelligence of Pennsylvania." The occasion of liis 
speaking thus exultingly was an event which he sets forth in these 
words: " The whole couamonwealtli is divided into one thousand 
common school districts. Of these about seven hundred had tiie 
systeui in operation, ])revious to the lirst Tuesday of JMay, 1837, 
when its continuance or rejection was to i)e decided by a dii-ect vote 
of the people. On the day which was thus to determine the fate 
of the system, so far as information has been received [and it has 
been carefully sought fori, not a single district declared against the 
cause of free education. All stood tirm. And during the same sea- 
son sixty-five additional districts for the first time came out for the 
system. Thus the momentous question was forever settled, and at a 
time, and under circumstances too, the most unpropitious for such a 
result. The commou school system had been in existence for three 
years, but really liad been in operation in a majority of accepting 
districts, only as a system of taxation, and not of instruction. Its 
funds from the State were small, and, whether from the State or 
taxation, M'ere necessarily devoted for the first years to the procur- 
ing of school houses. Thus little or nothing was left for teach- 
ing-'' 

Feeling now tolerably secure of his ground, and realizing lull 
well that the system was securely established, the Secretary know- 
ing that public school education would not be bound and confined 
to the bare rudiments of reading, writing, and the casting of ac- 
counts, but would gradually advance in facilities until a thorongli 
training would be aftbrded in its scope, proceeded to sketch the 
ultimate propositions which it would assume; but which it required 
a half century to realize. 

"The question," he says, ••which has beeu settled by the adop- 



302 HISTOKY OF GKEENE COUNTY. 

tioii of the common school system, does not merely declare that the 
people of Pennsylvania will have reading, writing and arithmetic 
taught at the cheapest possible rate, to all, in, half a dozen comfort- 
able school houses in each townsliip. This, to be sure, is determined, 
and is of itself a great deal. But greater and better things have 
been willed by the same vote. In the deep and broad foundations 
of the primary common school are also found the bases of the more 
elevated secondary school, the practical institute for the teacher and 
man of biisiness, the academy for the classical student, the college 
for his instruction in the higher branches of science and literature, 
and the towering university from which the richest stores of pro- 
fessional learning will be disseminated. 

" In other ages and countries the lower orders might be confined 
to the rudiments of knowledge, while the higher branches were dis- 
pensed to the privileged classes, in distant and expensive semina- 
ries. But here we have no lower orders. Our statesmen, and our 
highest magistrates, our professional men and our capitalists, our 
philosophers, and our poets, our merchants and our mechanics, all 
spring alike from the mass, and principally from the agricultural 
portion of the community." 

In vision he contemplates the results, which he labored so earn- 
estly to establish, and which have actually been substantially realized. 
" The youth," he says, " enters the primary school at five years of 
age. In five seasons he is prepared to enter the secondary school. 
He is then ten. Four years liere fits him for the practical institute. 
He is now fourteen, and is supposed to have hitherto sustained him- 
self by devoting one-third, or even one-half, of each year to the busi- 
ness of his parent or employer. He attends two terms at the insti- 
tute, occup3'ing portions of two years, and in the interim earns 
enough to pay for his boarding and clothes. He is now sixteen 
years of age. He may next enter the academy 'and pass from it to 
the second class in college, or if his circumstances will permit this 
one year spent as teacher or clerk in a store, or in the business of 
agriculture during the day and close study at night, provides him 
with means and fits him for entering college without attendance at 
tlie academy. This he does at seventeen. The sanre process carries 
him through the collegiate course, and at twenty-one he is a gradu- 
ate, with industry and acqnirements, well calculated for the study of 
any profession." 

For a period of fifteen years the law thus inaugurated was kept 
in operation with varying results, producing rich fruitage where 
faithfully administered. But it was found after this length of trial 
tliat there were defects in the system that needed remedy. There 
was no competent authority provided for ascertaining and certifying 
to the qualifications of teachers. The annual reports of boards of 



IIISTOr.Y OK GKEENK C'OUKTY. 303 

directors, showing the openitions of tlie schools and the exjjeuditure 
of money were not certified by a disinterested party, school vistation 
by an intelligent examiner Avas only partially done, or not at all, 
teachers were not assembled in convention for instruction and stimu- 
lation in the work of their calling, and plans for building, seating, 
warming, ventilating and duly providing with necessary appa- 
ratus, were not provided. To remedy these defects a revision of the 
law was commenced in 185-t, by which tlie office of County Superin- 
tendent of Common Schools was engrafted upon it. This officer was 
charged witli the duty of examining all teachers who were applicants 
for schools, and granting certificates setting forth the degree of com- 
petency of each in the several l)ranches required to be taught, and of 
wholly refusing certificates to those deemed incompetent whether by 
lack of education or moral character. He was also to visit the 
schools as often as practicable and give sucli advice and instrnction 
to teachers as seemed proper, to organize teachers' institutes for the 
instruction and encoui-agement of teachers, and by lectures and con- 
ferences with parents, explain the provisions of the law and remove 
difficulties in the way of its successful operation, to certify to the cor- 
rectness of the reports maile liy boards of directors, of the length of 
each school term and statistics of attendance. The jnaking of these 
reports was made obligatory before the district could receive its 
share of the State appropriation. The school department, which had 
previously been an adjunct of the State department, was separated 
from it and made independent, with a superintendent of common 
schools at its head, with a deputy, and the necessary corps of clerks. 
A School Architecture was published by the State, and a copy deposited 
with each board of the school directors in the Commonwealth, illus- 
trated with plans of school-houses for all the different grades of 
schools, and provided with the necessary specifications for Mie 
builder. An act for the establishment of normal schools, and their 
eff'cient regulation was also passed, by which the State was divided 
into twelve normal districts in which a normal school might be set 
up and receive aid from the State under stipulated regulations, — ten 
acres of ground in one body, a hall capable of seating 1,000 persons, 
capacity for accommodating 300 pupils. It was also provided that 
cities of the requisite population should elect a superintendent, in- 
dependent of the county, and the attendance of teachers upon the 
annual county institute was made obligatory, and their pay during 
the time of its session was allowed by the districts employing them. 
Vigorous opposition was made to some of these changes, especi- 
ally to that providing for the election of county superintendent, 
chiefly on account of the expense incurred by spreading a swarm of 
new officials o\-er the State, whose services, it was claimed, could be 
dispensed with. This oppositioii gradually wore away before the 



304 HISTORY OF GPvEENE COUNTY. 

labors of a competent and faithful officer. The value of his labors 
in eliminating from the schools incompetent and unskilled teachers, 
and bringing to the front the well qualified, was found to be very 
great, and the utility of bringing teachers together in institutes and 
stimulating them to the adoption of the best methods of instruction 
and government was incomparable. 

Strange as it may seem, tliei'e Avere a few districts scattered over 
the Commonwealth, which as late as 1863, and perhaps later, per- 
sisted in refusing to adopt the free school system, and consequently 
failed annually to receive their shares of the State appropriation. In 
the process of years these arrearages accumulated until they 
amounted to .a considerable sum. A statement of these accumula- 
tions was annually published in the State report of the superintend- 
ent, and the offer to pay them over when the system should be 
adopted which the people of the refusing districts could sec, until 
finally, if for no better nor stronger i-eason, they all were induced 
to accept the bait held out to them. 

The first annual report after the adoption of the revised system 
was made by the Hon. Charles A. Black, who was then Secretary of 
State, and Ex-officio Superintendent of Schools, and a citizen of our 
own County of Greene. It is with a degree of pride that some ex- 
tracts froni that admirable docninent, illustrating as it does an intelli- 
gent view of its spirit and best methods of administration are here 
given. Touching a matter which proved to be of vital importance 
in the sul)se(pient operations of the system, he says: "With us the 
rule has ever been to adopt the township lines as the proper bound- 
aries, and the exception to this is the independent districts under 
special acts of assembly. This evil once commenced it is easy to 
perceive how it might run into excess until every thing like order 
or"system-in the arrangement of school districts would be destroyed." 
This evil, thus intelligently characterized, was found in practice to 
be all that was here pictured, and proved one of the great disturbing 
elements to progress. 

The remarks of the secretary upon the adoption of the superin- 
tendency are most judicious. The addition, then, of this new 
feature of our common school system, was the result of an impera- 
tive necessity; and it was commended to the attention of the Legis- 
lature, not more by the favorable experience of other States, than 
the evident adaptation of the measure to the objects in view. It 
was foreseen, however, by the department that in all probability the 
institution would be received with some disfavoi', and more especially 
by the directors, whose actions it might seem designed to control. 
Great care was consequent!}' taken to convince them that such was 
not the purpose, but was designed to assist them in the performance 
of their duties, to relieve them of some of the most irksome of their 





^f^ 0u^ 



niSTOKY OK GItKENE fOUNTY. 307 

labors, and to elevate, if possil)le, the character of the entire system 
for usefulness and efficiency. In a circular addressed to directors, "it 
was urged that in making choice of county superintendent ' strict 
regard should be had to qualifications, habits of morality, industry 
and previous zealous support of education by common schools. Tiiat 
hiw requires tlie person elected to be of literary and scientiilc ac- 
quirements, and skill and experience in the art of teaciiing.'" 

The Secretary, in a circular addressed to County Superinten- 
dents, gave very judicious advice, which was well conceived for 
making successful tiie labors of this new officer and securing the per- 
manence of the office. The value of the counsel given in this circu- 
lar, at this juncture, can not be overestimated, and doubtless was tlie 
means of saving the repeal of this feature of the law — a- calamity 
which had befallen this provision in the neighboring State of New 
York. " Its usefulness,'' says the Secretary, " with us will depend 
materially upon the manner in which its duties are performed. In 
their intercourse with directors, wlio are essentially the vitality of 
our system, Superintendents should be careful to avoid atiy assump- 
tion of authority not conferred by the law. The jealousy which 
naturally exists towards the creation of a superior oftice, apparently 
intended to control tlieir actions, may Ije conciliated and entirely re- 
moved by a spirit of courtesy and forbearance, and a carefulness 
to avoid any interference with the rights and duties properly given 
by law to tlie directors. Their powers remain undiminished, and in 
some respects the duties of directors are increased by the new law. It 
may be proper and useful for a superintendent to give advice and in- 
struction when required, upon many points not prescril)ed by the 
law. * * * The intercourse of a county superintendent, with 
the directors of his county, should be as frequent and familiar as 
possible. In his visitations he should carry with him a spirit of 
courtesy, and endeavor upon all such occasions to have the personal 
presence of the directors. Teachers should always be examined 
in their presence. This is both the duty of superintendents and tlie 
right of the directors. * * * By being present at the examina- 
tion of teachers and visitations they can better judge of the qualifi- 
cation and worth of a teacher, the progress of the schools, and the 
ability and devotion of the su]ierintendent to the cause of education, 
and the manner in which he discharges his duties." 

" Whatever opposition has been manifested towards the office of 
county Superintendent, results more perhaps from opposition to the 
entire system of popular education than to this or any other particu- 
lar feature of the law. It is to be regretted that there are still those 
who are so blind to their own true interests as to oppose any system 
that would call upon them for taxes, and would be hostile to any 
system of education unless they were especially exempt from tax- 



308 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

ation. * * '■■• In the moral and intellectual culture of society, 
more than in the strong arm of the law, do they find the surest se- 
curity for the safety and protection of themselves and property. 
The law never interposes to prevent the perpetration of offence, ex- 
cept by way of example — never exhorts or entreats. Its only 
mission is to detect and punish, or to reform through jjunishiuent. 
Eut education, moral and intellectual, like a,n angel of mercy, pre- 
cedes the action of the law, and enables the young to guard against 
the temptations that might otherwise beset them through life. Has 
it ever struck the minds of sucli that just in proportion as we diffuse 
the blessings of education, we lessen the public expenditures for the 
administration of justice — for tlie support of jails and penitentiaries." 

It would be pleasant and profitable to quote still further from 
this admirable report of Secretary Black, the first to rejjort under 
the new law. It was fortunate for the State and for the new systeni 
that so able and liberal minded a man was at the helm at this criti- 
cal juncture, that his views were so admirably conceived and ex- 
pressed, and a great credit to the county of Greene that one of its 
own sons was the instrument of conserving and perpetuating so great 
a blessing to the commonwealth. 

As we have seen, the feature of the new law which was in great- 
est danger of failure was the county superintendency. Though this 
was preserved, and in its sphere was capable of effecting great im- 
provements of the system, yet it was not potent for securing all the 
increase in efticiency desired. One of the defects which it could not 
immediately remove was the lack of well instructed and skilled 
teachers. Upon tliis head the Secretary observes. " The great 
scarcity of well qualified teachers is still a source of grave com- 
plaint in almost every county of the commonwealth. It is an evil 
that lies at the very root of our system, and until it is entirely re- 
moved our schools cannot attain a permanently flonrishing condition. 
Much has been done during the past summer by means of teachers' 
institutes and kindred associations to infuse a proper spirit of emula- 
tion among the teacliers and the examinations by the county 
superintendents have, doubtless, contributed to the same 
results. * * * The subject of normal schools for the 
education of professional teachers, has been so frequently urged upon 
the attention of the Legislature that it is scarcely necessary on this 
occasion to repeat the arguments in their favor. It cannot be doubted 
that two Normal Schools, one in the eastern and the other in the 
western or northern part of the State, properly regulated and sus- 
tained by the liberality and bounty of the State, * * * would 
in a very few years not only supply our schools with competent 
teachers, but give a tone and character to the entire system that it 
never before enjoyed," 



HISTORY OF GKKKNE COUNTY. 309 

No one can doubt that this recoinmendation of the Secretary was 
one of vital importance at this juncture, striking at the very root of 
the evils under whicli the system was groaning. The Legislature 
was not slow in seeing the reasonableness of his recommendation, 
and in acting upon if. For, at the session of 1857 a normal school 
law was enacted which provided for beginning with a single school, 
and for gradually expanding into that imperial system whereby twelve 
great Normal Institutions will be established in as many well detlned 
districts, representing equal areas and populations. The tenth dis- 
trict, of which Greene County forms a part, comprises the counties 
of Washington, Greene, Fayette and Somerset. Tlie school for this 
district was recognized as a State institution in 1874, and is situated 
at California. Washington County. The value of its buildings is re- 
ported to be .*95,000, furniture !?7,000, libraries SGOO, musical in- 
struments sl,000, apparatus sl,350, other property sl,oOO. The 
total number of students that have been educated in it males 2,287, 
females 2,232. Tiie annual attendance males 255, females 286. 
Schools have been established in ten districts, leaving only two still 
to be provided for. In these schools up to the present time liave 
been educated males 36,950, females 25,591 a total of 62,541, and 
the value of property in all the ten is f;l,566,813.32. From tlie 
modest recommendation of Secretary l^lack, in 1854, has all this 
grown. 

Another improvement of vital importance to the system was el- 
fected in the administration of Secretary Black, that of publishing 
and furnishing each board of school directors in the commonwealth 
with a copy of School Architecture, furnishing improved plans and 
specifications for school houses, with directions for properly seating, 
warming, ventilating, and furnishing with suitable apparatus. After 
quoting the provisions of tiie law, the Secretary proceeds to say: 
" It is to be hoped that, ere long, the rude and unsightly buildings 
wliich still disfigure so many of our school districts, will be displaced 
by comfortable houses located upon pleasant and healthy sites, and 
built not only in reference to convenience and comfort, but to taste 
and beauty. I have already had occasion to suggest the intimate 
relation between the physical comfort and intellectual improvement 
of the pupil, and that it is scarcely possible for a child to make 
rapid progress in education, whilst confined within the damp 
walls of a log cabin or a rickety dilapidated frame, without the 
slightest pretension towards comfort or convenience. How 
can he forbear turning witii loatliing and disgust from 
his studies, in such a place, to the more pleasing thoughts 
of home and its genial comforts. It is indeed a matter of sur- 
prise how parents themselves can be so insensible to the mental 
training of their ciiildren as to overlook this important fact." 



310 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

The law authorizing the puhlicatioii of a school architectiire, con- 
templated the furnishing plans for schools from the humblest pat- 
tern required in the rural district to the most ample and best 
appointed in the crowded cities. The secretary accordingly secured 
the services of Messrs. Sloan and Stewart, architects of Philadelphia, 
to make the required drawings and entrusted the superintending of 
the engraving and furnishing the necessary descriptive matter to 
Thomas H. Burrowes, who had been the first secretary under the 
common school law, and whose life had been largely devoted to sub- 
jects of education. The book thus prodiiced has been of vast advant- 
age in securing suitable school buildings. 

In concluding his report at this critical period in the history of 
school education in the Commonwealth, Secretary Black takes a hope- 
ful and reassuring view. " Never before," he says, "were the entire 
body of the people so deeply interested in the results and siiccessful 
operation of the law; and although some unfortunately, will ever 
complain, and I confess that all have perhaps had cause to murmur 
at the unsatisfactory i-esults of former years, still I am firmly per- 
suaded that the great )nass of our citizens are ardently devoted to 
the cause of education by common schools, and would deplore any 
retrograde action at this time by the Legislature as a great calamity. 
The people of Pennsylvania are far too sagacious and patriotic to be 
insensible to the overshadowing importance of popular education to 
ever}'- relation in life. '■•' * * The character, habits and pursuits 
of the people of Pennsylvania above all others demand the elevating 
and enlightening agency of popular education. Nowhere else is 
labor more emphatically the active element of greatness and pros- 
perity; and it should be a matter of intense gratification, that none 
are more devotedly enlisted in the cause of education by common 
schools than the industrial interests of the State. The agricultural, 
mechanical and laboring classes, the true stamina of a commonwealth, 
find in the common schools a surer source of power than wealth it- 
self. For, whatever influence the higher institutions of learning have 
had, or shall have in the difi^usion of human knowledge, it is to the 
common schools, the peoples' colleges, that the great mass of the peo- 
ple must look for the advantages and blessings of education. In 
tiiese humble though mighty agencies labor will find the secret of 
its power and the means of elevating itself to that just and honor- 
able position intended by the Creator." 



HISTORY OB' GREENi: COUNTY. 311 



CHAPTER XX. 

Reports of County Supiokixtendexts — John A. GoRnox — Orrosixiox 
TO Common Schools — Assistance oe Messenger and Eaule — ■ 
Rev. G. W. Baker — Waynesburcj and Carmichaels Graded 
Schools — New Houses and Increased Attendance — A. G. 
McGlumphy — Institute Organized — John A. Gordon — Nor- 
mal School at Grkkne Academy — Gordon a Soldier — Prof. A. 
B. Miller — Prof. T. J. Teal for 12 Years — New Building 
at Waynesisurg — County Institute Under the New La\v — In 
1870, 113 Frame, 23 Brick, 2 Stone, 29 Log~Ari:.ay of 
T.VLKNT AT County Ixsti-i'ute — Mt. Morris Graded School — 
Dr. a. B. Miller, Rev. J. B. Soloxcon, Prof. Lakin, Rev. 
Samuel Graham — Jacksonville Graded — Centennial Report 
— Earliest Schools — ^•Qualifications of Early- Teachers 
Meager — Teach to Double Rule of Three — Names of Early 
Teachers — Stone School House in AYiiitley' Township. 

FROM the annual reports of the County Superintendents of schools 
may be traced the complete history of the origin and progress of 
cominon school education in this county. We have seen tliat by the 
report of 1837 and 1838 only the townships of Cumberland, Frank- 
lin, Jetierson, JNIarion, Morgan, Morris, Monongahela and Richhill 
reported, and these but very meager results. In the report of 1854, 
John A. Gordon, who was the County Superintendent, reports the 
schools 154 in number, presided over by 147 male teachers, and 20 
females, to be in a prosperous condition, the people everywhere man- 
ifesting a spirit of co-operatiun in his labors. In his subsei]uent re- 
ports he njentions opposition not so much to himself or to the office 
which he filled, as to the taxation which the support of the schools 
and building of the school houses necessitated. Public meetings 
were held and resolutions passed; but beyond this it took no more 
definite form. In the AYestern townships great difficulties were ex- 
perienced on account of the sparseness of settlement, great blocks 
of land having been held back by speculatoi'S, which ren- 
dered it difficult to secure scholars enough for a school within con- 
venient distance. It is pleasant to note, amidst the difficulties he had 
to labor under, the hearty manner in which he recognizes the prompt 
assistance rendered him by the W&ynashwvgMessenffet', and Waynes- 



312 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

burg Eagle; and also the aid and encouragement from the Revs. 
Jett'ries, Collins, Laughlin and Henderson, and. from J. Laughran, 
president of the Waynesburg College, and Prof. Miller. * * * 
" But to uone am I so much indebted as to liev. G. W. Baker, prin- 
cipal of the Union school at Waynesburg. No sacrifice of time or 
money appears too great for him to make in the cause of common 
schools. lie is always ready at the shortest warning to go where- 
ever the interest of the cause calls him. Neither rain nor frost can 
deter him." In this early day much unrequited labor was performed 
in clearing the way for the complete success of the common school 
system, and it is only simple justice that testimony be borne to these 
earnest and self-sacrificing toils. 

One of the first and most important improvements wrought by 
the revised school law of 1854, was the grading of schools eftected, 
and classification secured in ungraded schools and the uniformity of 
school books as a necessary concomitant. In Mr. Gordon's report of 
1856 he says, " There are two graded schools in the county, 147 in 
which a successful attempt has been made at classification, and none 
in which there is neither grading nor classification. One of the 
graded schools is the Union school at Waynesburg. It is taught 
by Bev. G. W. Baker, principal, and Miss McFerran and Miss Alison 
assistants. I have had frequent occasion to speak of this school in 
terms of commendation. The other graded school is in the borough 
of Carinichaels. This school has only had the experience of a graded 
school of two sessions. It was taught by Mr. Poundstone and Miss 
Wilkins." 

Some estimate can be formed of the personal of the teachers em- 
ployed during this year from the following statement.: "There are 
27 teachers between 17 and 21 years of age; 40 between 21 and 25; 
34 between 25 and 80; 32 between 30 and 40; 4 between 40 and 50; 
and 14 over 50 years; 185 were born in Pennsylvania, and 16 out 
of it." In his concluding report for the year 1857 Mr. Gordon re- 
ports two school houses as having been built after plans obtained 
from the new School Architecture furnished by the State. Of the 
materials employed, 70 are reported as of frame, 16 brick, 4 stone 
and 67 log. " Over 30 schools houses," he says, " have been erected 
during my term of office (3 years) one-fifth of the whole number. 
These houses, for the most part, are better located, are larger and 
better adapted to the purjjose for which they are intended, than the 
first ones." In summing up the condition of the schools he says, 
" The first year of my term the number of pupils exceeded any former 
year by more than one thousand. This year j udging from my notes, 
the attendance will exceed the iirst year by several liundreds." In 
making up his schedule of wants of tlie system he places at the head 
a larger State appropriation. This would relieve in a measure the 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 313 

burdensome taxation necessitated by sparseness of popnbition. A 
second is a more uniform and systematic visitation of scliools; a 
third tlie sympathy and co-operation of parents; and finally a host of 
thoroughly cpialilied teachers. 

The transition state from the inetiiciency which had prevailed 
under the old law, to the well regulated system under the new law 
of 1854: did not come until the second term of the county superin- 
tendency. In the attempt to build school houses and keep the schools 
open four months in the year, as was necessary to secure the State 
appropriation, some of the districts incurred indebtedness beyond 
their means, and consequently several of the townships were obliged 
to levy and collect taxes to pay debts, and therefore had no 
schools except such as were provided by voluntary contributions. A. 
J. McGlumphy was elected superintendent for the second term. In 
his iirst report he mentions three districts as having no schools open 
during the school year, at public expense, for the reasons given 
above. 

One of his early official acts was to issue a call " through the 
county papers for a meeting of teachers, directors, and other friends 
of education, to convene in the college hall at Waynesburg, to or- 
ganize a teachers' institute for the county. At the time appointed a 
few teachers appeared, and an organization was effected. Several 
practical and interesting lectures were delivered by the teachers pres- 
ent. A number of the citizens of Waynesburg attended every 
meeting and manifested a deep interest in the proceedings. The in- 
stitute met again in January. At this meeting there were more 
teachers present than at the tirst. Upon both occasions we had the 
assistance of Rev. J. P. Weethee, President of Waj'uesburg College, 
Professor A. B. Miller, of the same institute, and a number of the 
students." Provision was made for semi-annual meetings, and it is 
to the credit of Mr. McGlumphy's administration that the county 
institute was successfully organized. He retired at the end of the 
second year and was succeeded by G. W. Baker. In the report of 
the latter for ISfiO he says in six of the districts there were no 
schools during the last year for lack of funds. lie records very 
much to his credit and his interest in the schools: "I held some 
seven or eight teachers' institutes, during the fall and winter. They 
were all but one well attended. Judging from the interest mani- 
fested by both teachers and people, they were of great service. I 
lectured nearly every week once or twice of evenings, while perform- 
ing my school visitations. These were largely attended, and very 
frequently the schools I visited were crowded with spectators, eager 
to hear the performances of the children and the lectures given 
them. The increasing interest manifested by the teachers and peo- 
ple of this county augurs favorably for the future." These are 



314 HISTORY Oi* GREENE COUNTY." 

the most encouraging words found in any of the reports hitherto 
made. 

At the election, which occnrred for the third term of the 
superintendency, John A. Gordon was chosen, entering upon his 
duties witli tlie experience of his former service, and the old time 
zeal, which manifested itself in the plan for work which he immedi- 
ately laid out. " I have made arrangements," he says, "with the prin- 
cipal of the Greene Academy, to hold a Normal school. It will open 
on the 26th of August and continue in session four weeks. At the 
close of the Normal school I shall commence a series of institutes, 
extending to the 1st of November, when tlie schools will open." 
This has the ring of the true metal, and such untiring energy as is 
here prefigured is sure of its reward. 

But now the horrors of our civil war were upon the nation, which 
overshadowed every other interest. On the 1st of November, 1861, 
Mr. Gordon resigned to take his place in the ranks of the Union 
army, and his companions in arms recognized his worth by electing 
him Captain. Professor A. B. Miller, A. M., was appointed to com- 
jtlete the term. In his report for 1863 Superintendent Miller says, 
"•The war has taken from the county several of its best teachers, sev- 
eral of whom have discharged the debt of patriotism with their 
lives; still the schools are supplied, and there is a gradual improve- 
ment in the general or aggregate qualifications." Though in the 
midst of war times he reports a good school-house erected in each of 
the following districts: Cumberland, Perry, 'Centre, Franklin, 
Whitely, and Morris; and a Union school building in "Waynesburg. 

Among the agencies which have exerted a potent influence for 
good over the common schools of Greene County is Waynesburg 
College. The superintendent says of it, " Waynesburg College is 
now in a prosperous condition. This institution is exerting a decided 
and beneficial influence upon the school interests of the county. It 
has educated many teachers, and its professors have ever manifested 
a most cordial co-operation with those who have had supervision of 
the public schools. Greene Academy has been, for a long time, a 
' light shining in a dark place,' and to it the county is greatly in- 
debted." 

For the next four terms, embracing a period of twelve years, from 
1864 to 1876, Professor T. J. Teal held the office of superintendent. 
During this long period, the formative period of common school in- 
struction in the county, the reports show a steady improvement in 
the erection of new and better school-houses, in qualification of 
teachers, in intelligent interest of parents, and the greater efficiency 
of directors in managing the business of the districts. In these 
several reports there are from six to ten new school-houses reported 
as having been built each year. In the report of 1864 a good Union 



^-^' 





^^ng^l^^SIf^ 




J^^ti^llC/ ^c^cc^^C^^; 



HISTORY OF GREENK COUNTY. 317 

sclioul building is reported as having been built in Waynesbiirg on a 
commodious and commanding site on a line witii the Waynesbiirg 
College building, at a cost of $5,000, from plan No. 5 of the State 
School Architecture. The IJev. Dr. Sloan, of the Presbyterian 
Church, was the lirst principal, assisted by Miss Mattie II. Parker, 
!Miss Mary Hedge, Miss McCorinick, and Miss Annie Allison. The 
nation was still in the throes of civil wai-. " The great conliict," he 
says, " which has been raging for the last three years, has had a del- 
eterious effect upon the cause of education. Many of the ablest 
and most successful teachers have been called from their peaceful pro- 
fession to tields of carnage and strife. Some Ull soldiers' graves on 
distant iields; others are still in the ranks of war." In man 3' re- 
spects the Superintendent of Greene County could do more efficient 
work, and his labors were more satisfactory to himself and useful to 
the county, than in the larger and more thickly peopled counties of 
the State. With reasonable diligence the officer could visit all the 
schools each year once and some a second time. His examinations 
of teachers could be held in three weeks, which left him a fair 
amount of time for holding institutes and educational meetings. 
Since the lirst reports a great change had been made in the 
teaching force in the schools. Whereas in the lirst years the teach- 
ers were almost without exception males, now they stand 89 males to 
74 females. The whole number of visits to schools this year, 1864, 
was 172, varying in length from an hour and a half to two and a half, 
and all visited except two. 

In the report of 18(J6 an appeal was made for more ample school 
grounds, Ijetter locations, for fencing and ornamentation of lots. It 
is a sign of encouragement that fourteen of the eighteen districts 
of the county were supplied with globes and MitchelTs outline maps. 
This manifests a step in advance, and a sign of progress scarcely an- 
ticipated. In the report of 1867 the gratifying intelligence is given 
that Spriuohill, which, on account of sparseness of settlement and 
delays in taking up the lands had been retarded in organizing school.-^, 
tliis year had all its schools in operation, and consequently was ena- 
bled to draw its share of the State appropriation, and certain arrear- 
ages which had been accumulating. All the schools of the district 
were now in full operation. 

The Superintendent's report for 1868 shows a more encouraging 
and hopeful spirit than has previously been manifested since the pas- 
sage of the revised school law. " Teachers," he saj-s, " have a more 
thorough knowledge of the branches to be taught, and better meth- 
ods of imparting their knowledge. They read more books on the 
science of education and the art of teaching. They attend more 
educational meetings and teacher's institutes. These are the teach- 
ers who display superior skill and ability in managing schools." 



318 HISTOEY OF GKEENE COUNTY. 

The labors of the superintendent during this year appear to have 
been more energetic and fruitful of good results than in any previous 
one. Twelve special institutes were held in different parts of the 
county with an aggregate attendance of one hundred and sixty teach- 
ers. In December, 1867, the county institute was organized under 
the provisions of tlie new act regulating these meetings. One hun- 
dred and three teachers, and a good number of citizens were in 
attendance. Professors A. B. Miller, J. C. Gilchrist, S. S. Jack, and 
J. M. Moore assisted the Superintendent. " In the number attend- 
ing, in the interest manifested, and in the practical workings of the 
institute, it far surpassed any educational meeting ever held in the 
county." But though great improvements are thus joyfully recorded 
the Superintendent's Report is not without a tinge of sadness in view 
of some of the obstacles which still were encountered. " Irregular 
attendance is one of the great opposing elements in the way of pro- 
gress. It destroys the classification of the schools, and obstructs the 
progress of the pupils. It discourages the teacher, and makes his 
work inefficient. It deprives many of a practical education, and 
throws them upon the bosom of society without those essential 
characteristics which constitute good citizenship." ■ By a provision 
of law which went into operation this year school directors were em- 
powered, if tliey were unable to obtain suitable ground in a desirable 
location for school-houses, to appropriate such and so much as was 
desired and pay for it by appraisement as in the case of land taken 
for roads. 

In opening his report for the year 1870 the Superintendent gives 
some statistics, which, compared with those given at the lii'st adop- 
tion of the system, are gratifying. The whole number of school- 
houses is reported at 167; of these 113 are frame; 23 brick; 2 stone; 
29 log. The county institute was reported from year to year as 
being. successfully conducted and growing in interest. Able educa- 
tors are reported as having been employed to give instruction and 
lecture. Among these were Hon. B. G. Northrop, Superintendent 
of the Schools of Connecticut; Hon. J. P. Wickersham, Superintend- 
ent in Pennsylvania; Andrew Burtt, author of Grammars; A. B. 
Miller, D. D., President of Waynesburg College; Prof J. A. Cooper, 
President of the State Normal School of the Twelfth district; J. 
Jackson Purnian, of Waynesburg; Prof F. A. Allen, President of 
the Normal School in the Fifth district; W. "W. Woodruif, Superin- 
tendent of Chester County; Prof. C. L. Ehrenfeld, President of the 
Normal School in the Tenth district; Prof. J. B. Solomon, President 
of the Monongahela College. Such an array of talent as this in the 
special line of institute work, embracing some of the most distin- 
guished educators and authors in the nation, rarelj^ falls to the lot of 
any one county to have employed, and it could not but exert an 



HISTOKY OF GREENE COUNT V. 319 

important inHneiice over the body of teacliei-.s assoniljled. A tVeo 
ackiiowledgnient of tlie progress and improvement of teacliers 
is made in the report of this year. '• The enterprising and progress- 
ive teachers are inakins; sacrifices to meet the constantly increasing 
demand of a higher order of qualification; these noble workers in the 
cause of liuman progress, deserve the approbation of a grateful peo- 
ple; their meritorious work is seen in the order, neatness, and clean- 
liness of the school-room; it is read in the happy faces and thoughtful 
countenances of their pupils/' 

The report of 1872 shows the erection of a suitable school edifice 
and the grading of the schools at Mt. Morris. The near completion 
of the Monongahela College edifice is also mentioned, and the success- 
ful opening of the institution. Special arrangements for the training 
of teachers were at this time made in Waynesburg College, under the 
charge of Dr. A. B. Miller; Monongahela College, under Ilev. J. B. 
Solomon; Gi'eene Academy, under Prof Lakin; and an Academy at 
Jacksonville, under Kev. Samuel Graham. While great improve- 
ment is annually reported in the qualitications of teachers, the 
lamentable fact is mentioned that many of the most experienced 
remain but a short time in the profession. They either go into other 
business or seek employment in other localities, where the compensa- 
tion is mofe remunerative. To remedy this crying evil directors are 
iniploi'ed to give better remuneration, and the almost annual recom- 
mendation is made that the Legislature make a larger State ap[)ro- 
priation, so that better wages can be paid worthy teacliers without 
making local taxation too burdensome. The very commendable 
practice of directors and citizens attending the institutes and the 
annual examinations of teacliers in the several districts is reported, 
thus evincing a growing interest in the progress of common-school 
education. 

In the report of 1874, the superintendent records fifteen local 
institutes as having been held, all well attended by directors, teachers 
and citizens, and the annual county institute as having been attended_ 
by 147 teachers. The institute was held in the court-house, and " a 
more than usual interest was manifested by the citizens of the place." 
In 1875 the schools in Jacksonville were graded and put in success- 
ful operation. With this report. Superintendent Teal, after twelve 
years of faithful, laborious, intelligent and efficient service, closed his 
official labors. The schools of Greene County "owe much to his 
skillful work during this protracted period. 

At the election of County Superintendents in 1875, Prof. A. F. 
Silvius was elected Superintendent of Greene County. In his first 
report he records the gratifying fact that eighty-three of the 
schools during the year were supplied with good school globes, and 
that directors are beginning to grade the wages of teacliers according 



320 HISTORY OF GREKNE COUNTY. 

to the degree of qualification, as shown by tlie certificate, and success 
and experience in teaching. Local institutes were held in fifteen 
districts, and the county institute was conducted by Hon. John 11. 
French, of Burlington, Vermont, and Dr. Miller, of Waynesbni'g, 
for three successive sessions. 

In the year succeeding the Centennial year of American Independ- 
ance, the State Superintendent of Common Schools called for special 
reports from the county and city sirperintendents embracing a history 
of education in their districts for the past hundred years, with the 
design of publishing a Centennial volume. From the report of 
Superintendent Silvius some interesting facts are gleaned. Of the 
state of education in the territory previous to 1796, when the county 
was organized, the information is traditional. 

" Of the early emigrants, but few conld read and Avrite. * * * 
They procured some nnoccupied cabin, made a few uncomfortable 
seats, and selected one of their number, who could read and wi'ite 
best, to teach the school. In some cases a room was fitted up in one 
of their cabins, and the woman of the house took in a few of the 
neighbors' children, and taught them with her own. The teachers of 
that day were very meagerly qualified. Of arithmetic, many knew 
little. To others who attempted to teach it, division was a mystery. 
The ability to solve examples by the rule of three was considered 
quite a scholarly attainment, and it was often inserted in articles of 
agreement, between patrons and teachers, that they would teach 
arithmetic only to the ' Double rule of Three.' The teachers who 
accomplished most were men of liberal education who had emigrated 
to this country from east of the mountains, and from foreign countries, 
and who from misfortune, habits of life, or other causes, had failed 
to follow the profession for which they were educated, and engaged 
in teaching as a necessity. Many of them were men of doubtful in- 
tegrity, and irregular lives. Though their example was bad, they 
accomplished much good, and our oldest citizens remember them 
with gratitude. 

'■ The earliest teachers of note were Kennedy, Van Emon, Ely, 
Denny, Wheelock, Webb, Duffy, Van Meter, Felix liughes, Frank 
Eraser, and Mrs. Arnold, followed by liale, Strowsnider, Foley, Mc- 
Courtney, Wood, Crawford, Kent, Rinehart, Johnson, Henry, 
Francis Bi'addock, Thomas Leasure, Moses Dinsmore, Stephen 
Uncles, James Taiie, W. B. Teagarden, Robert Cathei's and wife and 
Amos Stanberry. Of the few school-houses built at the early period 
before the inauguration of the free school system of 1834, by the 
voluntary subscriptions of neighbors, the most notable now standing 
is the stone structure in Whiteley Township, a monument of deyotion 
to education at a time M'hen money was scarce and little was being 
done. It should be ever kept in the best of repair and cherished as 



HISTOUY OF GREENE COUNTY. 321 

a link between that early period and the present. Few such nioii- 
unieiits exist within tlie borders of the Commonwealth. 

" Upon the adoption of tlie common scliool system of 1834, some 
opposition was manifested in (yreene County, and as the adoption or 
rejection of the system was left to a vote of the people, many districts 
chose not to accept its advantages. Bnt the accumulations in the 
State treasury of monies which would have been paid to non-accepting 
districts, finally became so great, money freely offered for tlie building 
new school-houses, that all accepted and organized under the pro- 
visions of the law. It was rnucli in favor of the law that some of 
the most influential citizens freely ^ave time and influence in favor 
of the system by serving as school directoi's, and pleading the cause 
of free school education." 

In his report of 1878, Superintendent Silvius publishes the report 
of a committee of teachers, before which he liad submitted some rec- 
ommendations upon the subject of gradation and promotion in the 
schools, which was adopted at the county institute. The following 
is the report: 1. Resolved, that we believe that the best interests 
of education demand a thorough classification of all the schools of the 
county, and to this end we favor the adoption of a graded course of 
studies that provides for instruction in proper order in all the com- 
mon school branches, and that we will use our influence and efforts 
to secure a course of studies and classification of all the schools of 
this county at the earliest practicable day. 2. That the County 
Superintendent, with the aid and co-operation of the school directors 
and teachers, hold examinations in each township for the purpose of 
giving those pupils, found worthy of the same, a certificate signed by 
the county superintendent, the board of directors and the teachers 
constituting the examining committee, stating that the liolder is a 
person of good moral character, and has completed the common school 
course of study. 

" In accordance with this report " the superintendent continues 
" I suggested a course of study, and near the close of the schools, 
held examinations at Garrard's Fort, Taylortown, Mt. Morris, New- 
town, Rogersville, Bridgeport, Carinichaels, Knisley school-houses, 
and Jolleytown, at which eighty-three pupils passed satisfactory ex- 
aminations, and were granted diplomas. Literary exercises were con- 
nected with the examinations, and the meetings gave universal 
satisfaction. I know of no better means to arouse emulation among 
pupils, schools and districts, and to give an impulse to education, 
than perfecting the system now introduced." 

At the election of county superintendents held in May, 1878, S. F. 
Hoge, Esq., of Jefferson, was elected for Greene. In his first report 
he TTientions a " wide-spread indifference" among the people to the 
best interests of the schools; an1 complains of incompetency on the 



322 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

part of teachers, tlie complaint being general among them that the 
wages paid are insufficient. He reports great improvement in the 
interiors of school-houses, and in the enlargement, planting, and 
fencing of school grounds. 

In 1881 William M. Nickerson, of Carmichaels,was elected super- 
intendent. A passage in his tirst report affords a fair index to the 
personel of teimhei's employed at this period: "Number of male 
teachers employed was 136; females, 59. One hundred and twenty 
held provisional certificates, forty-nine professional, twenty-one per- 
manent, and iive are graduates of Normal schools. Average age of 
teachers was twenty-four years. Forty have had no experience in 
teaching. '■■ * * Twenty-one pxiblic examinations were held at 
'which there were eighty directors and quite a number of citizens 
present. I examined 206 applicants. I issued 176 certificates, 2 
professional, and rejected 30. * '■• * The method of examination 
was the written and oral combined." In addition to the county in- 
stitute, wliich was linusually well attended, there were forty district in- 
stitutes held, usually beginning on Friday evening and closing on 
Saturday evening. In iiis report of 1884, the superintendent men- 
tions witli commendable pride the opening of the new school building 
in Waynesburg. wliich occurred on the loth of October, 1883. " The 
house," he says, '■ erected in Wayiiesburg deserves special notice. It 
is a three-story lirick building, containing eight school-rooms, a 
room for the principal of the school, and a hall or lecture room 
which can be used for school rooms. The building is heated with 
hot air, and is pretty well ventilated. The building will compare 
favorably with any in the western part of the State." 

At tlie triennial election, held in 1884, James S. Herrington, of 
Kirby, was chosen superintendent. In his report of 1886 he bears 
testimony to the steady improvement in school-houses, furniture, 
enlargement and improvement of school grounds, and the planting 
of shade trees. But one paragraph in his report shows still a great 
lack of system in the conducting of the schools. " I observed," he 
says, " that the greatest need of our schools was system and purpose 
in the school work. In many schools pupils were pursuing no 
definite course of study. They studied those books only which they 
happened to bring with them. Many were i-eceiving no instruction 
in language or grammar; but few studying or receiving instruction 
in all the branches. I at once prepared a course of study in five 
grades, together with a blank report, and got two published for each 
teacher in the county. These reports enrolled the name of each 
pupil in the school, showing in what grade he was placed and his 
standing in the grade; also the teacher's programme, and many other 
things necessary for a successful school. After being filled out by 
the teacher, one was sent to the superintendent, and the other placed 



nrSTOKY OF GREENE COTTXTY, 



323 



in the teacher's report book for the inspection of the directors. This 
did very innch for the bettering tiie condition of the schools." 

At the triennial convention of directors held in May, 1887, 
A. J. Waychotf was elected superintendent, wlio is the present in- 
cumbent. 

That a comparative view of the progress of education in (-rreene 
County by semi-decades may be seen at a glance, the main statistical 
items, drawn from the tables printed in the annual reports, are given 
below. The first entry is taken from Superintendent J')urrGwes' re- 
port, published in 1837, when the operations of the first common 
school law had been recorded. i'"ron^ that time until ISo-l, when tiie 
revised law went into effect, no itemized tables of statistics seem to 
have been published. In that year the I'eport of the Hon. Charles 
A. Black records the complete statistics, and from that time forward 
they have been regularly inserted in the annual volume. This table 
will possess interest, as illustrating the changes which have occurred 
in the half of a century. 





^ 


.£3 




» 


1 


s 


° s 






a 


Year. 


o 

O 


gg 

O OT 




I 


"3 . 
S3 
^ a 


o g 


a « 

3 t^ 


9 

S .s 




cog 
0.2 




33 

a 


II 

§03 


1^ 


n 

3 




CO 


C 

> 3 


a 

3 

o 

3 
















■Jl 




<;u 1 < 




^ 


1837 


5 


4 


4 1 


$20 00 


$17 00 


287 


$315 


00 


$635 70 


1854. . . . 


154 


4 


141 2K 


23 11 


16 40 


4,840 


14,999 


89 


1,933 75 


1859.... 


151 


4.2 


131 37 


24 13 


18 64 


4,223 


19,794 


75 


2,039 08 


18G4.... 


161 


4.10 


105 71 


20 32 


18 83 


4,873 


30,287 


83 


2,212 8(i 


18(i9 .... 


173 


4.4 


119 55 


35 44 


31 66 


5,488 


36,699 


62 


3,061 00 


1874. . . . 


179 


5.04 


129 52 


33 5G 


39 85 


4,720 36,826 


10 


4,188 01 


1879.... 


178 


5.07 


135 51 


27 87 


28 25 


5,296 33,683 


14 


5,499 19 


1884.... 


192 


5.14 


119 78 


33 87 


30 25 


5,124 44,383 


85 


6,256 95 


1888.... 


198 


5.17 


125 77 


33 93 


31 48 


5,500| 45,729, 


92 


6,928 99 



324 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 



CHAPTEE XXI. 



Chaeter for Greene County Academy — $2,000 from the State — 
Principals Served a Useful Purpose — Pennsylvania Acad- 
emies Unsatisfactory — Law to Transfer Property to Com- 
mon School — Select Schools — Waynesburg College — Origin 
— Value of the Small Colleges — Madison and Beverly — 
Need of such an Institution — Pennsylvania Presbytery of 
Cumberland Presbyterian Church — Waynesburg Selected — 
Hev. J. LouoiiRAN Opened a School — Charter Obtained — 
Supplements — Margaret K. Bell Opens School in Baptist 
Church for Females — New Building Opened — First Classes 
• Graduate — Taken Under Pennsylvania Synod — Relations 
OF THE Church to the College — Miller Succeeds Fish — Rev. 
J. P. Wethee, President — Insists on Classification of Males 
AND Females Alike— Settled After Investigation — John C. 
Flenniken — Pev. Alfred B. Miller, President, in 1859 — 
His Devoted Labors — Debt of $3,000 — Struggles — Had 
Undertaken too Much — Church to Support Three Profes- 
sors — Unselfish Devotion of Dr. Miller — Mrs. M. K. B. 
Miller — Untimely Death — Resolutions of Trustees — 
Monongattela College — Rev. Joseph Sijith — Pev. H. K. 
CRAKt — Rev. J. B. Solomon — Scope of the College. 

AS we have already seen early attention was given to founding 
county academies. A charter for the Greene County Academy 
was secured in 1810. Hugh Barclay at this time represented the 
county in the Legislature, and secured the passage of the act grant- 
ing the charter. The school was located at Carmichaels. The fol- 
lowing six named persons were appointed its first trustees: Charles 
Swan, Jaraes Flenniken, George Evans, Robert Lewis, Robert 
Witehell and Hugh Barclay. The first building was the Episcopal 
church, and was under the charge of this denomination. An ap- 
propriation was made by the Legislature of $2,000, to be used for 
building purposes and for teaching poor children gratis under the 
law of 1809. Subscriptions of citizens helped to swell the endow- 
ment fund. But for some reason the school was not established for 
several years after obtaining the charter. The following are the 
principals who have presided over the institution from its original 
opening: Ely, Wakefield, Loughran, Whipple, George W. Miller, 




d^W^'c^^ (^yy. 



'^^-2r< 



HISTOKY OF GREENK COUNTY. 327 

C A- cv C(^Q 

Joseph Horner, Iioss, Martin, Long, Baker, Craig, Orr, Lakiii and 
W. M. Nickerson. It was for many years the chief educational 
centre in tlie county. Many of those wlio afterwards rose to eminence 
received tlieir early instruction in this institution, and a large pro- 
portion of the common school teachers either directly or indirectly 
received tlieir training here. Dr. Miller, president of "Wayneshurg 
College, and Prof. G. AV. Scott, the eminent mathematician, received 
their early instruction in Greene Academy. 

When Dr. Thomas II. P>urrowes came to the head of the school 
department in 18G0 he instituted searching inquiries into the condi- 
tion of the county academies which had received aid from the State. 
Previous to this time these institutions had not heen considered 
within the purview of the State department. He found the condi- 
tion of these institutions in the main unsatisfactory. In the coun- 
ties of Adams, Alleghany, Cumberland, Fayette, Lancaster, Lj-com- 
ing, Philadelphia and AVashin<rton, the academy properties had been 
conveyed to or disposed of for the benefit of colleges or other institu- 
tions in those counties. In others they had been sold for debt. In 
a number of counties, by special acts of the Legislature, these prop- 
erties had lieen sold, and the funds paid over to the common school 
boards of directors for the benefit of the common school fund. In a 
considerable number of counties they were not in opei-ation, and oidy 
in twelve, Gi'eene being one, was* any degree of vigor exhibited. 
Over a hundi-ed thousand dollars had been appropriated by the State, 
exclusive of lands donated, to tliese county academies. The condi- 
tion of these schools as a Mliole was anj'thing but encouraging, and 
'• the question," says Dr. Bnrrowes, " arises as to the best mode of 
bringing this amount of educational capital into effective employ- 
ment. * ■'■' ■"' The enactment of a general law, authorizing the 
conveyance of academy property by tiie trustees to the common 
school district within which it is situated, is accordingly' recom- 
mended. Such a course would gradually lead to the establishment 
of efficient high common schools in the county and other large 
towns, and thus effect the generous views, in favor of the advanced 
branches of learning, which led to these numerous grants during the 
first portion of the present century." 

In compliance with this recommendation the liCgislature passed 
a general law authorizing such transfer of property, and in most of 
the counties where such pniperties existed the transfers were made, 
and among them the building and endowment funds of Greene 
County Academy were turned over to the school Ijoard of Carmich- 
aels, and a public high school took its place. 

Aside from this academy there have been select schools held at 
various points in the county, some of which have attained to con- 
siderable importance. Nineteen years ago, in 1869, the Rev. Samuel 



32S HISTORY OF GREENE COtTNTY. 

Graham establislied the Jacksonville Academy, which, during tlie 
first three years attained a membership of eighty-three, and main- 
tained a high grade of scholarship. At the present time, 1888, Mr. 
Graham has a select school at Graysville, which is of a high order, 
and quite liberally attended. At the Centennial church, near the 
borders of Aleppo and Springhill townships, Prof. David C. Comp- 
son has at intervals taught a school at which students from a con- 
siderable distance around, even as far away as Freeport, are in 
attendance. These are but examples of the methods of education 
beyond the common-schools in operation throughout the county. 

But by far the most important educational agency in the county 
is that of Waynesburg College. It is not only an institution in 
which every citizen may justly cherish a pride, affording as it does 
the highest grade of academic culture at his own door, but is a source 
of prosperity to the town, and indeed to the whole county, even to 
its remotest borders. Though not so numerously attended, nor so 
liberally endowed, nor so widely celebrated on account of age and along 
line of illustrious alumnorum, yet the elements of all liberal studies 
may as successfnlly be acquired here, as in the older and more noted 
institutions; for, after all, it is not what is put into a student by 
costly and elaborate appliances, biit what can be developed in his inner 
consciousness, and made to grow and strengthen with use, that is the 
main end of education, and it is 'a question which challenges con- 
sideration vvhetlier the ■ smaller and more secluded institutions are 
not more favorable for the development of tlie mental faculties, than 
those where crowds are gathered, where students must spend large 
sums of money, and squander much valuable time by night and by 
day to preserve their social standing. Of the eminent men, who 
have, by their talents, acquired national and even cosmopolitan 
prominence, the majority are the children of the minor institutions, 
and in the coming years the men who shall wield the liealthiest 
influence in church and State, and win for themselves imperishable 
fame, will come from the institutions which bend all their forces 
to the strengthening of the individuality of the student. 

Waynesburg College originated in a long-felt want on the part 
of the membership of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church of 
Pennsylvania for an institution of learning in their midst of a high 
order. Madison College, at Uniontown, Fayette County, Pennsyl- 
vania, and Beverly College, at Beverly, Ohio, had been subjects of 
their patronage, and confident hopes had been entertained that 
these institutions would afford all needed facilities. But for rea- 
sons not necessary here to be set forth, these anticipations had not 
been realized. "A sense of the need," says Dr. Miller, in his 
history of the college, from which this sketch is chiefly drawn, "of 
better educational facilities must have pervaded the entire Synod. 



IIISTOItY OK GKEKNE COUNTY. 329 

The number of candidates for tlie ministry was small, and tiie Pres- 
byteries felt that provision must be made to meet a demand so 
vital to the interests of the cliurcli. In this state of things the 
Pennsylvania Presbytery, at its meeting in Greenfield, Washington 
County, Pennsylvania, in April, 1849, passed the following: 

Whereas, the educational interests of this Presbytery impe- 
riously demand that an institution of learning be established in its 
bounds; therefore, 

Resoh^ed, That a committee of live persons be appointed to receive 
proposals for the location and establishment of such an institution 
and report at the next meeting of the Presbytery. 

The Reverends John Carv, Phillip Axteli, and J. II. 1). Hender- 
son, and Elders Jesse Lazear, and Samuel Mnrdock, constituted that 
committee. In the autumn of this year the Synod adopted resolu- 
tions upon the subject of education, of which the following is an 
extract: '' Many young men will continue in the ministry with only 
such preparations as the iiigh-schools afford. But, admitting a suf- 
ficient number of institutions, the want of a fund is a serious obstacle. 
To niau}^ .young men, such a fund is the only hope. Aided by the 
ehtirch, they can prosecute their studies and the ministry with high 
prospects of usefulness. Deploring, therefore, the difficulties of 
obtaining an education within our bounds, your committee are of 
opinion tliat the means of correction are in the hands of tlie Synod, 
uiul that no time should l>e lost in taking measures to that end." 

Applications for proposals made by the committee ai^)pointed for 
tlie purpose were responded to by the people of Wayneslnirg, the 
county seat of Greene County, a town at that time of some twelve 
hundred inhabitants, and of Carmichaels, a town of about half the 
population, situated in the central part of Cumberland Township, in 
the valley of the Monongahela Kiver, known as the seat of Greene 
Academy. Neither party offered a very large sum of money; but, 
as was shown by the report of the committee, the offers of citizens of 
Waynesburg were more considerable than those of Carmichaels, and 
it was accordingly adopted as the seat of the proposed college. 
Failing in the first proposal, the citizens of Carmichaels, in the fall 
of lS-49, proposed " to erect a building sixty feet long and thirty five 
feet wide, and three stories high, wliich they would tender to the 
Pennsylvania Synod, to be held l)y the S_ynod and used as a Female 
Seminary, in consideration of their extending to it tiieir patronage." 
But the Synod deemed it prudent t<i reject this offer, and concentrate 
all their patronage upon one institution. 

As yet no school existed at Waynesburg which should form a 
nucleus for the proposed college. Tiiat there might be something on 
which to build, in the autumn of 1849, the Rev. J. Loughran with- 
drew from Greene Academy, and opened a school of a high grade, 



330 HISTORY OF CrREENE COUNTY. 

which was merged into the college when the buildings were ready. 
The citizens of Waynesbnrg subscribed soine five thousand dollars 
for the erection of a building, tlie work upon which was begun in tlie 
autumn of 1850, and was completed and occupied in tlie spring of 
1851. It was a substantially built three-story brick edifice seventy 
by fifty feet, and was erected at a cost of $6,000. 

To give legal validity to its operations, application was made to 
the Legislature for a charter, which was granted in March, 1850, of 
which the following ai-e some of its provisions: 

Sec. 1. Be it enacted, by the Senate and House of Representa- 
tives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in General Assembly 
met, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That 
there shall be and hereby is established in the borough of Waynes- 
burg, Greene County, State of Pennsylvania, a college or public 
school for the education of youth, in the English and other languages, 
literature and the useful arts and sciences, by the name and style of 
" The Waynesburg College; " the said college to be under the man- 
agement of seven trustees, a majority of whom shall constitute a 
quorum for the transaction of business, and which trustees and 
their successors shall be, and they are liereby declared to be, a body 
politic and corporate, in deed and in law, by the name, style, and 
title of " The Waynesburg College," and by such name shall liave 
perpetual succession, and sliall be able to sue and be sued, plead and 
be impleaded, etc. 

Sec. 3. That Jesse Lazear, Jesse Hook, W. T. E. Webb, Bradley 
Mahanna, John Rodgers, Mark Gordon, P. W. Downey, William 
Braden, A. G. Allison, William W. Sayers, A. Shaw, John T. Hook, 
and John Phelan, are hereby a])pointed trustees of said corporation, 
to hold their oftice until their successors are elected in the manner 
hereinafter provided. By the further provisions of this section, 
three of the seven trustees were to be appointed by the stockholders 
of the building, and four by the Pennsylvania Presbytery of the 
Cumberland Presbyterian Cliurch, and if the stockholders at any 
time should fail to elect their part of the trustees, the Presbytery 
might elect the entire number; provided, that the said Presbytery 
should establish and maintain at least three professorships in said 
college within three years after being notified that the building had 
been completed, otherwise the stockholders were to elect the whole 
number of trustees alter a failure of said Presbytery to establish 
and maintain said professorships within said period. 

Sec. 4. The President and Professors of the said college for the 
time being, shall have the power to grant and conhrm such degrees 
in the arts and sciences to such students of the college and others, 
when, by their proficiency in learning, professional eminence or other 
meritorious distinction, they shall be entitled thereto, as thej' may 



HISTORY OF GRKKNK COUNTY. 331 

see fit or as are granted in other colleges and universities in the United 
States, and to grant to graduates on whom such degrees may be 
conferred, certiticates or diplomas as is usual in othercolleges and 
universities. 

To this charter two supplements were procured: The first in 
1852, increasing the number of trustees to twenty-one, the second 
in 1853, authorizing the Presbytery to elect twelve, and the stock- 
holders nine, of these trustees. In 1854 the stockholders declined 
to elect trustees, whereupon the Synod elected the whole number, 
which it has since continued to do. Thus the stockholders, on the 
one hand, early and cordially gave the college fully into tlie control 
of the Synod, while the Synod, on tiie other hand has ever respected 
the rights of the stockholders in the selection of persons to Hll the 
Board of Trustees. 

In the fall of 1850, Miss Margaret K. Dell was employed to take 
charge of a school of young ladies, with the design of founding a 
female seminary in connection with the college. A separate build- 
ing was proposed, but never erected, a seal and diploma were en- 
graved, and several classes of young ladies were graduated, and 
received diplomas under the seal of Waynesburg Female Seminary. 
During the summer of 1851 this female school was conducted in 
the Baptist church, and the college in the Cumberland Presliyterian 
church. Rev. P. Axteil assisting Prof Loiighran in the latter. In 
the autuHiu following, both schools were conducted in the new build- 
ing under the management and tuition of the following instructors: 
Rev. J. Loughran, A. M., President; Rev. R. M. Fish, A. P., Pro- 
fessor of Mathematics; A. E. Miller and Frank Patterson, Tutors; 
Miss M. K. Bell, Principal of tlie Female Seminary. " On the first 
Tuesday of November, says Dr. Miller, " the college weiit into 
formal operation in the new building, and that day marked my own 
entrance as a student, and also as a tutor, from which date my con- 
nection with the institution has been unbroken." 

Of the opening of this new institution. President Miller recalls 
most pleasant reminiscences. "This first term," lie says, "in the 
new building was a truly pleasant and auspicious beginning. As I 
now look l)ack upon that winter's work, it seems to me that no set 
of students and teachers were ever happier or more intent on the 
faithful discharge of duty. Unbroken harmony prevailed. ■•■ * ■" 
Twenty-six years of arduous and unremitting toil lie between the 
cheerful work of that winter and the grave responsibilities of the 
present ! 

" The opening of the spring term. May, 1852, witnessed a large 
increase of students, the number in all for this first year being 
one hundred and thirty. The end of the year was marked by the 
graduation of the first class in the Female Seminary: Elizabeth 



332 ■ HISTOKY OF GREENli: COUNTY. 

Liiidsej, Caroline Hook, and Martha Bayard. At the close of the 
second year, September, 1858, a class of four graduated. At the 
same date the first class of young men graduated from the college — 
A. B. Miller, W. E. Gapen, Clark Hackney, and James Kinehart. 
This commencement day, September 28, 1853, being the first in the 
college proper, was an occasion of great interest. The Pennsylvania 
Presbytery held a called meeting the day before, in Waynesburg, 
and the Synod met in the evening of that day, so that nearly all the 
members of the Synod were on the platform at commencement, as 
also other distinguished visitors, among them lion. Andrew Stewart, 
and Hon. Samuel A. Gilmore. The young men composing the class 
seemed not to lack in appreciation of the part they were to play, 
or the pre-eminence due them as the first class. Displaying their 
class motto, Duciinus, above them, they spoke to the apparent satis- 
faction of a crowded audience. " I may be pardoned," says Dr. 
Miller, " the egotism of saying it was my privilege to lead my own 
class, by delivering the first graduating performance, and thus to 
enjoy the distinction of the 'first born,' of the many sons of ^^ma 
Mater." 

Immediately following the commencement, the college was foi'- 
mally received under the control of the Pennsylvania Synod. This 
action had been delayed from the fact that the Cumberland Presby- 
terians of Ohio and Pennsylvania had formed one Synod, and it was 
deemed expedient that the college at Beverly, Ohio, which was 
already under the charge of the Synod, should be supported before 
adopting another institution. But when, in 1852, the Synod was 
divided, Beverly College was turned over to the Oliio Synod, and 
Waynesburg College was fully received under the fostering care of 
Pennsylvania Synod. The Synod set forth the grounds of its action 
in a long report, the leading points of whi-ch may be thus condensed: 
" (1). No denomination can maintain a respectable standing without 
institutions of learning. (2). No denomination can discharge its 
obligations to maintain the purity of the scriptures, and to present 
their doctrines in an efficient manner, without collegiate institutions. 
(3). Only institutions of a high grade can give character and efficiency 
to a church, in order to which an institution must receive liberal 
patronage. (4). The benefits of a union between churches and col- 
leges are reciprocal. (5). ' It will be better for the interests of the 
church that Pennsylvania Synod possesses one well established and 
influential college, than for the church to be burdened with several 
feeble ones.'" This report was prepared b}^ Revs. John Cary, J. 
Loughran and J. T. A. Henderson, and was unanimously adopted. 

Dr. Miller proceeds to state in the following succinct terms the 
relations of the Cumberland Presbyterian church to Waynesburg 
Colleee: 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 333 

'• 1. The charter secures to the Synod the perpetual use of the 
property, provided the Synod sustains tlierein at least three profes- 
sors. The charter makes no requirement as to the manner in which 
the professors are to be supported. 

" 2. Of the twenty-one trustees, the charter grants to the Synod 
the appointment of twelve. The Synod has, in fact, for twenty-four 
years, appointed the whole number of trustees. 

" 3. By mutual agreement, it is a by-law that the trustees shall 
elect no person to a professorship until the Synod has first nominated 
the person for the place. 

'•4. The endowment fund of the CoUeg-e is held by another 
Board, styled the Board of Trust of the College Endowment Fund of 
the Pennsylvania Synod, consisting of tive members appointed by the 
Synod, and acting under a charter securing to this Board all needful 
powers, and perpetual succession." 

After two years of faithful and acceptable service, as instructor 
in mathematics, Prof. Fish resigned. Whereupon the Synod nomi- 
nated, and the trustees confirmed the nomination, to make Alfred B. 
Miller, Professor of Mathematics, to till the vacancy. The following 
is tJie resolution adopted by the trustees on this occasion: " Resolved, 
That Rev. Alfred B. Miller be employed as Professor of Mathematics, 
at a salary of one hundred and iifty dollars per session." As there 
were only two sessions a year, it requires no very profound compu- 
tation to show that the salary voted was not excessive. 

The first President of the College, Rev. J. Loughran, was educated 
at Jefferson College, and though he did not graduate, the college 
subsequently awarded him the degree of A. M. A man of large 
attainments and a ready expounder of learning, he was a popular 
instructor, but was not so successful in managing the financial 
problems which arise in all institutions, when but meagerly endowed 
and unprovided with sufficient funds to pay current demands. 
Doubtless discouraged by the outlook, in August, 1855, he resigned. 
To fill the vacancy the Synod nominated the Rev. J. P. AVeethee, 
and he was duly elected President. He had previously been Presi- 
dent of Madison College, at Uniontown, and later of Ijeverly College, 
Ohio. Simultaneously with his election, the Rev. T. J. Simpson was 
appointed financial agent of the college, and by his earnest laliors 
directed attention to the institution, and while he was not able to largely 
increase the endowment fund, he succeeded in bringing in a large 
number of new students, and created a kindly feeling among the 
members of the denomination towards the college, which bore fruit 
in subsequent years. Mr. AVeethee entered upon his duties as presi- 
dent with much zeal, and a strong desire was manifested on the part 
of the people to support his administration; but it proved not entirely 
harmonious, some of his religious views not being fully in accord 



334 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

witli those of liis supporters, and his nianageineut of the college 
itself not being in harmony with the views of certain members of the 
faculty. 

As has already been seen, there had been, previous to organizing 
under the College charter, a Female Seminary conducted in the 
Baptist church, over which Miss Bell, subsequently Mrs. Miller, pre- 
sided, and some classes in this department had been graduated from 
it under the title of the Female Seuiinary, before any graduations took 
place in the college proper. When the charter had become oper- 
ative, President Wethee insisted that the college should be conducted 
and classitication should be made without reference to the sex of 
the pupils. This was not in accord with the existing system, and 
accordingly provoked some opposition. The President maintained 
his position in a public address in the college chapel, previously an- 
nounced, before a large audience of teachers, students and citizens. 
He declared that the Female Seminary was without a charter, and 
without any title to recognition. This opened the way for a pro- 
tracted investigation before the constituted authorities, and a decision 
was finally reached that the institution must be regarded as " One 
College, with male and female departments." By-laws were also 
adopted, which prescribed the duties and privileges of the president 
and principal of the female department. In the fall of 1858 Presi- 
dent Wethee resigned. 

In his brief account of the college. Dr. Miller says, " Many of 
the friends of the college thought the prospects gloomy indeed, and 
feared that this educational efibrt would terminate in a repetition of 
the Madison College trouble. The regular meeting of the Synod 
was held at Carmichkels soon after the resignation, and in the records 
of that body I find abundant evidence of feelings of discouragement 
in such expressions as ' the educational enterprise within our bounds 
is considerably embarrassed;' 'there is but a partial faculty;' 'de- 
mand for immediate attention and action,' ' that the institution be 
conducted on the most economical plan possible.' " During the three 
years since 1855, a debt had been incurred of over three thousand 
dollars. The Pev. J. Loughran, who was now at the head of a school 
in Wisconsin, was addressed with a view of his again becoming Presi- 
dent, but without success. In this emergency, Hon. John'C. Flen- 
niken, a member of the board of trustees, lately State Senator, was 
elected President, ])ro tern., but exercised only nominal oversight of 
the institution. 

In 1859 the Synod was again called on to wrestle with the old 
problem, viz., how to carry on a college without money. A com- 
mittee appointed to fill the vacancy in the Presidential office, recom- 
mended to the trustees the name of Alfred B. Miller, who, as student, 




^M 



\ 

^i^*» 

^ 



V** 







HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 337 

professor, and during the last year vice-president, since its foundin:^ 
had been connected with the college, and he was duly elected. 

In the face of many discouragements, and witli a certain prospect 
of great labors and uncertain reward, he accepted the position. His 
own account of his experiences in conducting the college and in hold- 
ing together and paying the salaries of professors, forms one of tiie 
most interesting chapters of collegiate history, and would indeed be 
amusing were it not in reality so sad. "I was made President of the 
college," he says, " as already noticed, in the autumn of 1859, though 
my management of its internal affairs began with the preceding 
year, Mr. Flenniken being only nominally president. As a student 
or professor I had been in the college from the first, and felt tlie 
deepest possible interest in its welfare. If I had any conviction of 
Providential direction of ray life, it is that God has led me in the 
course I have pursued in regard to our college. The institution was 
projected under circumstances by no means promising. Preceding 
efforts had been only failures, and there was even then a dead college 
on the hands of the Synod. When I spoke to an associate in an 
acadeni}', a noble young man, then a candidate for the ministry in 
the Presbyterian church, of my purpose to enter Waynesburg Col- 
lege as a student, he said in response, 'your people cannot sustain a 
college in Pennsylvania. They failed in Uniontown; they will fail 
in AVaynesburg. Come with me to Washington;that will be better.' 
I replied, 'I will go to Waynesburg College, and help to make it 
succeed.' Certainly, if I did not say so to him, I said it in my heart; 
and then and there was born the resolution on which rest these years 
of labor for the college. At various times I have earnestly desired 
to see the way open for me to leave; but as there are obstructions to 
a river on all its sides but one, so convictions of duty have ever shut 
me up to the direction in which my life of labor has been running 
on through all these years. How much better another man could 
have discharged the duties of the place, I cannot know. It is a 
source of comfort to have the internal assurance that I have done as 
well, as was in my power to do, in performing a work to which my 
Heavenly Father called me, and which I have been able to do only 
through a sense of his sustaining grace. 

"A debt of over three thousand dollars hung upon the college 
when it came under my control. A piano tliat had belonged to it 
had been sold for debt. My salary was very inadequate, and, worse, 
there was no reasonable ground of hope that it would be paid. Dis- 
sensions had turned a portion of the community against the college, 
and had begotten in the public mind a feeling of distrust in regard 
to the future. Accepting the position, and going to work under these 
unpromising circumstances, it seemed to me much more like an 
effort to make a college, than the honor of presiding over one — nor 



838 Mis*oiiY OF grEene coukty. 

have I _yet outgrown that feeling. My special aims were, first, to 
get the college, out of debt, and to establish confidence in its value 
and permanence. To accomplish the fonner, and to keep the neces- 
sary teaching force in the college without incurring debt, has been 
the constant, ever perplexing problem through all these years. After 
looking in vain for other sources of reliable pecuniary dependence, I 
found it necessary to assume toward the college, in fact, the relation 
of president, financial agent and board of trustees. Taught by bitter 
experience how great are these cares, thus thrown on a college pres- 
ident, and admitting that ordinarily such a course could promise 
only financial ruin, I must record my profound conviction tliat in 
tliis case, nothing but the unbounded liberty allowed me in the man- 
agement of the college could have saved it from hopeless failure. 
The struggle, that has been necessary on my part, would furnish ac- 
count of personal sacrifices and pecuniary expedients that would put 
ordinary credence out of the question, some of which, aside from my 
personal knowledge, are known only to Him from whom there is 
nothing hidden. I am sure that only the faith which 

Laughs at impossibilities, 
And cries, It shall he done, 

could have held me to my purpose throirgh the labors, perplexities, 
and responsibilities crowding these years. And yet these years have 
been full of pleasant work, full of occasions for devout thankfulness 
to Him who leads us in the way that is best, full of grand discipline 
and experiences that enrich the souls of men, and out of which come 
strength and patience and the noblest service and sympathy in all 
grand schemes for human well-being. 

" For the sake of my fellow educators, I wish to say to ray church, 
from my heartfelt sorrows in that respect, that an incompetent sup- 
port is a great hindrance to the usefidness of a college president or 
professor. I have been compelled to preach in order to live, some- 
times supplying points twenty miles distant; I have been compelled 
to deny myself books greatly needed; to stay at home when I should 
have traveled; to walk many miles because I could not afford to pay 
liack-fare; to be harassed witli debts that have eaten up the mind as 
cancers eat the flesh; in short to do a great many things, and to leave 
undone a great many things, which doing and not doing greatly 
hindered my usefulness as a public servant of the church. 1 once 
turned superintendent of schools, and walked all over Greene County, 
in order to save a little money, and still the college went on — while 
the nation was fighting battles. At anotiier time I edited the Cum- 
berland Presbyterian^ did all the necessary correspondence of the 
office and kept the l)ooks, at the same time teaching six hours a day 
in the college, exercising general over-siglit of its financial affairs, 
and often preaching twice on the Sabbath. How imperfectly all 



HISTORY OF GRKKNE COtTNTY. H'SU 

these things were done no one is more painfully sensible than the 
writer, and he sincerely prays that a like apparent necessity of trying 
to do so many things at the same time may never come again, though 
he is scarcely less bnsj^ to-day. The adage about too many irons 
in the fire, doubtless conveys a useful lesson in its ordinary appli- 
cation, but Adam Clarke used to say it conveys an abominable lie, 
and some lives seem to illustrate that there are men who can keep 
many irons going, and manage all of them reasonably well. If there 
is a position, however, whicli demands all the service of head and 
heart tiiat any man can give, that position is the presidency of a Col- 
lege, which aims at the noble work of training young men and young 
women, not onl}' in the knowledge of science, but for virtuous lives, 
and to be consecrated workers for the well-being of society. 

"In dismissing this reference to my own efforts to build up the 
college, perhaps already too long, I desire to state distinctly that it is 
not my intention to cast any reflection, directly or by implication, on 
the Pennsylvania Synod, the trustees of the college, or on any other 
party to whom it might reasonably be supposed I could have looked 
for pecuniary support. Any man who knows what it ret^uires to 
establish and sustain a respectable college will certainly agree with me 
that, considering the pecuniary resources of the community in which 
the college is located, the inaccessibility and obscurity of the place 
at the time, and especially that the sole ecclesiastical dependence was 
a single isolated synod, the prospect of success at the beginning 
must have been very moderate indeed. As early as the spring of 
1855, while Mr. Loughran was yet in the college, even Hon. Jesse 
Lazear, who had been chiefly instrumental in having the college 
located at Waynesburg, and who was its patron financially — if it then 
had any — wrote to myself and Mrs. Miller during the vacation, de- 
ploring the fact that he saw no reasonable ground of hope for re- 
muneration for our work if we continued in the college, expressing 
also the conviction that the church had perhaps undertaken entirely 
too much in attempting anything beyond an academy. Had we 
acted upon his suggestion tlie career of the college must have closed 
even then. The Synod has ever given the college a large share of its 
time, and has ever been willing to devise plans for raising funds, 
however unsatisfactory many of them liave proved; and the trustees 
have ever been willing to carry out any measures proposed either by 
the Synod or the faculty, but have found an easy relief from feelings 
of pecuniary responsibility by simply reiterating that the church is 
to support the professors. 

" Finally, for the encouragement of all who may be called to 
sustain like burdens, and without seeming presumptuous, I de- 
sire to reaffirm the sustaining and abiding conviction, that the Lord 
has signally opened the way for my support and success in this 



340 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

work. Congregations have encouraged and supported me. Many 
generous friends liave helped me and my family, 1 have been called 
to marry a great many people who gave me generous sums, and have 
been called to lecture before teachers' institutes in various parts of 
the country, which, though hard work, g^erally brought a liberal 
compensation, a portion of which has been devoted more than once 
to pay the salaries of our professors." 

The most remarkable example of unselfish devotion to the inter- 
ests of a public institution in the whole catalogue of our struggling 
colleges for existence and permanence is contained in these last 
statements of President Miller. Here is a man occupying the posi- 
tion of president of a college, a position of great responsibility, and 
entitled to Ijonum otium cum dignitate, but meagerly paid, if paid 
at all, earning something by marrying people, and devoting time, 
that should have been given to rest, to lecturing before teachers' in- 
stitutes, and then giving the money, which was clearly his own, 
and doubtless much needed by himself and family, to the payment 
of the salaries of professors and teachers. Such unselfish devotion 
as this deserves to live on the brightest page in the history of 
American colleges. Such devotion as this could not fail to make 
successful the effort to found "VVaynesburg College. 

As has been seen the female department was at the outset con- 
ducted as a Female Seminary, the graduates receiving a diploma em- 
blazoned with that title and embossed with its seal. The first prin- 
cipal. Miss M. K. Bell, who subsequently was united by marriage to 
President Miller, was largely instruraentalin giving the college repu- 
tation and standing for scholarship, and deserves mention with the 
presidents of the institution. She was the daughter of Andrew 
Bell, and was educated at the justly celebrated Washington Female 
Seminary. She was possessed of good natural abilities, well 
schooled, and a remarkable gift for teaching. Through all the 
years of her too brief life she served Waynesburg College with great 
acceptance, exerting a strong and healthful influence over her pupils. 
" On the evening," says Pi-esident Miller, " of February 10, 1874, 
after a day's ordinary work in the class-room while she was sitting 
at her own fireside, paralysis fell on the wearied brain and nerves, 
and released them from the tension in which they had for years been 
held by the power of a dauntless will. Ten weeks of helplessness 
passed, but not weeks of suffering, when the final fatal stroke came, 
bringing to the exhausted physical powers the unbroken rest of 
death, and dismissing the noble spirit to its joy and crown in 
heaven." 

On the occasion of her death the Board of Trustees of the col- 
lege passed the following resolutions: "Mrs. M. K. B. Miller, Prin- 
cipal of the Female Department of "Waynesburg College, having de- 



HISTOHY OF GREKNE COUNTY. 341 

parted this life, the trustees of the iiistitiitiou pay this tribute to 
lier memory. 

" Many years ago she came to this place, in the bloom of 
life, and with a noble desire to do good, she applied with indus- 
try and zeal all the energy and resources of a vigorous mind, dis- 
charging the duties of principal of her de])artment in the col- 
lege to the entire satisfaction of the IJoard of Trustees, and of every 
one under her care. During all these years of unselfish devotion 
to the cause of education, she tilled iier position with consummate 
ability, and with the greatest advantage to the institution. With a 
mind pure and cultured, she endeared herself to all who knew her, 
and from the young ladies under her care for instruction she always 
received the highest proofs of uninterrupted coiiiidence and attach- 
ment. We may truly say, 

Her life was too pure for the pencil to trace, 

And her goodness of heart could be read in her face. 

"Although a mother, and having the care of a family, lier love for 
the institution she fostered and so nobly had helped to sustain, never 
slackened, but seemed to grow more intense, until she was stricken 
by death. Her demise occasions a vacancy in all her relations 
to the society she so much adorned, and one that will be ditHcult to' 
till" 

Monongahela College, located at Jefferson, Jetiersou Township, 
Greene County, was chartered by the Legislature in 1867. The af- 
fairs of the institution are managed by a Board of Trustees of which 
the original organization was as follows: Hon. A. A. Parman, presi- 
dent; Kev. li. W. Pearson, vice-president, and liev. C. Tilton, secre- 
tary. The buildings are located just outside the borough, on a beau- 
tiful plat of ground containing some fourteen acres. It was founded 
by meml)ers of the Jiaptist denomination of southwestern Pennsyl- 
vania, and West Virginia. Though under the maiuigement of mem- 
bers of this denomination it is no way sectarian in its practical 
workings. The Rev. Joseph Smith, A. M., was its first president. 
In 1877 Mr. Silvius' in his centennial report of education in Greene 
County, says: "Money has been subscribed to liquidate all indebt- 
edness of the college, and it is supported by a permanent endowment 
of §30,000. The total income of the institution i'"^'' aniuim is 
§3,800. The friends of the college are securing philosophical and 
chemical apparatus, and have begun the collection of books for a li- 
brary. The faculty of the college is as follows: Rev. II. K. Craig, 
president; Rev. J. M. Scott, D. D., professor of mathematics and 
physical science; W. P. Kendall, A. B., professor of Latin and 
Greek; Miss Lizzie Patton, principal of the female department, and 
Mrs. II. K. Craig, teacher of music." Rev. J. B. Solomon, A. M., was 
afterward made president of the institution, and Mrs. Solomon princi- 



342 HISTOKY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

pal of the female department. Miss Nannie Pollock was appointed as- 
sistant teacher and snbseqiiently became principal. The course of 
stndy marked out is similar to that pursned in other American col- 
leges granting the degree of A. B. It also has a normal depart- 
ment in which large numbers of the common school teachers have 
been trained. The college has latterly been suspended. 



CHAPTEE XXII. 



Tub AVaynesbukg " Messengee" — The Waynesbueg " EEruBLicAN" 
— The Waynesbueg "Independent" — The Geeene County 
" Demockat." 

THE Waynesburg Messenger, the oldest newspaper in Greene 
County, was established in 1813, and has been published continu- 
ously under the same name since. It was originally edited and published 
by Dr. Layton. He was succeeded by John Baker, and Baker in 
turn by Thomas Irons. The latter subsequently associated with him 
his brother, John Irons, who finally became sole proprietor. The 
changes thus indicated covered some fifteen years of the early exis- 
tence of the paper. John Irons was an excellent practical printer. 
He was of Irish birth, and had served an apprenticeship of fourteen 
years in the office of the Washington RejMrter. He was a gentleman 
of fine ability and high sense of honor. He conducted the paper with 
marked skill until the spring of 1837, when he sold it to John 
Phelan, who had learned the business in the office of the Messenger. 
Mr. Irons removed to St. Clairsville, Ohio, where he bought the 
St. Clairsville Gazette, and published it for six months, when he sold it, 
returned to Waynesburg, and at the end of Mr. Phelan's first year, 
in the spring of 1838, repurchased the Messenger. This was the 
year of the Gubernatorial contest between David Rittenhouse Porter, 
Democrat, and Joseph Eitner.Whig, or Anti-mason, as the party was 
designated at that time in Pennsylvania. The contest was a heated 
one, and the Messenger conducted the canvass with great spirit and 
success, the majority for Porter in the county reaching over 700, 
neai-ly double the Democratic majority up to that time. Mr. Irons 
retained control of the Messenger until the autumn of 1840, when 
he sold it to Chai-les A. Black, and went to Uniontown, where he be- 
came proprietor of the Genius of Liberty. 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 343 

Mr. Black was a polished writer and gained deserved reputation as 
an editor. But be retained the paper but two years, when he sold it 
to Jaines W. Hays. At the expiration of two years more Mr. 
Hays sold it to W. T. II. Tanley in the fall of 1844, just prior to 
the election of James K. Polk to the Presidency of the United 
States. The Democratic majority in this election reached about 900. 
Mr. Pauley sold the paper in the spring of 1852 to John M. Stock- 
dale and James S. Jennings, but at the expiration of a year the Mes- 
senger reverted to Mr. Pauley. In the sprinij; of 1857 Mr. Pauley 
sold a half interest in the paper to James S. Jennings, and in the 
spring of 1859, having rented his half interest, retired to a farm 
where he remained till the spring of 1867, when he again took full 
control of the Messenger. Mr. Pquley conducted it with liis usual 
success until January, 1883, when he leased it for a term of five years 
to Col. James S. Jennings, who in turn i-ented it to Messrs. Wood- 
ruff and Dinsniore, and before the expiration of the original lease of 
five years the paper had been transferred to A. E. Patterson. 

On the 1st of January 1888, at the expiration of the five years 
lease, the Messenger reverted to its owner, W. T. II. Pauley, who 
associated with himself his two sons, Jaines J. and John F. 
Pauley, by whom it is iiowjinblished. With the exception of a period 
of four years, from 1838 to 1842, Mr. Pauley senior has been closely 
associated with the Messenger, in the various capacities of appren- 
tice, publisher, owner, and editor, for a term of over fifty-five years, 
— having first entered the oftice as an apprentice to John Evans, on 
the 14th day of Maj', 1833. The Messenger has always been a Demo- 
cratic paper, and radically so while under the editorial control of 
its present senior editor. 

The AVaynesburg Ilepuhlican was founded in 1833 by Job Smith 
Goff, the editor and proprietor. The first number was issued on 
Tuesday, May 14. of that year, under the title of " The Greene 
County Repuhlicanr It was published weekly. After an existence 
of a year or more the paper lapsed for want of support. In 1838, 
however, the type and presses were purchased by Jaines W. Moor- 
head, and the paper was again started under the title of the Greene 
County Whig. A brother of Mr. Moorhead afterwards acquired 
possession of it and it was published until 1841, when it again lapsed. 

In 1843 it was revived by S. Sigfried, Jr., who had charge of the 
paper until 1851, when it passed into the hands of Thomas Porter, a 
young man of spirit and enterprise, who purchased a new press and 
type. Young Porter died, and as a consequence the paper was not 
published for some months. In 1852 the leaders of the Whig party 
in Greene County purchased it and induced General J. H. Wells to 
assume charge of it. At the retirement of General Wells the press 
and outfit of the oflice were purchased by Joseph Cook, who changed 



344 IIISTOKY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

the name of the paper to the Wayiiesburg Eagle. In 1856 E. R. 
Bartleson became the editor and proprietor. Under his charge the 
original name, Greene Coanty Republican, was again restored. From 
his liands the paper passed to the charge of L. K. Evans,\vho remained 
as editor during the period of the civil war 1861-5, though dxiring 
the period that Mr. Evans was in the army the paper was in charge 
of George Cook, but with the name of Evans appearing as editor. 

The paper subsequently became the property of Ridde and Clark, 
and was placed first in charge of A. Watkins and afterwards was con- 
ducted for a short time by G. W. Daugherty. In 1866 it was purchased 
by James E. Sayers, under whose management the paper floiii-ished. 
He gave it its present name, the Waynesburg RepvMican, making 
the change in order to identify the paper with the town. In 1868 
Mr. Sayers disposed of the paper to James N. Miller, who changed 
its name to the Repository, but only retained possession of it for 
two years, when he sold it to W. G.AV. Day, who remained in charge 
of the paper for a longer period of time than any of his predecessors. 
He again restoi-ed the name Waynesburg Republican. He proved 
himself a spirited and able editor, and during his ownership the 
paper was enlarged and improved. He purchased a new press and 
introduced steam power. 

In 1884 Mr. Day disposed of a half interest in the paper to I. 
li. Knox. It was conducted under the charge and editorship of Day 
and Knox until February, 1885, when Mr. Day disposed of his re- 
maining interest to G. W. Kay and J. P. Teagarden. The firm of 
Knox, Kay, and Teagarden, now publishing the paper, was then formed 
with Mr. Knox as editor and manager. The paper is the only organ 
of the Kepublican party in Greene County and is one of the foremost 
country papers in the commonwealth. 

The Waynesburg Independent was founded in 1872 by two 
])rinters, Z. C. Ragan and J. W. Axtell, who conceived the idea of 
establishing a paper untramelled by partisan interest, and especially 
devoted to the growth and prosperity of Greene County. Before the 
first number was issued over 1,100 subscribers had been obtained. 
At no time has its patronage been less, and at present it has a cir- 
culation beyond most county papers of the State — 3,100. The enter- 
prise was not, however, without its share of good and ill fortune; 
but in face of the predictions of failure, and the trials incident to so 
large an outlay dependent upon the caprice of public patronage, it 
has attained a firm footing, and in May, 1875, the proprietors in- 
troduced the first power steam printing press in Greene County. 
This was regarded as a remarkable indication of enterprise and skill. 
In the fall of 1877 Mr. Axtell disposed of his interest to W. W. 
Rodehauer, who continued a member of the firm for about three 
years. In the fall of 1880 he sold his interest to W, W. Evans, 




.^^^^^^'Z^i^^^^^..-.^^ 



msTOHY OF OftKENE COUNTY. 347 

previously of the Moundsville liejwrter, who is still associated with 
Mr. Ragaii, one of the original founders. As in its inception, the 
paper continued to meet with opposition. The Independent had 
taken a firm s'and against the lifjuor traffic, and other sources of 
evil, which provoked bitter resentment. In November, 1884, the 
office of the Independent, machinery and entire outfit, were utterly 
destroyed by fire, entailing a loss to its proprietors of nearly $5,000,. 
on which was an insurance of only $2,000. This was a discouraging 
reverse, and one which swept away at one blow the accumulations of 
many years, and threatened to stamp the Independent out of exist- 
ence. But the gentlemen who were at the head of the enterprise 
were of that stufi'that knows no such word as fail, and after the lapse 
of four years, with its rebuft's and struggles, it has been re-established 
with something more than its pristine strength and vigor, and still 
maintains unswervingly its original motto. 

The Greene County Democrat. Through the solicitation of promi- 
nent independent democrats, who believed that it would be for the best 
interests of their party as well as of the people, to have two Demo- 
cratic papers published in a county where the majority of the 
dominant party is so large, J. F. Campbell, an experienced news- 
paper man of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, came to Waynesburg in the 
fall of 1881, and with the assistance of D. R. P. Ilass, an attorney 
of the Waynesburg bar, established the Greene County Democrat. 
The material with which the paper was first printed had been used 
iti the publication of the Washington (I). C.) Standard, a paper that 
had ended its existence after a brief career, and M'as purchased at the 
National Capital by Mr. Ilass. The first number of the Democrat 
was issued Saturday, December 17, 1881. Mr. Campbell published 
the paper with varying success until March, 1882, when he disposed 
of his interest to a company of Waynesburg capitalists, wlio held it 
but a short time until it was sold to Simon R. Hass, Jr. 

Mr. Ilass entered upon his duties as editor and proprietor April 
15, 1882, and under his management the paper prospered in the in- 
crease of its circulation and popularity. On the 11th of July, 1884, 
the entire property was purchased by F. M. Spragg, who conducted 
the paper with the aid of Mr. Ilass, who was retained as associate 
editor, with credit to himself and satisfaction to its readers. On 
April 11, 1885, a half interest was sold by Mr. Spragg to Colonel 
James S. Jennings, whoso experience in the newspaper business ex- 
tended through many years. IMessrs. Spragg and Jennings, editors 
and proprietors, with Mr. Ilass as associate editor, published a paper 
that was generally recognized as an excellent local sheet, and the 
organ of the party of commanding infiuence, in Greene County. 

James AV. Hays, Jr., became sole editor and proprietor on Oc- 
tober 3, 1887, and under his able management its circle of readers is 



348 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

daily widening. The Democrat is in the convenient form of a folio, 
22x28, and is printed on a large Taylor steam cylinder press. To 
the old Standard oiitlit much new material has been added from 
time to time by its successive publishers until the paper now ranks 
among the best equipped country printing offices in the State. The 
job department is complete, its facilities for plain and fancy work 
being: unexcelled. 



CHAPTER XXIII. 



The Cumbp:eland Road — Recommended by Washington — ^Canal — 
Ohio Admitted in 1802— Act Authoeizing Road in 1806 — 
AtBEET Gallatin — Refuses to Inteefeee — Peesident Madison 
— By "Washington — Finished in 1820 — Specifications — Ar- 
peaeed Excellent — Mateeial Defective — Teaffic Immense — 
Speedy Rei'aies — Delafield and Cass — Limestone Renewal — 
Ceded to the States — Toll EIouses — "OysteeLine" — Monkey 
Box Line — 1852 Pennsylvania Raileoad and Baltimoee &, 
Ohio Opened — Baltimoee & Ohio Pushed Out of Penn- 
sylvania — Cause of Opposition — Washington & Waynesbueg 
Raileoad — By the Hills — Ciecuitous — Novel Experience. 

''ILLS CREEK, or, as it was subsequently called, Cumberland, 
Maryland, was regarded as theextreme verge of civilization in the 
early stages of colonization. It was by this route that the early pioneers 
from Maryland and Virginia went as they penetrated into the Monon- 
gahela and Oliio country. This route Washington followed on his 
expedition which terminated in the disastrous afi'air at Fort Necessity, 
on the 4th of July, 1754, and this Braddock pursued in his un- 
fortunate campaign of the following year. An apology for a road 
was cut through this rugged country for the passage of artillery and 
trains, on the occasion of these expeditions, to Redstone on the 
Monongahela River; but the frosts of winter, and the rains of spring 
and fall, soon effaced the small improvements made, until there was 
scarcely a trace left of them. The later military expeditions followed 
the route of Forbes, which was wholly in Pennsylvania, correspond- 
ing to the Pennsylvania Railroad as that by Cumberland did to the 
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. 

As we have already seen the progress of the earlier settlers was 
very slow and toilsome in the first years of settlement in reaching 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 349 

the lands upon tlie Monougabela. The war of the Revolution 
coming on, for eight years the subject of a great highway to the west, 
which had begun to be seriously considered, was interrupted. Soon 
after the close of the war. General Washington, who had come to feel 
a fatherly care for all that pertained to the welfare of his country, 
and who had long meditated the necegsity of easy communication 
between the East and the West, made a journey of exploration to the 
Ohio country. His favorite project was a great water-way from the 
waters of the Potomac to those of the Ohio. He conceived that a 
canal might be cut by way ol the head-waters of the Potomac to some 
point on the Monongahela lliver which could easily waft the vast 
tonnage and passenger traffic which he clearly forsaw would soon set 
towards this delectable country, the new Eldorado. In the year 1784 
he made the journey. From Cumberland to Redstone was familiar 
ground; but when arrived at the head-waters of the Youghioghany 
lie took to a canoe, and floated down that stream to the Falls of the 
Ohio; thence he rode across the country to the Monongahela; thence 
up that stream into Virginia, and finally across the country to the 
Ohio River. At convenient points he met the settlers, and made 
particular inquiries in regard to the feasibility of the several routes. 
It was while on this journey that he met, for the lirst time, Albert 
(Tallatin, then a young man, who subsequently became eminent as an 
American statesman, by whose opinions and testimony Washington 
was much impressed. 

Put Washington became convinced, that, in the financial em- 
barrassment of the country, it could not undertake the vast out' ay 
needed to build a canal over the Alleghanies; but he was strongly 
impressed with the feasibility of a great national road across the 
mountains. In his administration of eight years the subject was 
kept before the people; but was not urged, as debt still rested, like 
an incubus, on the young nation. In Adams' administration the 
subject was brought before Congress, but failed of any action. Pres- 
ident Jefferson in his first message recommended action, but nothing 
resulted from it. Finally, in 1802, Ohio was admitted into the 
Union as a State, and in the act of admission it was ]irovided that 
one-twentieth of tlie proceeds of the sale of lands should be devoted to 
the construction of roads from the Atlantic sea-board to the Ohio 
country. In 1806 an act was passed authorizing the laying out and 
making of a road from Cumberland to the State of Ohio, and com- 
missioners were appointed for its survey. If a straight line be 
drawn from Cumberland to Wheeling, Virginia, the objective ])oint 
aimed at, it will pass through New Salem and will cut Jefferson, 
Nineveh and West Finley. It was not, of course, practicable to lay 
the road on an entirely straight line; yet it was, eventually, laid on 
almost exactly such a line until it reached the Laurel Ridge, when 



350 HISTOKY OF GEEENE COUNTY. 

it was made to veer to tlie north, passing tlirough Uniontown, and 
extending to Brownsville or Redstone. To this point the route rec- 
ommended by the commissioners was oilicially adopted and pro- 
claimed by President Jefferson. " From thence," he says, " the 
course to the Ohio and the point within the legal limits at which it 
shall strike that river is still to be decided." 

But the work on the road was slow. It was 1811 before appro- 
priations were made, and Congress made one of the pittance of but 
$50,000. During the term of office of Mr. JeiJerson, the road was 
only located as far as Brownsville. Great strife was manifested by 
those living along the line of the proposed routes to secure its loca- 
tion by their own doors. Especially was their solicitude about its 
terminus on the Ohio Biver, as it was confidently anticipated that, 
wherever that terminus should be, a great town would spring np. 
Albert Gallatin, a man of strong native ability, having taken up a body 
of land on the right bank of the Monongahela River, about Mt. Moriali 
or New Geneva, and having been appointed Secretary of the United 
States Treasury, was supposed to have great influence in locating it. 
Properly he would have had, by ^^irtue of his office, the right to de- 
cide the question finally. But it appears by the terms of a letter 
which he wrote, in reply to importunities that he would use his 
authority to secure its location in a particular course, that influenced 
by a fine sense of honor he could take no part in the controversy. 
He says, "I thought myself an improper person, from the situation 
of my property, to take the direction which would naturally have 
been placed in my hands, and requested the President to undertake 
tlie general superintendency himself." Had he used his influence to 
carry it further south, instead of north of the direct line, as was done, 
then this great highway would have passed through Greene County, 
and taken the valley of South Ten Mile and Wheeling Creeks. But 
having passed through Uniontown and Brownsville it was thought 
to be necessary to pursue a more northern course. 

When James Madison became President in 1809, he approved the 
course of the road adopted by Mr. Jefferson, and the contracts were 
given for the completion of the road to Brownsville. It was 1815 
before these contracts were completed. In the meantime the war of 
1812 had been carried to a successful issue. When peace was con- 
cluded in 1815, President Madison ordered the commissioners to 
complete the surveys from Brownsville on the Monongahela to 
Wheeling on the Ohio. They surveyed two routes, one by the way 
of Washington and West Alexander, and the other tlirough the south- 
ern portion of the county. In their report they favor the southern 
route as the most direct and most favorable for building a road. But 
tlie influence brought to bear from Washington finally prevailed, and 
it was located through that place, It was nnd-winter of 1830 be. 



IIISTOKY OF OREENE COUNTY. 351 

fore the road was completed from Cumberland to AVheeling, and 
opened for travel. Thus nearly a quarter of a century from the time 
when Washington began in earnest to advocate its construction was 
consumed in making this stretch of a little more than a hundred 
miles. Any good company now would agree to put a railroad around 
the earth in that time. But the road was a good one, well built, and 
subserved a great purpose. The following specifications will give an 
idea of the manner of its construction. " The natural surface of the 
ground to be cleared of trees, and other wooden growths, and also 
of logs and brush, the whole width of sixty-six feet, the bed of the 
road to be made even thirty-two feet in width, the trees and stumps 
to be grubbed out, the graduation not to exceed five degrees in ele- 
vation and depression, and to be straight from point to point, as laid 
off and directed by the superintendent of the work. Twenty feet in 
width of the graduated part to be covered with stone, eighteen inches in 
depth at the centre, tapering to twelve inches at the edges, which are 
to be supported by good and solid shoulders of earth or curb-stone, 
the upper six inches of stone to be broken, so as to pass through a 
ring of three inches in diameter, and the lower stratum of stone to 
be broken so as to pass through a seven inch ring. The stone part 
to be well covered with gravel and rolled with an iron-faced roller 
four feet in length and made to bear three tons weight. The acclivity 
and declivity of the banks at the side of the I'oad not to exceed 
thirty degrees." 

The passenger, carrying, and freight traffic of the road from tiie 
start was immense, and ever increasing until the opening of through 
lines of railway reduced it to a common local thoroughfare. When 
first opened it seemed to be thoroughly and substantially built, and 
it was believed would last a quarter of a century. But it was soon 
found that in many parts sandstone had been used in its construction, 
especially in the part over the mountains. It only required a few 
passages of heavily loaded teams over this material to reduce 
it to sand, and heavy rains would soon wash it away into the valleys. 
But a short time elapsed before the whole eighteen inches of stone 
was cut through and ground to powder, and was found encumbering the 
the lowland of the farmers, leaving the gullied road-bed next to im- 
passible. At the opening of the road, it seemed a perfect structure, 
and the passage over it was delightful. the vehicles rolling along as on 
a Belgian pave. The traffic was l)eyond all expectation. The tallyho 
coaches for passengers and mails, the broad-wheeled Conestoga 
wagons with their enormous tonnage, droves of cattle, and sheep, 
and hogs, from the valleys of the Wabash and the Scioto, passing in 
almost continuous clouds, and horsemen making more expeditious 
journeys, gave this great highway the appearance of a city 
thoroughfare. To feed such a continuous column, going and coming 



3^2 HlSTORf OF GKiJENE COUNTf . 

at the slow rate of travel, was a subject which taxed the ingenuity 
and resources of the country. Taverns for the accommodation of man 
and beast sprang up in almost continuous line alonoj either side of 
the avenue, with yards for teams and pasturage for droves. " It was 
frequently the case that twenty-five stages, each containing its full 
complement of nine inside, and a number of outside passengers 
' pulled out ' at the same time from Wheeling, and the same was true 
of the eastern terminus at Cumberland. As many as sixteen 
coaches, fully laden with passengers were sometimes seen in close and 
continuous procession crossing the Monongahela bridge between West 
Brownsville and Bridgeport. The lines ran daily each way, and it 
was sometimes the case that thirty stages, all fully loaded with pas- 
sengers, stopped at one hotel in a single day." 

As we have indicated, the necessity of repairs came speedily, 
and the Government was called upon for appropriations. These 
were made. But as traffic increased these calls for repairs were louder 
and ever multiplying. Not ten years had elapsed before it was found 
that these demands were becoming burdensome even to the general 
Government. The United States could not lay tolls, and had from 
the first left the road entirely free. With the State rights doctrines 
of Gen. Jackson, who came into power in 1829, arose opposition 
to further appropriations. It was accordingly proposed to cede the 
road to the States through which it runs, with the understanding 
that they would build toll houses along its entire length, and thereby 
realize enough to make the road self-supporting. But the road was 
terribly out of repair and the State Governments refused to accept 
unless the United States Government would first put it in perfect 
condition. Captain Delafield, of the topographical engineers, with 
Gen. George W. Cass made a thoroi^gh inspection of the road and 
recommended that it be macadamized throughout its entire length 
with limestone, the only material that would stand the ceaseless 
grinding of the steel banded wheels. This at first view seemed utterly 
impracticable, inasmuch as the lime underlies the sand-stone, and was 
supposed to be unapproachable except in the deep valleys. But valuable 
quarries of the best quality of lime were discovered and opened, 
along the line, which furnished inexhaustable supplies for the 
road, for building purposes, and as a fertilizer for the soil as well. It 
was 1833 before the macadamizing was completed, though the acts of 
the several Legislatures were passed in 1831-2. The toll-gates were, 
accordingly, erected, and the road finally passed under the control of 
the several States. 

And now the traffic upon the way was greater than ever. In 
1835 the Adams Express Company established a line over this road. 
It was inaugurated by Alvin Adams and Mr. Green, and Maltby and 
Holt, oyster dealers of Baltimore. It was at first known as the 



illSTOUY Of GREENE COtJNTt. 3^3 

" Oyster Line," having been originally established to supjjly the 
West with fresh oysters. Light four-horse wagons with relays were 
employed, and soon other packages besides oysters were carried, un- 
til liiially it grew into the express system of the present day. In 
1837 a horse-back express, requiring nine horses at each relay, and 
three boy riders for carrying short messages, drafts and paper money, 
was established between St. Louis and Washington. Later an ex- 
press mail was established, which was provided with light carriages, 
which held the mail box and seats for three passengers only. From 
the peculiarity of the wagons it was known along the route as " Monkey 
Box Line." 

In 1852 the Pennsylvania railroad was opened to Pittsburg, and 
in the same year the Baltimore and Ohio to Wheeling, and the glory 
of the " Monkey Box " was at an end. 

We have seen how the National road veered to the north, out of 
the direct course, in order to pass through Uniontown and Washing- 
ton, even though the route further south was more favorable for 
building. Thus Greene County was left to one side, though it was 
reached indirectly as was all that entire region. 

When the surveys came to be made for the Baltimore and Ohio, 
railroad lines were examined through the southern section of Greene 
County, which were found feasible, and it was the earnest desire of 
the company to adopt one of them, crossing a long stretch of its ter- 
ritory. But now, when the prospect that the county would be 
opened up by one of the great trunk roads running east and west, 
and bringing the best markets of the continent to the very doors of 
its people, the strange spectacle is presented of the very people, 
whom it would most benefit, opposing its location through their ter- 
ritory. The frivolous excuses M-ere made that the locomotives would 
set fire to their haystacks, that the flocks and herds which were 
driven through by the highways, would be carried in the cars, and 
thus a great source of revenue would be cut off, and that their live- 
stock would be killed by the locomotives. 

But the i-eal cause of the opposition was probably deeper seated. 
The Pennsylvania railroad company, as we have seen, was also build- 
ing a trunk line through the heart of the State, which would lie the 
rival of the Baltimore and Ohio, and it was the policy of this com- 
pany to retain the entire territory of the State to be reached by its 
own road and its branches. Consequently, it was for the interest of 
this company to inspire in the minds of the inhabitants along the 
line of the proposed location of the rival road, opposition to it, so 
that there would be argument for the Legislature to refuse a charter 
to the Baltimore company. The tactics of the Pennsylvania com- 
pany were successful, and this great thoroughfare, one of the most 
prosperous and powerful in the country, was crowded beyond the 



354 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTt- 

limits of tlie State, the busy traffic circling in almost continuous line 
around its corner screaming out notes of derision and defiance as 
it passes. 

Greene was, consequently, among the last counties in the State 
to be penetrated by a railroad, though the stations along the Balti- 
more road, on the southern and western borders, became convenient 
avenues for travel and traffic for the inhabitants of that section. But 
the county seat linally attained to so much importance, as the center ' 
and metropolis of a wide farming country, that a railroad had be- 
come a necessity, and its citizens determined to bnild a road on 
their own account. Surveys were accordingly commenced with the 
design of locating one by the best route from Waynesburg to Wash- 
ington, where it could connect with roads leading in all directions. 
The most natural and feasible route for this was found to be by 
the Chartiers Creek Valley, through Van Buren and Prosperity, 
substantially on the line of the old plank-road. But, as is now 
asserted, tlie men of means living along this line refused to aid in 
the construction of the road and accordingly the surveyors took to 
the liills. The route finally adopted, by West Union and Hopkin's 
Mills, is by a series of interminable hills, and while picturesque and 
beautiful to the last degree, it was proportionately unsuited to a 
railway by the usual straight line reduction. The only alternative, 
therefore, was to strike for the summits, and wind by the graceful 
and endless curves which nature has imposed. 

In passing over this road into Greene County for the first time 
there is a constant cloud of uncertainty hovering over one. He pulls 
away for a while and seems to be leaving Washington behind him, 
and he feels sure that in the schedule time he will arrive in Waynes- 
burg. But he has not gone many miles before the sun, which was full 
in his face at setting out, is now at his back, and he is haunted with 
a suspicion that he has taken the wrong train, and is on his way to 
Pittsburg. But while he casts an admiring glance at the land- 
scape, changing at every instant and presenting an endless variety of 
hill, and vale, and winding stream, he suddenly finds himself turned 
quarter round, and he is making direct for Ohio, and begins to 
fear that he is on his way to the far West. But that solicitude 
has scarcely had time to get a lodgement before the train, by a mi- 
raculous transformation, is turned completely about, and is rushing 
on over the steel banded way directly for the Delaware Water Gap, 
the gate to New York City. In his perplexity he is just upon the 
point of calling the conductor and inquiring where he is really go- 
ing to, when the train pulls around, and seems to be making in the 
direction of his destination, and he feels ashamed of himself for 
doubting the integrity of his ticket. So he pulls out a book and 
settles down to a snatch of romance. But all at once he is brought 




%t^ 




^^^-^'^?-^Zyt^ "p^c^^^^ 



inSTOlJY OF GREENE COUNTY. 35t 

up in the middle of ti sentence by the train starting ofi" on a perfect 
masquerade, circling around as though out on a cruise for pond-lil- 
ies, and when it has made the complete circle and he feels sure that 
he is about to strike the track on which he came, and go back to 
Washington, the engine by a dexterous jump veers to the left, and 
Avith a scream of laughter at the deception it has practiced, it runs 
joj'fully on its way, and before the traveler is aware of his location 
the spires of the city and the massive front of "Waynesburg College 
break upon his view. The road is indeed a marvel. 

"It wriggles in and wriggles out, 
And leaves the matter still in doubt, 
Whether the snake that made the track, 
Was going out or coming back." 



CHAPTER XXIV. 

Methodist Episcopal Ciiukch — The Cumbekland Presbyterian 
Church — The Baptist Church — The Presbyterian Church — 
The Way'nesburo Catholic Church. 

waynesburg METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHUKCH. 



THIS church tirst appears on the records in 1803 as a part of amis- 
sion circuit called Deeriield, with Shadras Bostune as missionary. 
Its first place of worship was erected about this time in what is now 
known as the "Old Methodist Graveyard," just east of the present 
borough limits. In 1843 the society built a large brick edifice near 
the center of the town and removed thereto. The church was rebuilt 
in 1876 on the site of the old building, and dedicated the same year 
by Bishop Peck and Dr. I. C. Pershing. The Legislature of Penn- 
sylvania, by special act passed in 1845, incorporated the church under 
the name and style of "The Trustees of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church of Waynesburg," and under this charter the church and par- 
sonage property is held. From 1803 to 1846 the Waynesburg ap- 
pointment was a part of a circuit embracing about all of the central 
and southern part of the county, together with several appointments 
in the State of Virginia. In 1846 the Mt. Morris circuit of seven ap- 
pointments was taken off the "lower end" of the Waynesburg circuit. 
For a number of years after this Waynesburg was still a part of a 



358 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

large circuit, but for several years past its position has varied from 
station to circuit and the reverse. At present it is a station with 155 
members and -Rev. Nelson Davis is pastor. 

The Sabbath School, organized in 1845, has continued in success- 
ful operation down to the present time. It has an enrollment of 130 
members. "VV. W. Evans is its present superintendent, and Nellie 
.Donley, secretary. ' From 1804 to 1846 Waynesburg circuit had for 
presiding elders: Thortin Fleming, James Hunter, Jacob Gruber, 
Christopher Frey, Asa Shinn, James Painter, George Brown, "Will- 
iam Stevens, David Sharp, Robert Hopkins, James G. Sansom,T. M. 
Hudson, Samuel Wakefield, William Flunter, John Spencer and S. E. 
Babcock; and for preachers: Thomas Dougherty, Thomas Church, 
and William G. Lowman, John West, Asa Shinn and James Wil- 
son, James Riley, John Meek and Wesley Webster, Thortin Flem- 
ing and Allen Green, William Monroe, Jacob Dowell and Joshua 
Monroe, James Laws and John Connelly, John Watson, Asby Pool 
and Jacob Snider, George Irwin, Henry Baker and Nathaniel Mills, 
Amos Barnes and Thomas Beeks, Thomas Jamison and Elias Brewin, 
David Stevens, T. M. Hndson, P. G. Buckingham and R. Armstrong, 
John. Tacksberry, Henry Furlong and John Moffitt, Simon Lauck, 
John White, S. E. Babcock and Samuel Worthington and Wesley 
Smith, George McCaskey and James L. Reed, William Tipton, J. K. 
Miller, John Summerville and F. H. Reed, Jeremiah Phillips and 
Walter Chaifant, John L. Williams and Hosea McCall, Heaton Hill, 
Isaac N. McAbee and M. A. Ruter, B. F. Sedgwick, Henry Ambler 
and Thomas McCleary, S. Cheney, J. W. lieger, G. A. Lowman, 
John Gregg, M. L. Weakely and Dyos Neil. 

From 1842 to 1846 the circuit was in the Ohio district, Pittsburg 
conference; prior thereto it was in the Wheeling district. In 1847 
it Avas in the Uniontown district, with J. J. Svveagee as presiding 
elder, and Thomas Jamison and N. C. Worthington as preachers. In 
1848 it was in the Moi'gautown district, Simon Elliott, presiding 
elder, and P. F. Jones and J. F. Dorsey, preachers. 

From 1849 to 1857 it was again in the Wheeling district withC. 
D. Battell, T. M. Hudson, Edward Burkett and C. A. Plolmes as 
presiding elders; Louis Janny and A. Deaves, Joseph Woodruff, J. 
L. Irwin, C. E. Jones, John White and J. D. Turner, L. R. Beacom, 
Robert Laughlin, James Kenny and E. H. Green, and Daniel Rhodes 
as preachers. 

From 1858 to 1861 the circuit was in the Washington district, 
Pittsburg Conference; C. A. Holmes and D. L. Dempsey as presid- 
ing elders, and J. J. Hays, J. J. Jackson, J. N. Pierce and J. F. 
Jones as preachers. From 1862 to 1867 it was part of the Union- 
town district with C. A. Holmes and A. J. Endsley as presiding 
elders, and II. II. Fairall, M. B. Pngh, and John Mclntire as minis- 



HISTORY OF GKEENE COUNTY. 359 

ters. It was in tlic South Pittslnirg district tVoiii 1868 tu 1875; L. 
R. Beacon and Iliraui Miller as presiding elders; Samuel Wakeiield, 
J. L. Stiffej, D. A. Pierce, J. H. Henry and R. J. White, pastors; and 
for part of 1876 in the West Pittsburg district with J. A. Miller as 
presiding elder and R. B. Mansell as preacher; from 1876 to 
1888 it lias been in the Washington district with S. II. Nesbit, J. W. 
Baker, James Mecliem and J. F. Jones as presiding elders, and M.M. 
Sweeney, ^Y. I). Slease, G. II. Iluft'man, E. S. White, L. II. Eaton, 
N. P. Kerr and Nelson Davis as pastors. 

PRESENT OFFICIAL EOAED. 

Local Preacher — Rev. Charles A. Martin. 

Class Leaders— L. W. Jones, Z. W. Phclan, M. II. Ilunnill, AV. 
W. Evans. 

Board of Stewards — W. W. Evans, R. Calvert, Mrs. M. A. Cal- 
vert, Mrs. R. T. Guiher, Z. W. Phelan, M. II. Ilunnill, John Ander- 
son, J. B. Donley, S. W. Scott, A. M. Kline, W. S. Pipes. 

Board of Trustees — J. B. Donley, president; I. H. Knox, secre- 
tary; S. W. Scott, treasurer; Z. AV. Phelan, A\'. W. Evans, F. H. 
Horner, A. M. Kline, S. R. Sanders, R. Calvert. 

THE CUMBEKLAND PKESliYTEEIAN CHUKCH IN GEEENE COUNTY. 

The lirst Cumberland Presbyterian church established in Greene 
County M'as organized at JeHerson, in the year 1831, with forty 
members. In November of the same year, at the instance of the 
Rev. Mr. Loughran, a Presbyterian minister, who subsequently be- 
came a Cumberland Presbyterian, a small Cumberland Presbyterian 
chnrch was organized in Waynesburg, consisting of twenty mem- 
bers. The Revs. John Morgan and A. M. Bryan conducted the 
services and eifected the organization. The occasion of the visit 
of these truly great and good men was a personal invitation extended 
to them by Mrs. Mary Campbell, of AVaynesburg, who had heard 
them preach at a camp-meeting in AYashington County in the 
neighborhood of the present village and Church of Old Concord. 
Messrs. Bryan and Morgan are tenderly and lovingly remembered 
by many of the old citizens as among the most eloquent and 
godly ministers who have ever labored in Western Pennsylvania. 
Mr. Bryan, who afterward settled in Pittsburg, where he organized, 
and for many years was pastor of the First Cumberland Presbyterian 
church, was a man of great popularity. He was a man of the finest 
presence, and gifted with a voice of marvelous sweetness. His or- 
atory was of a high order of merit and popular with the masses. 
The churcli in Pittsburg was very prosperous under Mr. Bryan's 



360 HISTORY OF GBEEWE COUNTY. 

ministry. He fell in the pulpit at the Bethel church in Washington 
County. Mr. Morgan was a man of different type. He was of great 
bodily stature and of most commanding ability. His power with men 
was remarkable. He died in his thirty-sixth year, Mdiile pastor of the 
church at Uniontown, which flourished under his flaming ministry. 
The Church of Caruiichaels was organized August 20, 1832, "by 
the Kev. Leroy Woods, who had been sent by the general assembly 
of the Cumberland Presbyterian clrarch to supply the Greene Coun- 
ty churches. Mr. Woods had arrived in the coimty from the south 
on July 7, 1832, having made the entire journey on horseback. He 
died at Waynesburg in the autumn of 1879 while serving the church 
as pastor for the second time. There are now Cumberland Presby- 
terian churches in Greene County as follows: Jefferson, Waynesburg, 
Caruiichaels, Clarksville, Muddy Creek, Jacksonville, Nineveh, Ten- 
Mile, West Union, Clay Lick and Hewitts. With one or two excep- 
tions these churches are prospering. Several of them have elegant 
houses of worship. 

THE WAYNESBTTEG BAPTIST CHUECH. 

The Waynesburg Baptist church was organized, as shown by the 
church records, in the following manner: " For the purpose of ex- 
tending the visible kingdom of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, 
and securing to ourselves and families the privileges of the gospel, 
and at the same time bearing our testimony to the truth in our own 
vicinity, and in the county town, from which an influence for good or 
evil goes out in every direction, we whose names are annexed to the 
following proceedings met agreeably to appointment at Hills' school- 
house near Waynesburg on the 30th day of June, A. D. 1843. 1. 
After sermon by brother James Woods, he was appointed moderator. 
2. Resolved, That we be constituted into a regular Baptist church of 
Waynesburg, on the 10th day of July next. 3. Resolved, That we 
invite brother Samuel Willinms, of Pittsburg, and Francis Uownej', 
to assist brother Woods in the services. 4. Resolved, That we invite 
the Smith's Creek, Muddy Creek, Union, Jefferson, Bates' Fork, and 
South Ten Mile churches, to send one or more delegates to sit in 
council with us. Signed by the constituents: Anna Moore, Cynthia 
Ann Stayhorne, Jane McCormick, Rebecca Carpenter, Nancy Hos- 
kinson, Mary Jennings, Sarah Jennings, Ann Dolison, Eliza Zollers, 
Neal Zollers, Carl Moore, Charles Carpenter, Thomas Hoskinson, 
J. S. Jennings, Alfred Chawler. 

" Waynesburg, July 10th, 1843, after sermon by Elder Samuel 
Williams, the Waynesbui-g Baptist church was organized in the usual 
manner by Elder Williams and James Woods, with the advice and 
assistance of brethren from sister churches attending by invitation. 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 361 

Brother James Woods was invited to take charge of the church and 
preach as often as his otlier duties would permit. A declaration of 
ikith and church covenant was adopted by tlie church." And thus was 
it brought into existence and sent'upon its course to bear some part 
in the current of luuiian events. The pastors who have presided over 
it are as follows: Rev. James AVoods, supply; S. Seigfried, four 
years; Rev. S. il. Ruple, one year; Rev. S. Seigfried, one year; Rev. 
W. Whitehead, one and a half years; Rev. Samuel Moreliead, half 
year; Rev. R. M. Fish, supply; Rev. A. J. Colliers, two years; Rev. 
Francis Downey, supply; AVilliam Wood, one year; Rev. Charles 
Tilton, two years; Rev. S. Kendal, three years; Rev. II. K. Craig, 
seven and a half years; James Miller, three quarters of a year; Rev. 
W. W. Hickman, two years; Rev. W. M. Rj'an, the present pastor, 
eight years. The following are the names of the deacons who have 
served the church: Carl Moore, Thomas Iloskinson and Neal Zol- 
lers, chosen December 23, 1843. Those subsequently elected were the 
the following: Jesse Hill, Isaac Hooper, A. A. Purman, George 
Iloskinson and J. M. Hoge. The following brethren have served as 
church clerks: J. S. Jennings, S. Seigfried, Jr., J. Y. Brown, Jesse 
Hill, J. J. Purman, L. K. Evans, J. Yoders, J. M. Hoge, W. E. Hill. 
The members of the church organized were largely from the 
country. The membership in 1881 was seventy-two. There have 
been added during the eight years of Mr. Ryan's ministry seventy- 
tliree. In that time sixteen have died; sixteen have been given 
letters to other churches, and nine have been excluded, leaving the 
present membership one hundred and four. The house of worship, 
which formerly was a frame structure, in the progress of a hurricane 
which swept through the valley was seriously wrecked, having been 
taken up bodily and twisted from its base. It was accordingly 
decided to tear down and Iniild anew. A neat and commodious brick 
structure in the gothic style of architecture, with stained-glass win- 
dows was erected to take its place. The cost of the new church was 
$6,565.91, all of which was raised and paid, so that the church is 
wanting in that very common appendage, a cliurch debt. 

THE I'KESIiVTEEIAN (IltJEcn OF GEEENE COUNTY. 

The Presbyterian church of Waynesburg was organized by tlie 
Rev. David Hervey, and Rev. John D. Whitam, a committee from 
the presbytery of Washington, June 11th, 1842. The ruling elders 
chosen at the organization, and duly entering upon the duties of 
that othce were Obadiah Van Cleve and William Braden. The last 
named has continued with the church and held the office ever since, 
and with R. A. McConnell and D. H. Haines constitute the elder- 
ship of the church at the present time. 



362 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

The elmrcli was incorporated by the court of common pleas of 
Greene County on the 29th day of September, 1848. The first 
trustees were R D. Mickle, Dr. E. S. BUickley, Obadiah "Van Cleve, 
William Braden and Matthew Dill, Jr. 

A number of worthy ministers have supplied the church at dif- 
ferent times, viz.: Eev. J. T. Calhoun, Kev. Mr. Ewing, Eev. A. E. 
Day, Eev. J. W. Scott, D. D., J. B. Graham and Ashabel Bronson, 
D. D. The following served for a longer period, viz. : Eev. S. H. 
Jeifrev, who. was pastor for a term of six years, ending in 1859 with 
his death. Eev. James Sloan, D. D., stated supply from 1862 to 
1868; Eev. E. P. Lewis, pastor 187.3 to 1875; Eev. George Frazer, 
D. D., supply from 1875 to 1881, and present stated supply, wlio 
came to the cliurch in 1882, the Eev. J. A. Donahey. 

The first church building was erected in 1849. It was situated 
on Morris street, just north of the Walton House. It was occupied 
njitil 1877. The present house of worship was erected in 1878. It 
is a neat and substantial brick structure, located near the centre of 
tlie town. The church also has a very substantial brick parsonage, 
which was erected during the year 1887. It is located at the corner 
of Eichhill and Greene streets, on ground devised by the will of Mrs. 
Margaret Bradford. The foundation of the parsonage fund was laid 
by Mrs. Mary Hook, who left to the church twenty shares of Bank 
stock, one-half of which was to be used in procuring a parsonage 
when the church should determine so to do. 

In Greene County are churches at Greensboro, at Jefferson, and 
New Providence at Carmichaels in the Eedstone Presbytery, and 
Unity at Harvey's, and Waynesburg in the Washington Presbytery. 
Vr^ayneshurg Catholic Churcli. — In the years 1828-'29 a brick 
structure \vas erected on the site of the present Catholic Church 
edifice, but for some time it remained unfinished. Three brothers, 
John, Joseph and Andrew Friedly, witli others, contributed to the 
completion of the building, and were fortunate in organizing a 
society and securing the services of a pastor in the person of Father 
Michael Galagher, of Brownsville, Fayette County, a man of great 
personal influence, and who had officiated as the agent of the Catholic 
Church west of the Alleghany Mountains, which office he continued 
to exercise until 1843, when the Diocese of Pittsburg was fornied 
with Michael O'Conner as its Bishop. At successive periods this 
church has been ministered to by Fathers Kearney, (Jerome, Dennis 
and James) Hickey, Farren, ISfolan, Scanlon, McHugh, McEnroe, 
Sheehan, Tahaney and Herman. During the pastorate of Father 
McHugh the old edifice was torn down, and a more elegant and con- 
venient one was erected in its place. 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 363 



CHAPTER XXV. 
Inteoduc'toky Note to Military History. 

FllOM tlie earliest period the patrioti.sni of tlie inliabitants of 
Greene County has never been questioned. As we have ah-eady 
seen at tlie very inception of the American Eevolution, when the first 
intelligence came of the battles of Lexington and Concord, the settlers 
along all the Monongahela valley, thoufrh at the time torn and liar- 
rassed by bitter strife over the (juestion of State allegiance, vied with 
each other in expressions of loyalty to the American cause, and 
pledged their services and contributions of arms, ammunition and 
nints in a struggle for the rights of the colonies. The number of 
officers and men from this section found in the Continental army in 
its long conflict with British arms was not excelled in proportion to 
its population b3'any part of the Commonwealth. 

When the war of 1812 came, and the call was made for soldiers 
to vindicate the imperilled honor of the nation, the ear of the true- 
hearted denizen of Greene County was not heavy, and the olFer of 
service came from hill-top and valley along all its broad domain. 
Contentions might be maintained over disputed State authority, and 
the right or wrong of an excise tax on distilled spirits, as in the 
whisky rebellion; but when the honor of the Flag was touched there 
existed but one mind and one heart — that of intense devotion to the 
national cause. 

The war with Mexico found here a like devoted spirit, and the 
regiment of John AV. Geary, which moved with the column of Gen- 
eral Taylor, had within its ranks many citizens of this county. 

The war for the suppression of the Kebellion is too recent, and 
the memory of trials endured and hearthstones made desolate is too 
fresh, to require the telling of how the calls for men were responded 
to from mansion and cabin in all its borders. 

It would be a fitting recognition of the patriotism displayed by 
the people of the county if the name and record of every man who 
served in any capacity in the national armies should be given in this 
History. But unfortunately this cannot be done. In a few cases 
complete company organizations were made by Greene County re- 
cruits, and the full records of these are given below. But it was the 
misfortune of the smaller and less populous counties that, instead of 
companies, small squads of a dozen or score would join in com- 



364 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

panics forming in other counties, and thus their identity would be 
lost, as there are no means now existing of identifying the citizen- 
ship of individual soldiers. A considerable number joined regi- 
ments recruited in West Virginia and were accredited to the quota 
furnished by that State. It is now ascertained that there were no 
less than twenty-seven regiments known to have contained recruits 
from Greene County, the complete identity of whom cannot now 
be traced. The Fourteenth, Sixteenth and Twenty-second Pennsyl- 
vania Cavalry, the Sixty-first Pennsylvania Infantry, Two Hundred 
and Fifth Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery, and the First, Third 
Fourth, Sixth, Seventh, Eleventh, Twelfth, Fourteenth, Fifteenth 
West Virginia Infantry, and First West Virginia Cavalry con- 
tained varying numbers of Greene County volunteers. Those who • 
thus volunteered, who died and whose graves have been marked, have 
been identified, and their names and records are given in connec- 
tion with this compilation. 

The date of muster in of the -major part of the companies is 
given at the Jieading of each organization. Where a different date 
of muster in from that thus given was found, it is placed after 
each individual name. This will account for the date of muster 
in not being given with every name. The records have been 
chiefly drawn' from my own " ITistory of Pennsylvania Volun- 
teers," and from a manuscript compilation made by Colonel John 
M. Kent, of Waynesburg. 



CHAPTER XXVI. 



Company I, TniEXY-SEVENTir Regiment of Infantry, Eighth Re- 
serve — Organization — Battle of Meciianicsville — Gaine's 
Mill — Charles City X Roads — Second Bull Run — South 
Mountain — Antietam — Fredericksburg — Wilderness — 
Spottsylvania — Mustered Out — Record of Individual Mem- 
bers OF Company. 

AT the opening of the civil 'war so many volunteers responded to 
the call of the President for 75,000 men to serve for three 
months from Pennsylvania that all could not be accepted. At a 
camp of rendezvous twelve miles above Pittsburg, on the Alleghany 
River, designated Camp Wright, forty-three companies were as- 





^^^99oxJ 



^jjJ 



HISTORY OF GREENE C'Ol'XTV. 367 

seiubled, inost of which could not be received. Hence Greene 
County ]iad no organized companies in the three months' service, 
tliongh many of its citizens were found in organizations in other 
counties, and in West Virginia. 

The Eighth Regiment of the Pennsylvania Ileserve Corps, in 
which was Company I from Gi'cene County, was formed from the 
companies assembled at Camp Wright for the three montiis' service, 
but could not be accepted. It was commanded by George S. Hays, 
subsequently by Silas M. Eaily, and was brigaded with the Fifth, 
First and Second Reserve Regiments, the brigade being commanded 
by that eminent soldier, John F. Reynolds. This Reserve Corps 
was composed of lifteen regiments, thirteen of infantry, one of 
cavalry and one of artillery, their place in the line being from the 
Thirtieth to tlie Forty-fourth, and Avas originally commanded by 
George A. McCall. It was formed in compliance with an act of the 
Legislature, and was originally designed for exclusive State service, 
for the defense of the long stretch of exposed border on the Mason and 
Dixon's line. 

But in the gloomy days succeeding the tirst battle of Bull Rnn, 
when fears were entertained for the safety of tlie capital itself, the 
Government, in casting aboiit anxi(jusly for help, found this splendid 
corps already organized, and in prompt response to the call for its 
services, it was sent forward, was mustered into the service of the 
United States, and was never returned for State service. 

Company I was originally commanded by Silas M. I'ailey, but 
upon his promotion to Major, John M. Kent was promoted from 
acting Adjutant to succeed him as Captain. In the battle of Mechan- 
icsville, on the 26t]i of June, 1802^ which was the lirst real lighting 
which it saw, with Companies A, D, and F, under Lieutenant-Colonel 
Oliphant, Company I was sent forward on the skirmish line, in front 
of Easton's Battery, on the margin of the swamp. "A brief artillery 
contest, in which the shells burst in rapid succession in the very 
midst of the intantry, was followed by the advance of the rebel 
columns, and the battle became general. A charge of the enemy 
below the swamp, with the design of capturing Easton's Battery, 
caused the skirmishers to be recalled, and the regiment moved to its 
support. But the enemy being repulsed by other troops, it returned 
to its former position. Three times the close columns of the enemy 
charged down the opposing slope with determined valor, but was as 
often repulsed and driven back. At night the men rested upon the 
ground where they had fought." 

The Reserves having been ordered back, retired during the night 
to Gaines' Mill, wlrere the Eighth was posted in the second line of 
battle, holding a cut in the road which aftbrded some protection. But 
the solid shot and shell of the enemy tore wildly through the ground, 



368 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

scattering the earth over tlie heads of the men. Hill in his book, 
" Our Boys," says: " Suddenly I heard an explosion a little to my 
right that pierced my very brain. I naturally turned in the direc- 
tion, and saw a sight that is before my eyes yet. Twenty or thirty 
feet from me, where the banks were not high enough to afford much 
protection, I saw a cloud of dust and smoke in the very midst of 
Company A. I saw a man throw his hands wildly above his head 
and fall backward, covered with blood, a moment he lay quivering 
convulsively, then he lay still — perfectly still. lie was dead. Another 
stooped and picked up his own arm, which had been torn off by the 
shell as it descended, and rnshed wildly towards a small hospital 
some distance to the rear, flourishing his dismembered limb above 
his head and shouting in the broad tongue: — ' Och, docther, me 
airm's off.' A percussion shell had struck fairly among the boys 
killing three ontright, and wounding four." The enemy were led 
by some of their most trusted leaders, Stonewall Jackson directing 
his celebrated corps. At five o'clock, after a day of desperate 
fighting, the enemy grew impatient, and pushed forward dark masses, 
determined to win the day. Finally word came for the Eighth to 
push forward. Colonel Hays gallantly led the charge. The valor 
of those men was unsurpassed, and the enemy was swept back to 
a piece of wood where he had cover, and made a partial stand. 
The firing was now desperate, and a perfect shower of missiles was 
poured upon the foe. Eeinforcements were speedily brought up 
by the enemy, when the regiment, rent and torn, was forced back, 
but retired in good order. Early in the fight Major Bailej' was 
wounded and borne from the field. The loss of the regiment was 
twenty-four killed and eighteen severely wounded, among the latter 
being Captains Johnson, Wishart, Gallupe and Carter. Elijah Mc- 
Clelland, of Company 1, was among the killed. 

On the night preceding the battle of Charles City Cross Eoads, 
the Eighth was sent out on the road leading to Richmond on 
picket duty; but was unmolested. The fighting on the following 
day on this field was desperate, and the regiment had its full share 
of bloody woi'k. The Sixth Georgia was on its front, and when the 
time came for the regiment to charge, the Georgians were driven 
and scattered like the chaff upon the summer's threshing floor. 
Charge and counter charge were delivered with terrible 
effect, until, in the chances of the battle, the regiment 
was forced by overpowering numbers, and took its place 
in the new line of battle, where it rested for the night. 
Hiram H. Lindsey, of Company I, was among the killed, and the 
regiment lost sixteen killed and fourteen severely wounded. The 
regiment lost in the entire seven days' fight two hundred and 
thirty. By the time the regiment reached the Second Bull Run 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 369 

battle-ground it liad become reduced to less than a hundred strong, 
and Company " I " to fifteen men. Its chief duty in this battle 
was to defend the artillery, which was employed almost constantly 
on tiie part of the field where it was placed. In this sanguinary 
battle the regiment lost five killed and seventeen wounded and 
thirty missing. James M. Wells, of Company I, was among the 
killed. At South Mountain, in Maryland, the old enemy was again 
found ensconced liehind rocks and a stone wall, and from his secure 
hiding place poured into the breasts of the Reserves the deadly 
missiles. Taken thus at a great disadvantage the losses were grievous. 
But resolutely charging up tiie steep acclivity of tiie mountain, the 
enemy was finally routed, and the summit was cleared. The loss 
in this stubborn fight was seventeen killed and thirty-seven wounded. 
Under the gallant Hooker tlie Keserves were sent forward to open 
the battle of Antietam. More sanguinary than any preceding 
field was this, the enemy fighting with a desperation l)red of pre- 
vious successes. On tiie morning of the 17th of September the 
Eighth was ordered to push forward to the verge of the noted 
cornfield, where it was subjected to murderous fire from the' foe, 
as lie rose up from his concealment and poured in a rapid discharge. 
Tiie loss in this battle was twelve killed and forty-three wounded. 
Among the killed in Company I was Clark Ingraham. 

Scarcely was one campaign ended, and the absentees and recruits 
brought in and drilled, before it was plunged into another desperate 
encounter. In the battle of Fredericksburg the Reserves performed 
a conspicuous part, attracting the attention of the whole army, and, 
indeed, of the whole country, gaining the only decisive advantage on 
that sanguinary field. " In the heroic advance of this small division, 
in the face of the concentrated fire of the enemy's intrenched line, in 
scaling the heights, and in breaking and scattering his well-posted 
force, the Eighth bore a conspicuous and most gallant part. ^'ever 
before had it been subjected to so terrible an ordeal, and when, after 
being repulsed and driven back by overwhelming numbers, it again 
stood in rank beyond the enemy's guns, scarcely half its luimber 
were there. Twenty-eight lay dead upon that devoted field, eighty- 
six were wounded, and twenty-two were captured. Adj. J. Lindsey 
Ingraham, Corp., John P. Burk, Samuel Churchill, Wesley S. Crago, 
George Delaney, George W. Granilee. Joseph McCullough, Sergt. 
Joseph C. Minor, F. A. Phillips, M. Bill. Rinehart, Isaac Riggs, 
Richard Stewart and William Woody were either killed or mortally 
wounded, and Col. Paily, Captains R. E. Johnston, J. Eichelberger, 
H. C. Dawson, William Lemon, and J. M. Kent, and Lieuts. Samuel 
McCandless, J. A. Diebold, S. B. Bennington, H. H. Maquilken 
were wounded. 

After this battle, which bore so heavily upon Company I, and in- 



370 HISTOEY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

deed upon the whole body, the corps was ordered to the defences of 
"Washington. Since its arrival at the fi-ont this celebrated corps had 
been put upon the advance line and made to bear a brunt of the 
lighting in nearly every battle, and had fairly won a chance for re- 
cuperation. Indeed there was but very little left of it. Company I, 
with the reginient, remained here until the opening of the campaign 
under Grant, in the spring of 1864. On the 5th of May, the old 
enemy was found on the Wilderness field and brisk skirmishing en- 
sued. On the following morning the regiment was Tnoved up the 
Gordonsville Pike, where it formed and drove the enemy. Companies 
D and I were here thrown forward as skirmishes, and moved up with- 
in seventy-live yards of the enemy's fortified line. Plere for three 
hours a hot skirmish fire was kept up. Company I losing two killed, 
John Lockhart and Corjx James Lucas, and ten wounded. Hastily 
marching by the flank, the enemy was again met on the 7th, and the 
fighting was renewed with even more bitterness than ever, and for a 
week longer tlie sound of battle scarcely died away. But now the 
thi-ee years terra of service for which the regiment enlisted had ex- 
pired, and transferring the veterans and recruits to the One-hundred 
and jS[inety-first, the Eighth was relieved at the front on the 17th, and 
moving to Pittsburg was thei-e mustered out of service on the 
24th. ■ 

Company I, Thiety-Seventh, Eighth Reseeve Infantey. 

iiecruited at Waynesburg, Greene County, mustered in June 20, 
1861. 

Silas M. Bailey, Capt., pro. to Maj.; wd. at Gaines' Mill, June 
27, 1862; pro. from Capt. Co. I to Maj., June 4, 1862; to Col., March 
1, 1863; to brev. Brig.-Gen., March 13, '65; mus. out with Keg. 
May 24, '64. 

John M. Kent, Capt. pro. fr. 1st Lieut, to Capt., June 16, '62; 
wd. at Wilderness; mus. out with Co. May 24, '64. 

A. H. Sellei's, 1st Lieut., pr. from Sergt. to 1st Sergt., Oct. 10, 
1861; to 1st Lieut., Aug. 4, 1862; wd. at Wilderness; mus. out May 
24, '64. 

Charles C. Lucas, 2d Lieut., detached for duty as Quartermaster, 
May 1st, '62; j:ot mus., res. Oct. 3, 1862. 

J. Lindsey Ingrahara, 2d Lieut., mus. in June 13, '61; pr. fr. 
Sergt. to 1st Sergt., July 22, '61; to Sergt.-Maj., Oct. 10, '61; to 2d 
Lieut., Aug. 4, '62; to Adj., Oct. 1, '62; not mus.; killed at Fred- 
ericksburg, Dec. 13, '62. 

James A. Wood, 2d Lieut., pr. fr. Cor. to Sergt., Oct. 10, '62; to 
2d Lieut., July 1st, '63; wd. at Charles City Cross Roads, June 30, 
'62, and May 22, '64; abs. in hos. at mus. out. 



History of greene county. 371 

li. M. Blacldey, 1st Sergt., tr. to Reg. Band, July 20, '61. 

Joseph W. Smith, 1st Sergt., pr .fr. Sergt., July 1st, '62; mus. 
out with Co. May 24, '64. 

Joseph C. Minor, Sergt., killed at Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, '62. 

George G. Crow, Sergt., pr. fr. Corp., Feb. 4, '63, mus. out with 
Co. May 24, '64. 

O. S. Pratt, Sergt., pr. fr. Corp., Aug. 1, 62; dis. on Surgeon's 
certilicate Feb. 13 '63. 

Edwin 11. Minor, Sergt., pr. fr. Corp., Dec. 4th, '62, wd. at 
Gaines' Mill, June 27, '62,"mus. out with Co. May 24, '64. 

George W. Scott, Sergt., pr. fr. Corp., July 1st, '63; wd. at Wilder- 
ness; mus. out with Co. May 24, '64. 

H. J. Bowler, Sergt., pr. to 1st Sergt., tr. to 191st Reg., P. Y., 
May 15, '64; Vet. 

William S. liinehart, Corp., died at Camp Pierpoint, Va., Jan. 
4, '62. 

John P. Burk, Corp., killed at Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, '62. 

Adam Laughlin, Corp., tr. to Vet. Res. Corps, July, '63. 

James Lucas, Corp., mus. Sept. 14, '61; wd. at Charles City 
Cross Roads, June 30, '62; killed at Wilderness, May 6, '64. 

A. J. Bisset, mus. in July 15, '61, tr. to 191st Reg., P. V., May 
15th, '64, Vet. 

Neil Gray, Corp., wd. at Wilderness, mus. out with Co. May 24, 
'64. 

William Laughlin, Corp., mus. out with Co. May 25, '64. 

Samuel R. Estle, muc, pr. to prin. muc. July 1st, '62. 

Adams, Robert, disch. May 27, '63, for wds., with lossj of arm 
at Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, '62. 

Anderson, Samuel, died at Georgetown, D. C, Oct. 22, '61. 

Axtun, Joseph M., killed at Charles Cit}' Cross Roads, June 30, 
'62. 

Boon, Henry, disch. oij Surg. Cert. Sept. 30, '61. 

Bane, Asa, disch. Jan. 22, '63, for wds. rec'd. at Gaines' JVIill, 
June 27th, '62. 

Bell, John, disch. on Surg. Cert. July 16, '62. 

Baily, William N., mus. in July 15, '61, tr. to Reg. Band 
July 20, '61. 

Bradley, Charles R., mus. in July 15, '61, tr. to Reg. Band 
July 20, '61. 

Burk, Thomas C, tr. to 191st Reg. P. V., May 15, 64; Vet. 

Brown, A. B., tr. to 191st Reg. P. V., May 15, ''64; Vet. 

Bulor, Hugh, tr. to 191st Reg. P. V.. May 12, '64; Vet. 

Batson, Wilbur F., mus. in Marcli 24, '64; wd., tr. to 191st 
Reg. P. v.. May 15, '64. 



3'7'2 HiS'lrORY OF GREEJNrE COtTNtt': 

Bare, Baker, mus. in March 29, '64, wd. tr. to 191st Eeg. F. V., 
May 16, '64. 

Babbitt, Plarrisoii, mus. in Marcli 29, '64, tr. to 191st Reg. P. 
v.. May 16, '64. 

Belford, David, mus. in April 7, '64, tr. to 191st Keg. P. Y., 
May 15, '64. 

Batson, Elislia, mus. in Sept. 8 '62, died at Belle Plain, Jan. 
13, '63. 

Chapman, Silas, mus. in July 15, '61, wd., mus. out with Co. 
May 24th, '64. 

Curtis, James P, mus. out with Co. May 24, '64. 

Casnei-, Thomas, mus. out with Co. May 24, '64. 

Church, Henry, mus. out with Co. May 24, '64. 

Church, James M., wd. at Charles City Cross Roads June 30, 
'62, mus. out with Co. May 24, '64. 

Carter, Charles W., mus. out with Co. May 24, '64. 

Chapman, Joseph, mus. in July 15, '61, disch. on Surg. Cert. 
July 19th, '62. 

Carson, J. H., disch. March 6, '63, for wds. rec'd. in action. 

Coleman, James A., mus. in Sept. 9, '62, disch. on Surg. Cert. 
Dec. 8 th, '62. 

Chaplin, Albert C, mus. in Sept. 8, '62, disch. on Surg. Cert. 
Sept. 25, '63. 

Copeland, Samuel, mus. in Sept. 9, '62, disch. on Surg. Cert. 
March 19, '63. 

Conrad, David, mus. in July 15, '61; wd. at Wilderness; tr. to 
191 St. P. v.. May 15, '64; Vet. 

Clovis, Solomon R., mus. in March 29, '64, tr. to 191st P. V., 
May 15, '64. 

Cornhill, William, mus. in March 29, '64, tr. to 191st Reg. 1'. 
Y., May 15, '64. 

Chisler, James, mus. in March 24, '64, tr. to 191st Reg. P. Y., 
May 15, '64. 

Cooper, Charles W., died at Georgetown, D. C, October 16, 1861; 
bur. Mil. Asylum Cera. D. C. 

, Churchill, Samuel, died Dec. 17, '62, of wds. reed, in action. 

Crago, Wesley S., killed at Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, '62. 

Deems, George R., mus. out with Co., May 24, '64. 

Daugherty, Solomon, disch. March 14, '64, for wds. reed, in 
action. 

Dutton, John W., miis. in Dec. 26, '63, tr. to 191st Reg. P. Y., 
May 15, '64. 

Dean, Henry, mus. Sept. 8, '62, tv. to 191st Reg. P. Y., '' 
15, '64. 



illSTORT OF GREENE COUNTY. 373 

Delaiiy, James, uius. in Sept. 8, '62, tr. to 191st Reg. P. V., 
May 15, '64. 

Dean, Benjamin F., mus. in March 24:, '64, \vd., tr. to 191st 
Reg. P. v.. May 15, '64. 

Delany, George, mus. in Sept. 8, '62, died Jan. 10, '63, of wds. 
reed, at Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, '62. 

Engle, Joseph, mus. out with Company May 24, '64. 

Eisiminger, Abraham, mus. in March 29, '64, tr. to 191st Rec. 
P. v., May 15, '64. 

Eisiminger, Isaac, mus. in Sept. 8, '62, killed at Spottsylvania, 
May 10, '64. 

Fordyce, John G., mus. in Sept. 8, '62, mus. out with Co. May 
24, '64. 

Fetters, A. J., disch. on surgeon's certificate Aug. 3, '62. 

Fordyce, S. R., mus. in Sept. 9, '62, wd., tr. to 191st Reo-. 
P. v., May 15, '64. 

Franks, Ely, mus. in June 29, '61, tr. to 191st Reg. P. Y., May 
15, '64; Vet. 

Franks, ^Ym. M. F., tr. to 191st Reg. P. V., May 15, '64; Vet. 

Franks, Job, mus. in Mar. 12, '62, wd. at Gaines' Mill, June 27, 
'62, tr. to 191st Reg. P. V., May 15, '64, Vet. 

Franks, Emanuel, mus. in March 15, '64, tr. to 191st Reg. P. V., 
May 15, '64. 

Funk, William, mus. in July 15, '61, tr. to 191st Reg. P. V., 
May 15, '64, Vet. 

French, James A., mus. in Feb. 27, '64, wd. at Wilderness, tr. 
to 191st Reg. P. v., May 15, '64. 

Grooms, William, mus. in June 20, '61; mus. out with Co., 
May 24, '64. 

Gooden, James, mus. in April 7, '64, tr. to 191st Reg. P. V., 
May 15, '64. 

Gooden, Francis, mus. in April 7, '64, tr. to 191st Reg. P. V., 
May 15, '64. 

Grainlee, John W., killed at Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, '62. 

Hays, John W., mus. out with Co., May 24, '64. 

Harrington, Allen, mus. out with Co., M&y 24, '64. 

Huston, George A., mus. out with Co., May 24, '64. 

Horner, James H., mus. in Sept. 14, '61; disch. by general order 
War Dept. Jan. 14, '63. 

Hager, Abijah, tr. to 191st Reg. P. V., May 15, '64; Vet. 

Hager, Penjamin, tr. to 191st Reg. P. V., May 15, '64; Vet. 

Hart, John B., tr. to 191st Reg. P. V., May 15, '64; Vet. 

Hickman, Perry, mus. in Sept. 8, '62, tr. to 191st Reg. P. V. 
May 15, '64. 



374 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

HofFinaii, Levi, inns, in Sept. 8, '62, tr. to 191st Reg. P. V. 
May 15, '64. 

• Hains, Elijah, mus. in March 29, '64; wd. with loss of leg at 
Wilderness; tr. to 191st Reg. P. V., May 15, '64. 

Ilillen, John, mos. in July 15, .'61; drowned at Alexandria, 
Aiig. 29, '62; buried at Alexandria, grave 188. 

Headley, Erastus, mus. in Sept. 8, '62, killed at Spottsylvania, 
C. H., May 14, '64. 

Inghram, Clark, mus. in July 20, '61, killed at Antietam, 
Sept. 17, '62. 

John, James M., mus. in Sept. 9, '62, tr. to 191st Reg. P. V., 
May 15. '64. 

Kees, David, mus. in Dec. 12, '63, tr.' to 191st Reg. P. Y., 
May 15, '64. 

Lawson, Elisha, wd. at Wilderness, mus. out with Co., May 
24, '64. 

Leonard, D. P., mus. in July 15, '61, mus. out with Co., May 
24, '64. 

Laughlin, G. W., mus. out with Co., May 24, '64. 

Long, William, mus. in Sept. 8, '62, tr. to 191st Reg. P. Y., 
Mav 15, '64. 

Lemley, G. W., mus. in Sept. 8, '62, tr. to 191st Reg. P. Y., 
15, '64. 

Litzenburg, Alexander, tr. to 191st Reg. P. Y., May 15, '64, Yet. 

Lemley, Basil, mus. in July 15, '61, wd. at Wilderness; tr. to 
191st Reg. P. Y., May 15, '64, Yet. 

Lockhart, John, mus. in Sept. 8, '62, killed at Wilderness, 
May 6, '64. 

Lemley, Spencer, mus. in July 15, '61; died at Fredericksburg, 
Dec. 17, '62. 

Lindsey, H. H., killed at Charles City Cross-roads, June 30, '62. 

Leonard, Asa, mus. in July 15, '61, disch. on Surg. Cert. Nov. 
10, '62. 

Levi, Philip, disch. on Surg. Cert., March 7, '63. 

Mildred, Albert, mus. out with Co., May 24, '64. 

McClelland, J. H., mus. out with Co., May 24, '64. 

Minor, W. F., wd., mus. out with Co., May 24, '64. 

Morris, Harrison, mus. in Sept. 8, '62, disch. Feb. 16, '63, 
for wds. reed, in action. 

Morris, James P., mus. in Sept. 8, '62, wd., tr. to 191st Reg. 
P. Y., May 15, '64. 

Morris, Francis M., mus. in March 29, '64, tr. to 191st Reg. 
P. Y., May 15, '64. 

Morris, Richard, died Dec. 13, '61, of wds. reed, accidentally. 

McClelland, Elijah, killed at Gaines' Mill, June 27, '62. 





'^ykij^ 



JIISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 377 

McCuUongh, Joseph, inus. in July 15, '61, killed at Fredericks- 
burg, Dec. 13, '62. 

JMngeiit, John, nius. out with Co., May 24, '61. 

Ogden, Perry, wd. at Wilderness, May 8, '64, ab. at mus. out. 

Ogden, Marion, pris. from May 9, '64, to Marcli 3, '65; diseh. 
April 1, "65. 

Plants, Georjje AV., mus. in July 15, '61; inus. out with Co., 
May 24 '64. 

Province, Joseph, mus. in Sept. 9, '62, disch. on Surer. Cert. 
Feb. 12, '63. ° 

Phillips, Allen, disch. Oct. 27, '62, for wds. at Charles City 
Cross jPoads, June 30, '62. 

Phillips, James, inus. in Oct. 4, '61, disch. on Surg. Cert. Nov. 
24, '62. 

Phillips, G. W., mus. in Sept. 8, '62, tr. to 191st Peg. P. V., 
May 15, '64. 

Pethtel, Richard, mus. in Feb. 27, '64, wd. at Wilderness; tr. 
to 191st Reg. P. v.. May 15, '64. 

Phillips, F. A., inns, in Sept. 8, '62, killed at Fredericksburg, 
Dec. 13, '62. 

Parkinson. James II., died April 18, '63; buried at Philadelphia. 

Rush, Silas, pris. from May 9, '64, to March 3, '65; disch. 
April 1, '65. 

Rinehart, John, mus. out with Co., May 24, '64. 

Riggs, Maxwell, mus. out with Co., May 24, '64. 

Rose, Edward J., mus. in Sept. 8, '62, disch. March 10, '63, 
for wds. reed, in action. 

Rogers, II. J., mus. in Sept. 8, '02, tr. to 191st Reg. P. Y., 
May 15, '64. 

Rice, Alfred, tr. to 191st Reg. P. V., May 15, '64, Vet. 

Renshaw, J. L., tr. to 191st Reg. P. V., May 15, '64, Vet. 

Roberts, Justice G., mus. in March 29, '64, tr. to 191st Reg. P. 
v.. May 15, '64. 

Ritter, Joseph, mus. in March 29, '64, tr. to 191st Reg. P. V., 
May 15, '64. 

Rinehart, M. Dill., mus. in July 15, '61, killed at Fredericks- 
burg, Dec. 13, '62. 

Riggs, Isaac, mus. in July 15, '61; died July 11, '63, of wds. 
received in action; buried at Alexandria, grave 676. 

Summersgill, Robert, mus. out with Co., May 15, '64. 

Seals, James M., wd., tr. to 191st Reg. P. V., May 15, '64; Vet. 

Smith, R. II. L., wd., tr. to 191st Reg. P. V., May 15, '64; Vet. 

Stewart. A. A., mus. in Sept. 8, '62, tr. to 191st Reg. P. V., 
May 15, '64. 



378 . HISTORY OF GEEENE COUNTY. 

Sayres, Eobert A., miis. Nov. 2, '61; wd. at Gaines' Mill, June 
27, '62; tr. to 191st Eeg. P. V., May 15, '64. 

Spicer, John H., nius. in March 29, '64, wd., tr. to 191st Reg. 
P. v.. May 15, '64, 

Spicer, William, mus. in March 29, '64; wd., tr. to 191st Eeg. 
P. v., May 15, '64. 

Shields, John, mus. in March 29, '64, tr. to 191st Eeg. P. V., 
May 15, '64. 

Stewart, Eichard. mus. in Sept. 8, '62; died, Dec. 28, '62, of wds. 
reed, in action; buried in Mil. Asylum Cemetery, D. C. 

Sylveus, William, mus. in Sept. 8, '62, died at Annapolis, Jan. 
12, '63. 

Tuttle, Amos, miis. out with Co., May 24, '64. 

Tnttle, William A., mus. in Feb. 29, '64, tr. to 191st Eeg. P. V., 
May 15, '64. 

Turley, John, mus. in April 25, '62, tr. to 191st Eeg. P. V., 
May 15, '64. 

Woody, William, mus. in Sejpt. 8, '62, killed at Fredericksburg, 
Dec. 18, 62. 



CHAPTEE XXVII. 



Company F, Forty- foukth Eegiment, Fiest Pennsylvania Cavalry, 
Fifteenth Eeserve. 

Organization of Eegiment — Camp Pierpont — Dranesville, Cross 
Keys and Port Eepublic — Eobertson's Eiver — Cedar Moun- 
tain — Second Bull Eun — Fredericksburg — Death of Bayard 
— Mud March — Chancelloesville Campaign — Brandy Sta- 
tion — Aldie and Upperville — Gettysburg — Siiepherdstown — 
Mine Eun Campaign — Wilderness — Eaid to Eichmond — 
Hawes' Shop — Barker's Mill — St. Mary's Church — Beam's 
Station — Weldon Eailroad — Mustered out — Eecord or men. 

BY the provisions of the act authorizing the organization of the 
Eeserve Corps, it was to contain one regiment of cavalry. Hence 
the Fifteenth and last of the corps belonged to that arm of the 
service. Company F, of this regiment, was formed at Carmichaels, 
Greene County, and v;as mustered into service at Camp Curtin, near 
Harrisburg. Fortunately, this regiment had for its first Colonel one 



HISTORY OF GUEENE COUNTY. 379 

ot' the most accomplished cavalry officers in the service — George D. 
J^Hjard, whose career was too soon ended, at Fredericksburg, on the 
13ch of December, 1862. But in the establishment of liigh soldierly 
qualities at the outset, and in the drill of the regiment, his impress 
was set upon the organization and was not effaced in its brilliant 
career of three years. He attended to the minutest details, even to 
the selection and purchase of the horses and equipments. 

At Camp Pierpont, Virginia, the winter of 1861 was passed, 
where daily a detachment of thirty men was sent on picket duty. 
On the 27th of Novemlier, 1861, Col. Bayard led the regiment on 
an expedition to Uranesville, where a few prisoners were obtained. 
On the return, the head of the column was tired on by guerillas, and 
in the skirmish which ensued, Bayard was wounded and had a horse 
shot under him, and two of his men were killed and two wounded. 
In the battle of Dranesville, which occurred on the 19th of December, 
the regiment was sent in to unmask the position of the enemy, and 
subsequently supported Easton's battery. In the movement upon 
Manassas, at the opening of the spring campaign, it was put upon 
exhausting service, at the conclusion of which it was posted at Falls 
Church. It accompanied McDowell on his advance upon the Rappa- 
hannock, and on the night of the 13th of May had a sharp skirmish 
with the enemy, in which company F bore a conspicuous part. 
x\t this juncture Col. Bayard was promoted to Brigadier-General, 
and Lieut.-Col. Owen Jones was selected to succeed him, John P. 
Taylor, Lieut.-Col. Sylvester D. Barrows, and Josiah H. Ray, of 
Company F, to Majors. Ordered forward to join McClellan on the 
Peninsula, this regiment took the advance by Fredericksburg, and 
had arrived within fifteen miles of the right wing of the army of 
the Potomac, when it was ordered back to the support ot Banks 
and Fremont, operating against Stonewall Jackson in the valley. 
At Strasburg, Baj^ard came up with the enemy, and brisk skirmish- 
ing ensued. The enemy was driven beyond Woodstock. At Har- 
risonburg a brisk skirmish occurred. Subsequently the regiment 
participated in the battle of Cross Keys on the 8th, and finally at 
Port Republic, closing a month of active campaigning. 

Under Pope the regiment opened a new campaign on the Rap- 
pahannock, Bayard's brigade of cavalry guarding the ci'ossings of 
the river, and beating back the foe. At Robertson's River a warm 
engagement was had with the advance of Stonewall Jackson's corps, 
in which the regiment lost two killed and two wounded. Con- 
testing the ground as he withdrew his brigade in the face of 
Jackson's whole army, by skillful maneuvering the enemy's column 
was delayed until the forces of Banks' reached their position on the 
Cedar Mountain battle ground. At a crisis in the battle Knapp's 
battery was in imminent peril of falling into the enemy's hands; but 



380 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

a handsome charge made by Major Falls, with the first battalion, 
saved the gnns and drove back the foe. Of two hundred and sixteen 
men who entered the conflict, but seventy-one came back mounted. 
In the retirement of the Union column before the advance of the 
army of Northern Virginia, Bayard's brigade formed the rearguard. 

On the evening of the 28th the regiment liad tlie advance of 
Sigel's corps in its progress to Thoroughfare Gap, wliere Long-street's 
corp was held in check for six hours. In the two following days, daring 
the desperate fighting on the field of the Second Bull Eun, the regi- 
ment held a position on the extreme left of the army. At the close 
of the campaign, with a force of one hundred available horses and 
two hundred men, it went into camp at Munson's Hill for rest and 
recruiting. 

On the 12th of December, preparations having been made under 
Burnside for the battle of Fredericksburg, the regiment moved across 
the river, now under command of Lieut. Col. John P. Taylor, and 
was deployed as skirmishers, and ordered to advance until the enemy 
was found. A mile from the river, near the railroad track, the enemy 
was met and a brisk skirmish ensued, until the infantry came to its 
relief. On the following day, the day of the great battle, the regiment 
was deployed as skirmishers on the left wing, where it was under 
fire of the enemy's artillery. At three o'clock in the afternoon, at 
the moment when the battle was raging fiercest. Gen. Bayard, who 
was now in chief command of the cavalry, was struck by a fragment 
of a shell and mortally wounded. " The original commander of the 
First Cavalry, he had endeared himself to its members not less by his 
devotion to their instruction and improvement, than by the heroism 
he displayed in the hour of danger." 

Upon the abandonment of Burnside's second campaign, familiarly 
known as the " Mud march," in January, 1863, Col. Jones resigned, 
and Lieut.-Col. Taylor succeeded him as Colonel. Major David 
Gardner became Lieutenant-Colonel, and Captain William T. McEwen, 
Major. On the 12th of April the cavalry moved on the Chancellors- 
ville campaign under Hooker. The operations of the cavalry in this 
whole movement, wearing and exhausting to the last degree, resulted 
in little efiective service. Gen. Stoneman, who was in command, 
studying to shun the enemy rather than to find and fight him. 

Scarcely had the regiment rested and remounted, when it was put 
upon the march for the Gettysburg campaign. At Brandy Station, 
on the 9th of June, the cavalry fought in one of the warmest engage- 
ments hitherto participated in by this arm of the service. Following up 
the charge of the First Maryland, " Col. Taylor led a desperate charge 
upon the left and rear of the foe, reaching the Barbour House, where 
were Gen. Stuart, his staff" and body guard, surrounded by cavalry. 
Here a desperate encounter ensued, the men using the cavalrymen's 



HISTOKY OF GHEENE COUNTY. 381 

true weapon, the sabre, with terrible eti'ect. A lunnber of prisoners 
were brought oil', inchiding Stuart's Assistant Adjutant General." It 
was subsequently engaged at Beverl}' Ford, under the immediate 
command of Bnford. The loss was three killed and eleven severely 
wounded. At Aldie and Upperville, on the 21st and 22d of June, 
Stuart was again met and severe fighting ensued, the regiment being 
engaged on the 22d in pushing back the enemy, and acted a.s extreme 
rear guard to the army on its way to Gettysburg. At 9 o'clock on 
the 2d of July it arrived u])on that sanguinary tield, and was detailed 
fur duty at Gen. Mead's headquarters, where it served to the end of 
the campaign. At Shepherdstown, after the crossing of the Fotomac, 
in the pursuit from Gettysburg, the regiment was warmly engaged, 
and in position along the Charlestown pike held its ground against 
the repeated attacks of the foe. 

The enemy was driven beyond the Rapidan by the 17th of Sep- 
tember, the regiment being actively engaged in tiie campaign and 
suffering some losses. The necessity" which caused the withdrawal 
of Meade's army to Centerville brought the cavalry into severe duty, 
and at Auburn and New Hope Church its endurance and bravery 
were severely tried. The campaign ended in tlie fiasco at Mine Run; 
but the winter of 1863-4 was one of little rest for the cavalry. 
Picket duty, scouts, guards, and details through the mud, and frosts, 
the sleet and rains of that inclement winter kept it actively employed 
the whole season through. 

The spring campaign of 1864 opened on the 4th of May. Grant 
was now at the head of the army. Crossing the Rappahannock, at 
Kelly's Ford, and the Rapidan, at Ely's Ford, the regiment moved 
with cavalry to the Spottsylvania Court House and thence to Todd's 
Tavern, and on the 5th was hotly engaged. Asa S. Allfree, of Com- 
pany I, was among the severely wounded. On the 7th it advanced 
dismounted in line with the Sixth Ohio, and after a stubborn fight 
drove the enemy, his dead and wounded being left in the hands of 
the victors. On the 9th Gen. Sheridan commenced his grand raid 
upon Richmond. Crossing the Massaponax, Ny, Po, and Ta rivers 
tlie enemy's cavalry was met at Childsburg and a severe action 
occuri'ed in which the P'irst suffered some losses and the foe was 
roughly handled. Arrived within sight of tlie spires of Richmond, 
less than two miles away, near Meadow bridge, the ene ny came out 
in heavy force intent on effecting the rout and utter destruction of 
Sheridan's forces; but with undaunted braver}' every attack was met 
with courage and gallantry not excelled by troops fighting to save 
their capital from capture. Pushing forward, the columns reached 
Haxall's Landing on the James River, and after a rest of three days 
returned by White House and Aylett's, and rejoined Grant at Ches- 
terfield Station on the 25th, having made a campaign in less than 



382 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

twenty days, which covered the gi'ound of the whole summer's 
operations. 

At Hawe's Shop a sanguinary battle was fought by the cavalry, in 
which the regiment bore a conspicuous part and suffered heavy losses. 
Lieut. Samuel Greenlee was killed and George W. Beam, of Company 
I, was mortally wounded here. Though reduced to scarcely two 
hundred men, it expended over eighteen thousand rounds of ammu- 
nition. It was again hotly engaged at Barker's Mill, where it ex- 
hibited unsurpassed gallantry and courage. 

The tireless energy of Sheridan gave the cavalry little time foi* 
rest, and seizing the hrst opportunity when he could be spared from 
the front, he was off on his Trevilian raid. The destruction of the 
Virginia Central Bailroad having been accomplished for many miles, 
in the face of a vigilant foe, which required incessant activity to 
defend the working parties, the regiment finally found itself entrapped 
in a narrow opening of the forest, and only saved itself from 
utter annihilation by the most conspicuous coolness and gallantry, 
losing three officers and thirty-live men killed, wounded and 
prisoners. As the columns of Grant neared Richmond the enemy 
grew more and more desperate. At St. Mary's church the rebel 
cavalry was supported by infantry, and Sheridan found himself hard 
pushed. It was in this battle that Company I suffered grevious loss. 
Captain Alexander Davidson was killed, and Thomas Crago and 
George W. Crawford were missing in action. Crossing the James 
on the 12th of July it was again engaged at Beam's Station, and 
returning again across the James, it met the enemy at Malvern 
Hill, where a severe encounter occurred in which Abner Murdock, 
of Company I, was killed. At Lee's Mills, at Gravel Hill, and 
finally at Beam's Station, on the Weldon Bailroad, the regiment 
in quick succession met the foe, and at the latter point, after three 
years ot honorable service, fought its last battle. The veterans 
and recruits, four hundred and one in numbei', were organized in a 
battalion under command of Major Falls, which was subsequently 
consolidated with the Sixth and Seventeenth Pennsylvania Cavalry 
forming the Second Fro s'isional. Having been relieved at the 
front, the regiment proceeded to Philadelphia, where, on the 9th 
of September, 1864, it was mustered out of service. 

Company' F, Foety-Fouetu, Fifteenth Beseeve, Fiest Cavaley. 

Becruited at Carmichaels, Greene County, mustered in August 
16, 1861. 

John M. Harper, Capt, resigned Oct. 19, '61. 

Josiah H. Bay, Capt., pro. fr. 1st Lieut, to Capt., Nov. 14, 
'61; to Major, March 1st, '62; resigned Feb. 23, '63. 



iiistoi:y of greene county. 383 

Alexander Davidson, Capt., pr. fr. 2nd Lient., Dec. 8, '61; to 
Capt. March 1, '62; died Aug. 1, '64, of wds. reed, at St. Mary's 
Church, Va., June 24, '64. 

Thomas Lncas, 1st Lieut., pr. fr. Corp. to Sergt., Jan., "02; to 
1st Lieut. Aug. 17, '62; wd. at Brandy Station, Va., June 9, '63; 
nius. out M'ith company Sept. 1, '64. 

Lewis K. Evans, 2d Lieut., pr. fr. private to 2d Lieut., Nov. 14. 
'61; resigned July 11, '62. 

Samuel Greenlee, 2d Lieut., pr. fr. private to 1st Sergt., Dec, 
'61; to 2d Lieut., June 13, '62; wd. June 9, '63; killed at Ilawes' 
Shop, Va., May 28, '64. 

Jonas E. Lucas, 1st Sergt., pr. fr. Sergt; captured in action Nov. 
17, '63; com. 2d Lieut. June 26, '64; not nius. ; inus. out with 
Co. June letli, '65; Vet. 

V. Worthington, Q. M. Sergt., pr. fr. Corp. to Sergt; to Q. M. 
Sergt.; tr. to Co. F. Batt., Sept. 9, '64; pr. to 1st Sergt.; to 2d 
Lieut. Oct. 11, '64; to 1st Lieut. Co. L„Dec. 13, '64; to Capt. 
Co. A., March 5, '65; mus. out by consolidation, June 20, '65; Vet. 

John H. Iloge, Com. Sergt., wd. at Brandy St., Va., June 9, 
'63, inns, out with Co. Sept. 9, '64. 

John n. Black, Sergt., mus. out with Co., Sejit. 9, '64. 

S. S. Houlsworth, Sergt., died Nov. 27, '61. 

James K. Gregg, Sergt., wd. at Auburn, Va., Oct. 14, '63, mus. 
out with Co. Sept.^t, '64. 

George W. Evans, Sergt., pr. fr. Corp. Aug. 17, '62, mus. out 
with Co. Sept. 9, '64. 

John Haver, Surgt., pr. fr. Corp. Sept. 1, '62, mus. out with Co. 
Sept. 9, '64. 

John R. Dunlap, Sergt., pr. fr. Corp. Sept. 1, '62, mus. out with 
Co. Sept. 9, '64. 

W. H. IL Eberhart, Corp., tr. to Battalion Sept. 9, '64. 

John Jones, Corp., pr. to Corp. April, '62, nins. out with Co. 
Sept. 9, '64. 

Alvin H. Wilson, Corp., pr. to Corp. June 13, '62, inus. out with 
Co. Sept. 9, '64. 

Thomas F. Reppert, Corp.. pr. to Corp. Sept. 1, '62; wd. July 
28, '64; abs. at mus. out. 

Joseph A. Shatter, Corp., prisoner from June 24, '64, to April 
28, '65; mus. out June 9, 65; Vet. 

Jesse Hughes, Corp., wd. Aug. 22, '64; tr. to Batt. Sept. 9, '64; 
died Sept. 27, '64; buried at Philadelphia; Vet. 

Andrew J. Youn<;, Corp. tr. to Batt. Sept. 9, '64; m\is. out as 
Sergt. Co. F., June 20. '65; Vet. 

J. M. Worthington, Bugler, mus. out with Co. Sept. 9, '64. 



384 HISTORY OF GEEENE COUNTY. 

George W. Walters, Bugler, pr. to iiiTic. March 1, '64, inus. out 
with Co. Sept. 9, '64. 

Alton, James E., disch. on Surg. Cert. Sept. 22, '62. 
Anderson, John, tr. to Batt. Sept. 9, '64, Vet. 
AUfree, Asa S., wd. and missing at Wilderness May 5, '64. 
Alexander, Morris, cap. Nov. 21, '63; died at Anderson ville, July 
14, '64; grave 3,317. 

Bristel, Omit, mns. out with Co. Sept. 9, '64. 

Birch, Thomas, disch. on Surg. Cert. March 14, '63. 

Baker, David S., tr. to Batt. Sept. 9, '64, Vet. 

Brestel, Jacob, mns. in Sept. 1, '62; wd. May 28, '64; tr. to Batt. 
Sept. 9, '64; mns. out in Co. F, June 6, '65. 

Beam, George W., died Sept. 16, '63, bur. in Mil. Asy. Cem. 
D. C. 

Brown, James W., cap. Aug., '62, and Nov. 17, '63; mus. out 
June 16, '65. 

Crayne, Isaac B., uius. out with Co. Sept. 9, '64. 

Cree, Henry C, wd. at Anburn, Va., Oct. 14, '63, mus. out with 
Co. Sept. 9, '64. 

Cree, Joseph M., mus. out with Co. Sept. 9, '64. 

Cox, James, absent in hospital at mus. out. 

Cummins, William, disch. on Surg. Cert. Jan. 4, '62. 

Cree, Hugh D., disch. on Surg. Cert. Jan. 4, '62. 

Craft, Benjamin L., disch. on Surg. Cert. July 28, '62. 

Crawford, James, P., disch. on Surg. Cert. Oct. 17, '62, 

Cummins, James II., tr. to Batt. Sept. 9, '64; mus. out with Co. 
as Corp. Co. F, June 20, '64; Vet. 

Gary, Sylvester P., mus. in Sept. 25, '62; tr. to Batt. Sept. 9, '64; 
mus. out with Co. F, June 9, '65. 

Cannon, James, mus. in March 30, '64, tr. to Batt. Sept. 9, '64. 

Crago, James, mus. in March 25, '64, died June 1, '64, of wds. 
rec'd at Hawes' Sliop, Va., May 28, '64. 

Crawford, George W., missing at St. Mary's Church, Va., June 
24, '64. 

.Crago, Thomas, mus. in March 25, '6i, missing in action June 
23, '64. 

Davis, Winchester, mus. out with Co. Sept. 9, '64. 

Dean, John W., mus. out with Co. Sept. 9, '64. 

Dunlap, Samuel R., died Feb. 13, '63. 

Dukate, John, mus. in Mai-ch 30, '64; cap. at St. Mary's Church, 
Va., June 24, '64; died at Andersonville, Oct. 6, '64; gr'ave 10,436. 

Evans, Robert, mus. out with Co. Sept. 9, '64. 

Elginfritz, David F., mus. in Aug. 25, '62; tr. to Batt. Sept. 9, 
'64; mus. out with Co. F, May 27, '65. 



't 




(tA ^^ "^'iTLCy 



CJ^ 



HISTOKY OF GItEENE COUNTY. gSl 

Eisininiiiger, James, imis. in Aug. 22, '62; tr. to Batt. Sept. 'J, 
'64; miis. out in Co. F June (i, '65. 

Ely, Caleb, inus. in Aug. 25, "62; wd. at Auburn, A^a., Oct. 14, 
'63; tr. to Batt. Sept. 9, '64. 

Evans, William W., died Jan. 29, '62. 

Eisinminger, Thomas, mus. in Sept. 17, '64; not on mns. out roll. 

Fisher, Franklin, mus. out with Co. Sept. 9, '64. 

Fordyee, Justus G., mus. out with Co. Sept. 9, '64. 

Fordyce, James li., mus. in Sept. 16, '62, discli. on Surg. Cert. 
March 14, "64. 

Frank, Anthony, mus. in July 17, '63; prisoner from June 24, 
'64 to April 28, "65; mns. out June 21, '65. 

Gump, Harrison, disch. on Surg. Cert. April 29, '63. 

Grove, James P., March 1, '62, tr. to Batt. Sept. 9, '64. 

Grim, David C, mus. in Aug. 17, '(i2; tr. to Batt. Sept. 9, '64; 
mus. out with Co. F, May 27, "()5. 

Glassmyer, Albert, mus. in July, "63, tr. to Batt. Sept. 9, '()4. 

Gresley, Charles, mus. in Julv 21, "()3, missing in action Nov. 
17, '63. 

Grass, Henry, mus. in July 17, '(53; capt. May 31, (54; died, 
date unknown; bur. at Millen, Ga., Sec. A, grave 302. 

Higlit, Peter A., mus. out with Co. Sept. 9, '64. 

Hummel, David, mus. out with Co. Sept. 9, '64. 

Hughes, James, mus. out with Co. Sept. 9, '()4. 

Hill, Samuel, inns, out with Co. Sept. 9, '64. 

Hopkins, John W., disch. on Surg. Cert. Dec. 4, ■ti2. 

Heaton, Smith, mus. iu Aug. 17, "(i2, disch. on Surg. Cert. 
Dec. 8, '62. 

Ham, Ilichard W., tr. to Batt. Sept. 9, '64, Vet. 

Houseman, Samuel S., tr. to Batt. Sept. 9, 64, mus. out as 
Sergt. Co. F, June 20, '65. 

Herene, Edward, uius. in July 27, '('>3, tr. to Batt. Sept. 9, '64. 

Ham, Alfred M., mus. in Feb. 8, '64; wd. iu action June 21, 
'64; tr. to Batt. Sept. 9, '64; tr. to Y. XL C. June 15, '65; disch. 
by Gen. Ord. July 17, '65. 

Higginbotham, B. K., disch. ou Surg. Cert. March 15, '63. 

Johns, John, not on mus. out roll. 

Johns, Oliver, uius. out with Co. Sept. 9, '64. 

Jenkins, Henry S., disch. on Surg. Cert. Jan. 19, '62. 

Johnston, George W. L., mus. in Sept. 24, '62; tr. to Batt. 
Sept. 9, '64; mus. out with Co. F, June (i, '65. 

Jones, William, died July 1(), '62; burial record July 12, '62, 
at Ale.xandria, Va., grave 81. 

Jones, Oliver, not on mus. out roll. 



388 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

Kennedy, David, mus. in March 8, '64, Substitute; abs., sick 
at mus. out. 

Kramer. Phillip L., mus. in Aug. 24. 'Gl, disch. on Surg. 
Cert. Jan. 4, '62. 

Kendall, James E., disch. on Surg. Cert. July 28, '62. 

Keigley, George, mus. in Sept. 24, '62, disch. by order Sec'y. 
of War May 26, '63. 

Keigley, Newton, mus. in Sept. 24, '62; tr. to Batt. Sept. 9, 
'64; mus. out with Co. F, May 27, '65. 

King, Henry B., tr. to Vet. Ees. Corps, 1863. 

Keener, David L., mus. in Sept. 24, '62; died July 18, '63, 
bur. at Alexandria; grave 888. 

Kiebal, Frederick W., mus. in July 17, '63, died Dec. 29, '68. 

Kridel, Frederick W., not on mus. out roll. 

Lucas, Simeon S., disch. on Surg. Cert. Sept. 18, '63. 

Long, Milton, mus. in Aug. 24, '61, disch. by Sec'y of War, 
Sp. Or. No. 52, March 8, '64. 

Lightner, Josiah, mus. in Dec. 19, '68, tr. to Batt. Sept. 9, '64. 

McFarland, John F., mus. out with Co. Sept. 9, '64. 

Midlam, Enoch W., mus. out with Co. Sept. 9, '64. 

Mercer, Martin V. B., mus. out with Co. Sept. 9, '64 

McCullough, John F., disch. by order of Sec'y. of War Jan. 
16, '62. s ' ^ 

McClelland, Wm. H., disch. on Surg. Cert. Feb. 16, '63. 

McClelland, George W., disch. on Surg. Cert. Feb. 16, '63. 

Mayhorn, Nelson, tr. to Batt. Sept. 9, '64; Vet. 

Mitchel, Jacob, mus. in Sept. 24, '62; tr. to Batt. Sept. 9, '64; 
mus. out with Co. F May 27, '65. 

Maple, David, mus. in Sept. 24, '62, tr. to Batt. Sept. 9, '64. 

Mayes, Samuel, mus. in Oct. 20, '63, tr. to Batt. Sept. 9, '64. 

McGlumphey, William, mus. in March 25, '64, tr. to Batt. 
Sept. 9, '64. 

Moulter, Daniel, mus. in Feb. 8, '64, tr. to Batt. Sept. 9, '64. 

Murdock, Abner, mus. in March 80, '64, killed in action July, 12, 
'64. 

Mairs, Samuel, not on mus. out roll. 

Neff, John, mus. out with Co. Sept. 9, '64. 

Nutt, Thomas IE, disch. on Surg. Cert. Dec. 16, '62. 

Neff, Abraham, tr. to Batt. Sept. 9, '64; Vet. 

Nearhoff, Abner, mus. in Aug. 2, '64; tr. to Batt. Sept. 9, '64; 
mus. out with Co. F May 27, '65. 

Phillips, Addison, mus. in Nov. 2, '68; wd. May 10, '64; tr. to 
Batt. Sept. 9, '64. 

Phillips, Joseph A., mus. in Dec. 14, '68; tr. to Batt. Sept. 9, 
64; mus. out in Co. F by G. O. July 29, '65. 



HISTOKY OB" GREENK COUNTY. 389 

Holeman, Wm. K., mus. in July 21, '63; missing in action near 
AVarrenton, Kov. 17, '03. 

Ross, Samuel, inus. out with Co. Sept. 9, '64. 

Koss, Ira, nius. in Aug. 24, "61; pris. at Brandy Station, Va., 
June 9, '03; \vd. June 21, 04; nnis. out with Co. Sept. 9, "64. 

Rinehart, David H., mus. out with Co. Sept. 9, '04. 

Rush, William, disch. on Surg. Cert. Jan. 7, '63. 

Rush, William J., mus. in March 15, '64, tr. to Batt. Sept 9, '64. 

Rumble, James, mus. in Sept. 24, '62; wd. at Brandy Station 
June 9, '63; tr. to Batt. Sept. 9, '04. 

Shape, Demas J., mus. out with Co. Sept. 9, '64. 

Simmons, Richard D., mus. in Aua^. 24, '01; disch. on Surg. Cert. 
June 7, '02. 

Shape, John M., disch. on Surg. Cert. June 7, '02. 

Shape, John M., mus. in Feb. 27, "64; tr. to Batt. Sept. 9, '04. 

Shawmon, John W., mus. in March 25, "(54; tr. to Batt. Sept. 9, 
'64; mus. out in Co. F, June 6, '65. 

Sams, George W., mus. in March 30, "64; tr. to Batt. Sept. 9, '64; 
died Oct. 8, '64, l)ur. JN'at. Cem., Arlington. 

Sams, Henry, Jr., mus. in March 30, '04; died July 28, '64. 

Seaton, George W., mus. out with Co. Sept. 9, '04. 

Shawmon, John F., mus. out with Co. Sept. 9, '04. 

Simraars, Stephen D., not on mus. out roll. 

Steaton, Smith, disch. on Surg. C'ert. Dec. 8, '02. 

Toomey, Isaiah W., mus. in Aug. 31, '03; tr. to Batt. Sept. 9, '04. 

Tiernan, Josiiua, mus. in March 30, '04; tr. to Batt. Sept. 9, '64. 

Teagarden, George W., killed at Mt. Jackson, Ya., June 3, '62. 

Walters. John A., mus. out with Co. Sept. 9, '64. 

Wood, Henry A., pr. to Com. Sergt. June 22, '02. 

Young, John B., mus. in Feb. 27, '64; tr. to Batt. Sept. 9, '64. 

Yarkley, William, mus. in July 17, '63; tr. to Batt. Sept. 9, '04. 

Zollars, Richard S., mus. in Sent. 24, '02; tr. to. Batt. Sept. 9, 
'04; mus. out in Co. F, May 27, '05. 



390 HISTORY Oi' GREENE COUNTY. 



CHAPTER XXVIII. 



Companies F and G, of the EiGirrr-FiFTn Pennsylvania Infantey 

ItEGIMENT. 

Organization — Yoektown and Williamsbukg — Faie Caks — New- 
been, N. C. — West Ceeek — Kingston — White Hall — Golds- 
BOEO — Folly Island, S. C. — Siege Opeeations befoee Foet 
Wagnee — Death of Col. Pueviance — Befoee Peteesbueg — 
Deep Bottom — Losses — Teansfees — Mustered Out — Eegoeds 
OF the Men. 

COMPANY F, of the Eighty-fifth Pennsylvania Infantry, and a 
portion of Company G, were recruited in Greene County. The 
regiment -was organized on the 12th of JMovember, 1861, by the 
choice of the following officers: Joshua B. Howell, colonel; Norton 
M'Giffia, lieutenant-colonel; and Absalom Guiler, major. During 
the winter the regiment was engaged in drill and in fatigue duty, 
across the east branch of the Potomac, in the construction of works 
for the defense of Washington. In the spring of 1862 it moved to 
Meridian Hill, and was brigaded with the 101st and 103d Pennsyl- 
vania regiments, and the 96th New York, under command of Gen- 
eral Wessells. 

In the Peninsula campaign, under McClellan, the regiment was 
engaged in the siege of Yorktown, and in the battle of Williamsburg 
with a loss of two wounded, one mortally. At Fair Oaks, on the 
31st of May, while engaged in fortifying the position, it was vigor- 
ously attacked by the enemy under General Joseph E. Johnston. The 
regiment occupied the rifle-pits on the right of the main work, a re- 
doubt held by Hart's battery. General Casey, who held the front 
was vigorously pushed, but made a stout resistance, throwing grape 
and canister with terrible effect. He was finally obliged to retire to 
his supports. In the seven days' battles which ensued, which resulted 
in the change of base by McClellan from the Chickahominy to the 
James, the regiment was not actively engaged. When McClellan 
evacuated tlie Peninsula, and went to the support of Pope before 
Washington, Keyes' corps, the Fourth, to which the regiment be- 
longed, remained on duty at Fortress Monroe. 

On the 5th of December, 1862, Wessell's brigade was ordered to 
Newberne, North Carolina, to reinforce Foster, and upon its arrival 



HISTOKY OF GREENE COUNTY. 391 

joined in an expedition to destroy a rebel gun-boat on the ]Veuse, 
break up the railroad bridge near Goldsboro, and make a diversion 
in favor of liurnside at Fredericksburg. At West Creek tlie enemy 
was found ready to dispute the passage. Wessells liad the advance, 
and throwing tiie Eigth-fifth to the right of the road, and Ninth New 
Jersey to the left, crossed the stream and advanced upon the flanks of 
the enemy's position, compelling a hasty retreat. Two pieces of ar- 
tilleiy and a number of prisoners were tlie fruits of victory. On the 
following morning the command moved forward, Wessells upon the 
left, and soon came upon the enemy m the well made fortifications of 
Kingston. But by pushing through a swamp, thought to be inacces- 
sible, they entered at the side lett open, and immediately charged in 
face of a hot tire, and soon put the enemy to rout. A brisk skirm- 
ish was had at White Hall, and on the 17th the defenders of the 
bridge at Goldsboro were swept back and the destruction of the 
bridge, the main object of the expedition, was effected. 

Towards the close of Januarj^, 18t!3, General Foster was ordered 
with a part of his army to proceed to South Carolina, to co-oper- 
ate with General Hunter in his operations against Charleston. Col- 
onel Howell now had command of the brigade, and Lieutenant-Col- 
onel Pnrviance of the regiment. At the head of Folly Island the 
troops witnessed the first bombardment of Fort Sumter, by Admiral 
Dupont. Ill June, 1863, General Hunter was superceded by Gen- 
eral Gilaiorc. To possess Morris Island it was necessary to erect 
powerful batteries at the north end of Folly Island. AVhile at this 
work the dense underbrush shielded the working parties from view. 
In this duty tlie 85th sharetl, working by night, and watching by day. 
When all was ready the obstructions were cleared away, and tire 
opened from forty-four heavy guns. An assault followed by which 
the enemy's first line of works was cleared, but Fort Wagner, the 
main work, still held out. Gilmore determined to reduce it by regu- 
lar siege appi'oaches. "Ground was broken on the 21st of July, and 
the work, which was terribly exhausting, was pushed forward with 
the utmost vigor, day and night; neither the heat of a tropical 
climate, nor the missiles of a vigilant foe, were allowed to interfere 
with the labor. On the 20th of August the 85th Pennsylvania, 
100th New York, and the 3d New Hampshire, were detailed to oc- 
cupy the advanced trenches, each twenty-four hours in turn. The 
trenches were shallow, and afforded little protection from the enemy's 
fire. On the left were his powerful guns on James Island and in 
Fort Johnson; in front those of Sumter, Gregg and Wagner; and 
on the right Fort Moultrie. The nights were damp and cold, and 
during the day the thermometer stood 100° in the shade. The casu- 
alties were numerous, and the sick list increased with alarming rapid- 
ity. The 85th took its turn in this terrible ordeal, and on the 21st 



392 HISTORY OF .GREENE COUNTY. 

had one killed and twenty wounded, three mortally; on the 24th, one 
killed and seven -wounded, one mortally; on the 27th, two killed 
and eight wounded, three mortally; on the 30th, four killed and 
eight wounded, Lieutenant-Colonel Purviance being of the number 
killed; on the 2d of September, five wounded, one mortally." The 
85th with an aggregate strength of 451 on going upon the outer 
works, could muster but 270 lit for duty when recalled. Two at- 
tempts to surprise and capture Fort Gregg proving unsuccessful. 
General Gilmore determined to again attempt to take it by assault. 
But the bombardment by sea and land for forty hours induced the 
enemy to retire, and the island was occupied. 

Upon the death of Colonel Purviance, Major Campbell was made 
Lieutenant-Colonel, and Captain Abraham, Major. Active operations 
were continued until the middle of April, 1864, when the Tenth 
corps was ordered north to reinforce the Army of the J ames. The 
85th was of the hrst brigade, Howell's, hrst division, Terry's. The 
usual service of fortifying and picket duty continued until the 20tli, 
when Howell's brigade was ordered to. charge and drive out the 
enemy in front. This was gallantly and successfully executed, but 
with a loss of two killed and twenty-one wounded. The rebel 
General Walker was wounded and taken prisoner. 

On the 14th of June, Grant's troops began to cross the James, 
and the Tenth corps took possession of the works between the James 
and the Appomattox. The enemy soon pressed heavily in front of 
Howell, and the fighting was of unusual severity. Finally the Union 
line was pushed back to the original line of battle. The loss of the 
85th was five killed and two wounded. In the expedition to Deep 
Bottom, which was made on the 13th of August, in which the Second 
and Tenth corps engaged the corps of Longstreet and Hill, the 85th 
had two killed and nineteen wounded, five mortally. In the affair 
of the 16th, Terry's division was hotly engaged, the 85th participating 
in a charge, in which the enemy, by withholding his fire while pro- 
tected by works, was able to deliver it in a manner to produce 
great destruction, the regiment losing nine killed and fifty-four 
wounded. In the operations on the south side of the Appomatto.v 
by Terry's troops the regiment participated, sustaining slight losses, 
until the 14th of October, when the veterans and recruits were trans- 
ferred to the 188th, and on the 22d of November it was mustered 
out of service. 

Company F, Eighty-fifth Infantry Regiment. 

Recruited in Greene County, mustered in October 16, 1861. 
John Morris, Capt. mus. in Nov. 11, '61; disch. June 23, '62. 
Nicholas Hager, Capt. pr. to 1st Lieut. Jan. 3, '62; to Capt. June 
23, '62; disch. March 9, '68. 



IIISTOKY OF GREENE COUNTY. 393 

Levi M. Rogers, Capt. pr. from Sergt. to 2d Lieut. June 23, '62; 
to 1st Lieut. July 7, '63; to Capt. Aug. 8, '64; died Sept. 4, of wds. 
rec'd at Deep Bottom Aug. 16, '64, bur. in Nat. Asy. Cem. Sec. B., 
grave 1. 

Eosberry Sellers, 1st Lieut, discli. Nov. 28, '61. 

John Kemley, 1st Lieut, mus. in Nov. 11, '61; pr. fr. 2d Lieut. 
June 23, '62; discb. July 6, '63. 

Elmore A. liussell, 1st Lieut, mus. in Feb. 1, '64; pr. fr. 1st 
Sergt. Aug. 9, '62; com. Capt. July 21, '64; not mus.; wd. Aug. 16, 
'64; discb. Jan. 28, '65; Vet. 

James E. Buyers, 1st Sergt. ; absent on detaclied serv. at mus. out. 

Zacliariali C.Iiagan, Sergt; mus. out witli Co. Nov. 22, '64. 

James B. Lindsey, Sergt.; mus. in Nov. 11, '61; disch. Feb 20, '62. 

Joseph Silveus, Sergt.; disch. on Surg. Cert. 

Isaac D. Ilaveley, Sergt.; mus. in Feb. 1, '64; wd. Aug. 16, '64; 
tr. to Co. n, 188th Ptegt. P. V. June 28, '65; Vet. 

Rinehart B. Church," Sergt. mus. in Feb. 1, '64; wd. Aug. 15, '64; 
tr. to Co. II, 188th Regt. P. V. June 28, '65; Vet. 

Thomas J. White, Sergt.; mus. in Feb. 4, '64; absent on detached 
service at mus. out; Vet. 

Oliver M. Long, Sergt.; died at AVhite House, Va., June 12, '62. 

Alouzo Lightner, Sergt.; mus. in Feb. 1, '64; pr. to Sergt. Nov. 
18, '62; killed at Deep Bottom, Aug. 16, '64; Vet. 

Jefferson II. Zane, Corp.; mus. in Nov. 11, '01; absent, sick at 
mus. out. 

Ryerson Kinney, Corp.; absent, on detached service at mus. out. 

William H. Iloskinsoii, Corp.; mus. in Nov. 11, '61; mus. out with 
Co. Nov. 22, '64. 

John Morman, Corp.; disch. on Surg. Cert. May 26, '62. 

William C. Leonard, Corp.; disch. on Surg. Cert. July 4, '68. 

Thomas Hoge, Corp.; disch. on Surg. Cert. May 26, '62. 

Hiram Weaver, Corp.; disch. on Surg. Cert., date unknown. 

James N. Derbins, Corp.; mus. in Feb. 1, '64; wd. Oct. 13, '64; 
tr. to Co. II, 188th Regt. P. V. June 28, '65; Vet. 

Thomas M. Sellers, Corp.; mus. in Feb. 1, '64; wd. Aug. 16, '64; 
tr. to Co. II, 188th Regt. P. V. Jime 28, '65; Vet. 

Thomas P. Rodgers, Corp.; mus. in Aug. 28, '62; pr. to Corp. 
June 29, '64; killed at Deep Bottom, Va., Aug. 16, '64. 

Daniel Swan, musician, mus. out with Co. Nov. 22, '64. 

James McCuen, musician; mus. in Dec. 16, '61; mus. out with 
Co. Nov. 22, '64. 

Ar^o, Simeon, died at Morris Island, So. Carolina, Sept. 3, '63. 

Armer, Strosnider, des. date unknown. 

Bryner, James, mus. in Nov. 11, '61; mus. out with Co. Nov. 22, 
'64. 



394 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

Burk, Noah, discli. date unknown. 

babbitt, Joseph, raiis. in Nov. 11, '61; disch. May 12, '63. 

Burroughs, John B., mus. in March 26, '64; tr. to Co. H, 188th 
Regt. P. v., June 28, '65. 

Bissett, Jeremiah, mus. in Jan. 20, '64; died at Hampton, Ya., 
Oct. 21, '64; bur. in Nat. Cem., Hampton, Sec. C, grave 32, under 
name of J. BussulL 

Bissett, Albert, mus. in Jan. 20, '64; died at Beverly, N. J., Aug. 

27, of wds. rec'd at Petersburg, Ya., June 17, '64. 
Cliapman, Charles, mus. out with Co. Nov. 22, '64. 
Cheney, Jesse, disch. for wds. Nov. 23, rec'd June 10, '65. 
Chiirch, Franklin, mus. in Aug. 28, '62; disch. by Gen. Order, 

June 10, '65. 

Church, George, raus. in Feb. 24, '64; tr. to Co. H, 188th Eegt. 
P. V. June 28, '65. 

Cree, Alexander D., mus. in Aug. 28, '62; wd. at Deep Bottom, 
Ya., Aug. 16, '64; disch. by Gen. Order May 13, '65. 

Cooper, James E., mus. in Oct. 22, '62; tr. to Co. H., 188th Regt. 
P. Y. June 28, '65. 

Clouse, John, mus. in Jan. 20, '64; tr. to Co. H., 188th Regt. P. 
Y. June 28, '65. 

Cartwright, Jesse L., mus. in Aug. 22, '64; died at Hampton, Ya., 
Oct. 4, '64; bur. in Nat. Cem., Hampton, Sec. 8, grave 14. 

Cowen, John, mus. in Nov. 11, '61; died at Washington, D. C; 
bur. Mil. Asylum Cem., D. C. 

Crouse, Nathan, mus. in Nov. 11, '61; died; date unknown. 

Crouse, William, died June 11, '62; bur. in Mil. Asylum Cem. 
D. C. 

Davis, Benjamin, mus. out with Co. Nov. 22, '64. 

Duvall, Elias, died at Beaufort, So. Carolina, Sept. 11, '63, of wds. 
rec'd at Fort Wagner. 

Earnest, Jacob, absent on detached .service at mus. out. 

Engle, Solomon, mus. in Nov. 4, '61; mus. out with Co. Nov. 
22, '64. 

Estrep, Cornelius, mus. in Nov. 11, '61; died at Philadelphia, 
Aug 7, of wds. rec'd at Fair Oaks, Ya., May 31, '62. 

Fry, Thomas R., mus. out with Co. Nov. 22, '64. 

Fordyce, William, mus. out with Co. Nov. 22, '64. 

Fordyce, John, disch.; date unknown. 

Fry, David, mus. in Jan. 5, '64; tr. to Co. H, 188th P. Y. June 

28, '65. 

Fry, Henry, raus. out Feb. 1, '64; wd. Aug. 21, '62; killed near 
Peterburg, Ya., June 17, '64; Yet. 

Graham, John P., mus. in Nov. 11, '61; mus. out with Co. Nov. 
22, '64. 




^ 




HISTORY OF GREENE COUXTY. 397 

Gilbert, Eliel, mus. out with Co. Nov. 22, '64. 
Garrison, Thomson, absent on detached service at mus. out. 
Gladen, AYilliam II., discli.; date unknown. 

Gray, Isaac, mus. in Feb. 1, '64; wd. Aug. 3, '61; absent, on de- 
tached service at mus. out. 

Hickman, George F., mus. out witli Co. Nov. 22, '64. 
Hummel, William, mus. out with Co. Nov. 22, '64. 
Hays, George W., mus. in Nov. 11, '61; disch. on Surg. Cert. April 
16, '62. 

Hofi'raann, James, mus. in Feb. 1, '64; tr. to Co. H, 188th P. V. 
June28, '64; Vet. 

Hoifman, Jacob, mus. in Feb. 1, '64; absent on detached service 
at mus. out. 

Henderson, William, mus. in Jan. 25, '64; tr. to Co. H, 188th 
Kegt. P. V. June 28, '65. 

Hunt, Josephus, mus. in Nov. 11, '65; died at Beaufort, So. Caro- 
lina, Oct. 12, "63, of wds. rec'd at Fort Wagner; bur. record Sept. 
29, '63. 

Hathaway, Adolph, mus. in Feb. '64; killed at Cold Harbor, June 
3, '64; bur. in Nat. Cem. City Point, Sec. A, Div. 1, grave 4 or 62; 
Vet. 

Johnston, Francis M., died at White House, Va., June 19, '62. 
Johnson, Nicholas, died at N. Y. Oct. 16, '62; bur. in Cypress 
Hill Cem., L. I. 

Knight, James, disch. on Surg. Cert. Sept. 12, '62. 
Kimble, Jackson, mus. in Feb. 4, '64; absent on detached service 
at mus. out. 

Leonard, Harvey, mus. in Nov. 11, '61; mus. out with Co. Nov. 
22, '64. 

Longhman, Henry, absent on detached service at mus. out. 
Lewis, George ¥., disch. Oct. 20, '62. 
Longdon, Morgan, disch. on Surg. Cert. Oct. 11, '62. 
Leonard, Wm. E., mus. in Feb. 4, '64; absent on detached service 
at mus. out. 

Mitchell, Andrew J., mus. out in Co. Nov. 22, '64. 
Martin, Perry W., mus. in Nov. 10, '61; wd. Aug. 16, '64; miis. 
out with Co. Nov. 22, '64. 

Mitchell, Jonathan, disch. date unknown, for wds. rec'd Aug. 15, 
'64. 

Martin, Silas W., mus. in Sept. 9, '62; wd. Aug. 16, '64; disch. \ty 
Gen. Order May 13, '65. 

Montgomery, John, mus. in Aug. 13, '62; disch. by Gen. Order 
May 13, '65. 

Montgomery, AVilliam, mus. in Oct. 22, '62; absent on detached 
service at mus. out. 

20 



398 HISTORY OF GKEENE COUNTY. 

Moore, Carl, mus. in March 26, '64; tr. to Co. H, 188th Regt. P. 
V. June 28, '65. 

Moore, Sanmel BL., mus. in March 26, '64; tr. to Co. H, 188th 
Eegt. P. y. June 28, '65. 

Murdy, John, mus. in Aug. 22, '64; disch. by Gen. Order, June 
10, '65. 

Martin, James M., mus. in Nov. 11, '61 ; died at Point Look Out,, 
Md., Oct. 6, '62. 

Morris, Andrew J., mus. in Jan. 5, 64; died at Hilton Head, S. C- 
April 18, '64; Vet. 

McMullin, William, mus. out with Co. Nov. 22, '64. 

McCracken, Thomas, disch. on Surg. Cert. July 4, '63. 

McGlurphy, Harvey, disch. on Surg. Cert., date unknown. 

McGary, Spencer, mus. in JSTov. 11, '61; disch. on Surg. Cert. Jan. 
31, '63. 

McGumphrey, W., mus. in Nov. 11, '61; disch. on Surg. Cert, 
Oct. 80, '62. 

McDonald, Alfred, mus. in Feb. 1, '64; died at Hampton, Va., 
Oct. 10, '64; Vet.; bur. in Nat. Cem. Sec. D., grave 22. 

Nelson, LaFayette, died May 23, '62; bur. in Mil. Asy. Cem. D. C. 

Ott, Ezra, mus. in Jan. 20, '64; tr. to Co. H, 188th Regt. P. V. 
June 28, '65. 

Ott, Salem, mus. in March 31, '64; tr. to Co. H., 188th Regt. P. 
V.June 28, '65. 

Pettitt, Henry, mus. in Nov. 11, '61; mus. out with Co. Nov. 
12, '64. 

Plants, Maxwell, mus. out with Co. Nov. 22, '64. 

Packer, Wm. F., disch. on Surg. Cert. Aug. 1, '63. 

Pettitt, George, mus. in Feb. 1, '64; wd. Aug. 24, '63, and Aug. 
14, '64; tr. to Co. H. 188th Eegt. P. V. June 28, '65; Vet. 

Patterson, Joseph, died at Malvern Hill, Va. July 1, '62. 

Riggs, William, mus. out with Co. Nov. 22, '64. 

Rinehart, Morgan, mus. in Nov. 11, '61; absent, on detached serv- 
ice at mus. out. 

Richard, Lewis, missing in action at Fair Oaks, Va., May 31, '62. 

Roseberry, Thomas, disch. on Surg. Cert. Feb. 12, '63. 

Riggs, Peter, disch., date unknown. 

Roach, George, mus. in Jan. 20, '64; disch. June 23, '64. 

Rush, John, mus. in Feb. 1, '64; tr. to Co. H, 188th Regt. P. V. 
June 28, '65; Vet. 

Riger, John, mus. in Feb. 1, '64; tr. to Co. H, 188 th Regt. P. V. 
June 28, '65; Vet. 

Rinehart, Thomas, mus. in Feb. 1, '64; tr. to Co. H, 188th Regt. 
P. V. Jiine28, '65; Vet. 



niSTOKY OV GREKNE COUNTY. 399 

Einehart, Meeker, died at Annapolis July 9, of wds. rec'd May 
31, '62. 

Scott, Abijah M., abs. on detached service at nius. out. 

Scott, Liston, nius. in Feb. 1, '64; pris. fr. May 16, '64, to April 
21, '65; dischg. July 5, '65; Vet. 

Sutton, John, mus. in Nov. 11, '61; dischg. on Surg. Cert. May 
26, '62. 

Smith, James E., mus. in Mar. 11, '62; dischg. on Surg. Cert. 
Sept. 12, '62. 

Seabold, Williani H., mus. in Feb. 1, '64; abs. on detached ser- 
vice at mus. out. 

Sellers, John, mus. in Aug. 28, '62; dischg. on Gen. Order, June 
10, '65. 

Smith, Ezra, mus. in Nov. 11, '61; died May 29, '62; buried in 
Mil. Asylum Cemetery, D. C. 

Smith, Anthony A., mus. in Mar. 6, '62; died at Point Lookout. 
Oct. 25, '62. 

Thompson, Samuel, mus. in Nov. 11, '61; mus. out with Co., 
Nov. 22, '64. 

Thomas, William, dischg. date unknown. 

Teagarden, Isaac, mus. in Nov. 11, '61; dischg. date unknown. 

Taylor, Levi, mus. in Feb. Feb. 24, '64; abs. on detaclied service 
at mus. out. 

Thomas, Samuel, mus. in Apr. 8, '64; died Feb. IS, '65; buried 
in Nat. Cem., City Point, Va., Sec. A, div. 8, grave 129. 

Terrel, George W., mus. in Aug. 22, '64; dischg. by Gen. Order, 
June 10, '65. 

Vandivender, Eli, mus. in Aug. 13, '62; wd. Aug. 24, '63; dischg. 
by Gen. Order, June 10, '65. 

West, Jacob, mus. in Nov. 11,'<)1; mus. out with Co.. Nov. 22, '64. 

Wiseman, George, mus. in Jan. 20, '64; missing as Deep Bottom, 
Va., Aug. 16, '64. 

Weaver, Jacob, dischg. on Sur. Cert., July 9, '62. 

Winger, John M., mus. in Feb. 24, '64; dischg. on Surg. Cert., 
Sept. 26, '62. 

Wiseman, John, mus. in Aug. 22, '64; disch. by Gen. Order. 
June 10, '65. 

West, Samuel, died at Harrison's Landing, Va., July 26, '62. 

Wilkinson, A. J., died at Point Lookout, Md., Maj' 26, of wds. 
reed. May 20, '64. 

Company G, Eighty-fifth Inf.vntky Regiment. 

Recruited in Greene County, mustered in Nov. 6, 1861. 
Isaac M. Abraham, Capt. pr. to Major, Apr. 28, '64; wd. near 
Deep Bottom, Va., Aug. 15, '64; mus. out with Reg., Nov. 22, '64. 



400 HISTOKY OF GKEENE COUNTY. 

John A. Gordon, 1st Lieut., com. Capt. Sept. 8, '63; not mus; 
mns. out with Co. Nov. 22, '64. 

John F. Crawford, 2d Lieut., resigned March 10, '64. 

Benoni S. Gilmore, 1st Sergt. mus. in Oct. 15, '61; pr. to Sergt. 
March 1, '63; to 1st Sergt.; mus. out with Co. Nov. 22, '64. 

David E. Graham, 1st Sergt., disch. on Surg. Cert. Nov. 22, '62. 

Marquis L. Gordon, Sergt., pr. to Corp. March 1, '63; to Sergt. 
Nov. 1, '63; mus. out with Co. Nov. 22, '64. 

Hiram Gordon, Sergt.; pr. to Sergt. Nov. 1, '64; abs. on detached 
Serv., at mus. out. 

Jesse E. Jones, Sergt; mus. in Oct. 20, '61; wd. Aug. 14, '64; 
pr. to Sergt. Nov. 1, '64; mus. out with Co. Nov. 22, '64. 

Eobert II. Ross, mus. in Oct. 22, '61; wd. Aug. 30, '63; disch. 
on Surg. Cert. May 11, '64. 

James E. Core, mns. in Oct. 15, '61; disch. on Snrg. Cert. Feb. 
6, '63. 

Benj. F. Campbell, mus. in March 17, '62; pr. to Corp. Nov. 1, 
'63, to Sergt. Sept. 1, '64; abs. on detached service at mus. out. 

Francis M. Eush, Sergt., died at Hampton, Va., Aug. 19, of wds. 
seed. Aug. 16, '64. 

Myers P. Titus, Sergt., mus. in Oct. 15, '61; died at Hampton, 
Va., Oct., '64, of wds. reed, in action. 

"William Pitcock, Corp., disch. on Surg. Cert. Nov. 21, '62. 

George A. Burchinal, Corp, mus. in Oct. 15, '61, died at York- 
town, Va., June 10, '62. 

James Sturgis, Corp., died at Beverly, N. J., Nov. 6, of wds. 
reed. Aug. 16, '64. 

Harrison II. Hoge, Corp., died Aug. '62; bur. record Sept. 25, 
'62; bur. in Cypress Hill Cem. L. I., grave 437. 

Thomas S. Knisely, Corp., died at Suifolk, Va., Nov. 4, '62. 

George W. Kennv, Corp., Nov. 1, '63, killed at Bermuda Hun- 
dred Va., May 20, '64; bur. in Nat. Cem., City Point, Sec. A, Div. 
1; Vet. 

Adam M'Gill, musician, mus. out with Co. Nov. 22, '64. 

Hiram Hickman, musician, died at Crany Island, Va., Sept. 
13, '62. 

Atchison, Henry K., absent, wounded at mus. out. 

Bai-e, Baker, mus. in Nov. 6, '61, disch. on Surg. Cert. Dec. 
29, '62. 

Black, Lindsay, mus. in Jan. 5, '64; wd. Aug. 16, '64; tr. to 
Go. G, 188th Eegt. P. V., June 25, '65; Vet. 

Bovid, "William, mus. in Feb. 12, '62; absent on detached ser. 
at mus. out. 

Bowers, "William H., died at Beaufort, S. C, Sept. 4, '63, of 
wds. reed, in action. 



HISTORY OF GRKENK COUNTY. 401 

Eariies, Jesse, died May 12, 'G2; buried in Nat. Cein., York- 
town, Va., Sec. C, grave 20G. 

Beard, George C, mus. in Oct. 24, '61; died April 9, '62; l)n. 
in Nat. Ceni., Yorktown, Va., Sec. IJ, grave 231. 

Cline, John L., wd. Sept. 2, '63; mustered out with Co. Nov. 
22, '64. 

Cuinley, John G., disch. on Surg. Cert. May 9, '63. 

Conrad, Alexander, disch. Oct. 22, '64, expiration of term. 

Cole, Jacob, died near Richmond, Va.', June 6, '62. 

Dean, William, mus. in Oct. 24, '64; mus. out with Co. Nov. 
22, '64. 

David, Wells E., mus. in Oct. 15, '61; died at White Oak 
Swamp, Va., June 23, '62. 

Dickson, Philans E., mus. in Oct. 25, '61; died at Washington, 
t). C, May 25, '62; bur. in Military Cem. 

Eberhart, Martin L., mus. out with Co. Nov. 22, '64. 

Enrix, Charles M. B., mus. in Oct. 15, '61; absent, sick at mus. 
out. 

Eberhart. William, mus. in Feb. 11. '62; aUs. on detaciied serv. 
at mus. out. 

French, Isaac, mus. in Oct. 15, '61; discii. on Surg. Cert. Feb. 
20, '62. 

Greene, William P.. mus. in Oct. 15, '61; mus. out with Co. 
Nov. 22, '(54. 

Graham, William A., wd. Aug. 16, '64; mus. out with Co. 
Nov. 22, '64. 

Goodwin, David S., mus. in Oct. 15, '61; disch. on Surg. Cert 
1862. 

Gray, James, mus. in Oct. 15. '61; disch. Nov. 17, '()4; exp. 
term. 

Gabler, Philarus E., disch. on Surg. Cert. Aug. 5, '63. 

Graham, John, disch. on Surg. Cert. Aug. 18. '62. 

Griffin, Charles A., mus. in Oct. 15, '61; tr. to Sig. Corps. Sept. 
7, '63. 

(Wooden, David, mus. in Feb. 12, '64; tr. to Co. G, 188th Ptegt. 
P. v., June 28, '65. 

Gehoe, Benjamin, died at Hampton, Va.. June 14. '64, of wds. 
reed, in action. 

Gregg, John, des. Nov., 1861. 

Grove, David L., mus. in Oct. 25, '61; absent on furlough at 
mus. out. 
. Hayden, Caleb F., absent, sick at mus. out. 

Ilonsacker, Nicholas, mus. in Oct. 15, '61; mus. out with Co. 
Nov. 22, '64. 

Harden, John P., mus. out with Co. Nov. 22, '64. 



402 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

Hunter, Isaac, inus. in Oct. 25, '61; absent, sick at mus. out. 

Ilayden, Henry M., mus. in Oct. 15, '61; disch. on Surg. 
Cert. 1862. 

Haney, Wm. H., mus. in March 4, '62; disch. mi Surg. Cert. 
1862. 

Husk, Frederick, liius. in Oct. 15, '61; died at Baltimore, Md., 
July 16, '02. 

Huss, James, mus. in Oct. 15, '61; des. June 30, '62. 

Hoffman, George, des. Nov. '61. 

Jacobs, Josephus, mus. out with Co. Nov. 22, '65. 

Jenkins, Andrew J., mus. in Oct. 22, '61; mas. out with Co. 
Nov. 22, '61. 

Kent, John R., mus. out with Co. Nov. 22, '64. 

Kniseley, George W., disch. on Surg. Cert. July, '63. 

Kennedy, Van B. mus. in Oct. 15, '61; died at Camp Scott, Va., 
April 25, '62. 

Lloyd, George, mus. in Oct. 15, "61; disch. on Surg. Cert. 
Aug. 21, '62. 

Lyon, James F., mus. in Oct. 15, '61; died at Harrison's Land- 
ing, July 2, '62. 

Lytle, Rodandus, mus. in Oct. 15, '61; died at Fortress Monroe, 
Aug. 14, '62. 

Martin, David W., absent on detached service at mus. out. 

Mereditli, Enrix, mus. in Oct. 15, '61; disch. on Surg. Cert. 
Dec. 22, '62. 

Mitchell, Allen W., mus. in Oct. 24, '61; disch. on Surg. Cert. 
Aug., '62. 

Moser, John P., tr. to Co. G, 188th Regt. P. V., June 28, 
'65; Vet. 

Murdock, J. II. L., died at White Oak Swamp, Va., June 28, '62. 

Moore, John, died at "Washington, D. C, Dec. 6, '61; bur. in 
Mil. Asy. Cem. 

Moser, Silas L., des. Nov. 18, '61. 

McDonald, John, mus. in Oct. 15, '61; wd., with loss of right 
arm and left hand, July 29, '68; disch. on Surg. Cert. May 7, '64. 

McGill, William, mus. in Oct. 15, '61, disch. on Surg. Cert. 
March 6, '63. 

McMasters, James, died at Camp Scott, May 16, '62. 

Nicholson, J. W., mus. in July 16, '62; died at Folly Island, 
Nov. 1, '62. 

O'Neal, Henry, mus. in Oct. 15, '61; disch. on Surg. Cert. 
Aug. 5, '63. 

Pratt, Joseph S., mus. in Oct. 15, '61; abs. on detached duty 
at mus. out. 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 403 

Patton, Henry B., nius. in Oct. 15, '61; mus. out witli Co. 
jVov. 22, '64. 

Patterson, W. II., inns, in Oct. 15, '61; disch. on Surg. Cert. 
:Nov. 13, '62. 

Pratt, Ashabel F., mus. in Oct. 15, '61: disch on Surg. Cert. 
Aug. 5, '63, 

Pitcock, Owen, mus. in Nov. 1, '61; tr. to Vet. Res. Corps., 
Sept. 16, '63. 

Patton, Caleb A., mus. in Oct. 15, '61; died at Pliiladelpliia, Pa., 
July 10, '62. 

Phillips, Ashberry, died at Chesapeake Hospital, Va., June 10, 
'62, of wds. received in action. 

Rush, John W., mus. out witii Co. Nov. 22, '64. 

Ramor, Minor A., mus. in Oct. 15, '61; disch. on Surg. Cert. 
JVIay 9, '63. 

Rush, John D., disch. on Surg. Cert. Nov. '61. 

Reid, Joel, mus. in Oct. 15, '61; died Sept. 22, '62; bur. in Cyp. 
Hill Cam. L. I. 

Sutton, William A., mus. in Oct. 23, '61; absent in ar. at mus. 
out. 

Strickler, John, mus. in Oct. 15, '61; abs., sick at mus. out. 

Shultz, Israel, disch. Nov. '61. 

Strosnider, Reason, discli. on Surg. Cert. Nov. '(31. 

Spicer, John, disch. on Surg. Cert. Jan. 6, 'G'd. 

Sturgis, Phineas W., mus. in Oct. 15, '61; died at Yorktown, 
Ya., June 2, '62; buried in Nat. Cera. Sec. D, grave 167. 

Sturgis, David R., mus. in Oct. 15, '61; died at Baltimore, Md., 
May 29, '62. 

Titus, Benjamin, mus. in Oct. 15, '61; absent, sick at mus. out. 

Thomas, Joshua R., wd. Aug. 9, '(53; discli. Nov. 11, '64; exp. 
of term. 

Tell, William, mus. in July 30, '(52; disch. by Gen. Order, June 
8, '65, 

Tannehill, Joseph, mus. in (3ct. 15, '(51; died at Morris Island, 
S. C . August 23, '63. 

Utt, William II., mus. in Oct. 15, '61; disch. on Surg. Cert. 
November 27, '62. 

AVilcox, Moses, mus. in Oct. 15. '61; died at Baltimore, 
Md., May 20, '62. 



4:04 IIISTOKT OF GREENE COUNTY. 



CHAPTEE XXIX. 



CiiJiirANY A, Oly^E HUNDKBD AND FoETIETH FeNNSIXVANIA InFANTKY 

Kegiment. 

Organization — North Centeal Railway — Chancelloesville — 
White House — Gettysbueg — The "Wheat Field — Mine Run 
Campaign — The Wildeeness — Coebin's Beidge — Spottsyl- 
VANIA — Tolopotomy Ceeek — Death of Captain McCulloijgh 
— Cold Haeboe — Befoee Peteesbueg — Jeeusalem Flank' 
Road — Deep Bottom — Ream's Station — Hatchee's Run — 

SOUTHEELAND STATION SaILOe's CeEEK FaEMVILLE ApPO- 

MATTOX COUET HoUSE SuEEENDEE OF Lee MuSTEE ' OuT 

Recoed of Individual Soldiers. 

COMPANY A, of the One Hundred and Fortieth Regiment, 
was recruited in Greene County, and was originally officered by 
John F. McCullough, Captain; J. Jackson Furman, First Lieuten- 
ant; David Taylor, Second Lieutenant. The regiment was organized 
at Camp Curtiu on the 8th of September, 1862, with Richard P. 
Roberts, of Beaver County, Colonel ; John Frazer, of Washington 
County, Lieutenant-Colonel; Thomas B. Rodgers, of Mercer County^ 
Major. During the period of Lee's invasion of Maryland, which 
culminated in the battles of South Mountain and Antietam, the 
regiment was posted along the line of the North Central Railway to 
keep open that great thoroughfare. Having been thoroughly drilled, 
it was ordered to the front, and arrived as the troops were returning 
from the disastrous battle of Fredericksburg. It became a part of 
the Third Brigade, General Zook, First Division, Second Corps. In 
the battle of Chancellorsville it was engaged in front of the Chancel- 
lor House on the old turnpike leading to Fredericlvsburg, where 
General Hancock held an advanced position, and where the enemy 
made frequent and determined attacks. With Colonel Miles it was- 
upon the picket line during the nervous and uneasy night of the 
2d, when the least movement of troops drew the fire of Avhole 
divisions of the army. During the morning of the 3d, while the 
One Hundred and Fortieth was supporting the Fifth Maitie Bat- 
tery, the White House, which was situated at the apex of the new 
line of battle, took fire and was utterly destroyed. Thirty-three 
wounded men, and three women, who had taken refuge in the cellar, 




Amd^i^U^ dfit^e^c^Aa-^^^ 






IIISTOHY OF GREENP: COUNTY. 407 

were brought forth from the burning wreck. When the army re- 
tired to tlie new line the ( Jne Hundred and Fortieth occupied a posi- 
tion to the left of the White House, where it remained, subjected to 
occasional artillery tire, until the 6th, when it retired across the 
river. 

The battle of Gettysbui'g followed close upon Chancellorsville. 
The First and Eleventh Corps met a full half of tlie rebel army on 
the heights beyond the town to the northwest, and were driven back 
through its streets to the ridge to the south, in the centre of which 
was the quiet little Evergreen Cemetery. On the morning of the 
2d the Second Corps, now under the gallant Hancock, came upon the 
tield, and was posted along the left centre of the line, stretching 
from the cemetery along the Emmettsburg Pike towards the Peach 
Orchard. About four o'clock Sickles, who, with the Third Corps, 
occupied the extreme left, stretching from the pike along the Peach 
Orchard to Little Konnd Top, was fiercely attacked. His line was 
thin and weak; but right gallantly did he hold liis ground, and hurl 
back the foe. Again and again he came. In the midst of the fray 
Sickles was grievously wounded with the loss of a leg. His weakened 
columns were gradually forced back. " PortioTis of the Fifth Corps 
were sent to his relief, but shared a like fate. Finally Hancock sent 
Caldwell's Division, of his own corps, to check the enemy's mad ad- 
vance, and repair the threatened disaster. Moving rapidly across 
the little wooded knoll to the right and front of Pound Top, he tirst 
sent the brigades of Cross and Kelly to penetrate the Wheat Field 
and the wood beyond, where the fiercest tighting had been. Colonel 
Cross was killed, and his command was terribly torn, as it advanced 
upon that fatal Wheat Field, on three sides of which the enemy in 
heavy numbers was concealed. And now, as a forlorn hope, the 
brigades of Zook and' Brooke were sent forward. Zook was killed 
while leading his troops into the tight, and before he had hardly got 
into action. The command of his brigade then fell upon Colonel 
Roljerts of the One Hundred and Fortieth. (Tallantly did these two 
small brigades pnsii forward over this devoted ground in the face of 
a severe tire. The enemy was swept back from the cover of the 
woods, and the rocky ridge beyond the Wheat Field, a position of 
great natural strength, was carried. But th s advantage, gained at 
a fearful cost, was of no avail. The angle in Sickle's line at the 
Peach Orchard, the weak point in his formation, had been hope- 
lessly broken, and through this opening tlie enemy swarmed and 
turned the right of Caldwell's position, compelling him to with- 
draw. He rested at night on the low ground on the loft centre of 
the line, where lie remained during the heavy cannonade of the suc- 
ceeding day, and until the close of the battle." The loss in Com- 
pany A in the battle was severe. Sergeant Brown and Corporal 



408 HISTORY OF GKEENK COUNTY. 

Eddy were killed, Private Loar was mortally wounded, Lieutenant 
Purman was wounded with loss of a leg, Captain McCullough, 
Sergeant Zimmers and Private Eddy were severely wounded, Colonel 
Roberts, Captain Acheson and Lieutenant Wilson of the regiment 
were killed. 

The One Hundred and Fortieth now became a part of the First 
Brigade, to the command of which Colonel Nelson A. Miles, of 
the Sixty-first New Yoi'k, was assigned. Lieutenant-Colonel Frazer 
was made Colonel, Major liodgers, Lieutenant-Colonel, and Captain 
Thomas Henry, Major. " In the advance of the army to the 
Eapidan, and the retrograde to Centreville, and subsequent advance to 
Mine Run, where the campaign ended without coming to a decisive 
battle, the regiment shared the fortunes of the corps, participating 
in the action of Bristoe Station on the 14th of October, 1863, and 
the skirmishing in front of the enemy's position at Mine Run, 
sustaining some loss in wounded." 

By midnight of the 3d of May, 1864, the regiment was on the 
march for the AVilderness campaign. General Grant was now in 
supreme command. By noon of the fifth, the regiment had arrived 
upon the Brock road, where it threw up breast-works, the enemy in 
front. The scenes on that gory field, pen cannot portray. The regi- 
ment shared in the fiery conflict. At three on the morning of the 
6th, it was aroused, the brigade holding the left of the line where 
substantial breast-works were erected. On the morning of the 8th 
the regiment joined in the general movement of the army, and had 
an encounter with the enemy at Corbin's bridge. On the 9th the 
Po River was crossed, and the regiment was placed upon the skirm- 
ish line and met the pickets of the enemy. A line of rifle pits 
was thrown up along the Po River. Early on the morning of the 
12th the regiment joined in the grand movement of Hancock's 
corps, which resulted in the movement upon the rebel iutrenchments, 
and large captures of men and material at Spottsylvania. The 
movement was commenced at the first breaking of the day, and was 
shielded somewhat from view by a dense fog which prevailed on that 
morning. The advantage gained was securely held, though the enemy 
made repeated attacks to regain his lost ground, and atone for 
his discomfiture. The loss in the regiment in this affair was over 
one hundred, and in Company A, Benjamin Dunston, John W. Peden, 
Thomas Boty and Judson W. Paden, were killed. Andrew J. "W ald- 
ers was mortally wounded, John Henry was wounded, and David 
Frays and Job Smith, Jr., were missing in action. 

Starting on another grand flanking movement on the 20th, the 
North Anna was crossed on the 23d, but finding the enemy advant- 
ageously posted. Grant determined not to attack; but, withdrawing, 
he encountered the enemy at Tolopotomy Creek, and severe fighting 



IIISTOKY OF GREENE COUNTY. 409 

occurred, Hancock occupying the centre and successfully carrying 
tiie enemy's tirst line and holding it against every fierce attack of 
the foe. Here Company A lost its brave leader, Captain John 
F. McCullough, who was killed, and Norval Troy, who was mor- 
tally wounded. 

Without loss of time the army moved on to the old battle ground 
<jf Gaines' Mill, only with the two opposing columns reversed, Lee 
having the ground of McClellan, and Grant that of Stonewall Jack- 
son. Grant iiere boldly attacked along the whole line, Hancock 
holding the left. But the ground was now found to be completely 
fortified, and the attack, though successful in parts, was not in tiie 
main design fruitful, and was finally abandoned with grievous loss. 
In Company A, John R. M. Greene, and John Gray, were killed, 
and Michael Itoope was mortally wounded. I'y the middle of June 
the army was across the James, and an attack upon the enemy at 
Petersburg was promptly delivered. l>ut finding, as usual in this 
campaign, that the enemy had placed himself behind elaborately- 
planned and strongly fortified works, the attempt to carry the place 
by direct assault was abandoned, and the army sat down before the 
town and commenced the more tardy operations of the siege. In 
this first attack before Petersburg, John Acklin, of Company A, 
was killed. In the movement on the Jerusalem I 'lank Road, on 
the 21st of June, the One Hundred and Fortieth participated with 
the Second and Sixth Corps, but only a partial success was achieved; 
though a position was taken and fortified, which the enemy found 
himself unable to break through. On the 26th of July a demon- 
stration was made to the north side of the James, where, in con- 
nection with the JS^ineteenth corps, the brigade gallantly charged the 
enemy's works, on the 28th, and captured prisoners and four Parrott 
guns, and on the 30th returned to the Petersburg front. The 
mine explosion resulted in no advantage to the Union army. On 
the 14th of August the corps again crossed the James, and at 
Deep Bottom the rebel works were carried by Birney's division, 
•which was advanced within sound of the rebel capital. Returning 
to the Petersburg front the corps took up the line of march on 
the 21st, and at Ream's Station had a desperate encounter .with 
the enemy, who appeared in superior force. 

" In the subsequent operations of the corps during the fall and 
winter, the regiment bore a part, being hotly engaged in front of 
Petersburg, on the 9th of September, in the general movement of 
the 27th of October; suffering much from inclemency of tiie weather 
in the expedition to Hatcher's Run, from the 8th to the lOtli of 
December, and in that to Dabney's Mills from the 5th to the 17th 
of February, 1865. Apart from tliese it remained undisturbed in 
winter (juarters until the opening of the spring campaign on the 



410 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

25tli of March. On that day the Second Corps made an advance 
upon the rebel lines at Hatcher's Run, and a portion of his works, 
designed to cover the South Side ilailroad, was carried. For four 
days the fighting was continued on this part of the line, the corps 
making daily some substantial advance, Miles' Division executing 
a brilliant move at Southerland's Station on the 3d of Api'il, 
whereby extensive captures of men and materials were made. The 
corps was again engaged on the 6th at Sailor's Creek, and on the 
7th at Farmvillc fought its last battle. In this engagement an 
assaulting column led by General Miles M-as bloodily repulsed. 
Night put an end to tiie contest, and under cover of the dark- 
ness the enemy withdrew. Two days later Lee surrenclered. Hos- 
tile operations were soon after concluded, and returning to the 
neighborhood of Washington, the regiment, on the 31st of May, 
was mustered out of service." 

Company A, One Hundred and Fortieth Kegiment. 

Eecraited in Green County, mustered into service Sept. 4, 
1862. 

John F. McCullougli, Capt., wd. at Gettysburg, July 2, '63; 
Com. Col. 183d Reg. P. Y., May 28, '64; not raus; killed at Toio- 
potomy, Va., May 31, '64. 

James M. Pipes, Capt., pro. fr. 1st Serg. to 2d Lieut., Jan. 2, 
'64; to Capt., June 27, '64; wd., with loss of arm, at Reanie's 
Station, Va., Aug. 25, '64; disch. on Surg. Cert. Feb. 17, "65. 

John A. Burns, Capt., pr. fr. Sergt. to 1st Sergt., Jan. 2, '64; 
to 1st Lieut., June 27, "64; to Capt., March 4, '65; mus. out with 
Co.. May 31, '65. 

J. Jackson Purman, 1st Lieut., wd. witli loss of leg at Gettys- 
burg, July 2, "63; discli. on Surg. Cert., May 20, '64. 

Mark G. Spragg, 1st Lieut., pr. fr. Corp. 'to Sergt., Marcli 1, 
'64; to 2d Lieut.," June 27, '64; to 1st Lieut., Marcli 4, "65; mus. 
out with Co. May 31, '65. 

David Taylor, 2d Lieut., resigned July 31, '63. 

Charles T. Hedge, 1st Sergt., pr. fr. Corp. July 1, '64; com. 2d 
Lieut., Dec. 18, '64; not mus.; mus. out with Co. May 31, ■()5. 

Daniel B. Waychaft, Sergt., pr. to Sergt., July 1, '64; disch. 
by Gen. Order, July 5, '65. 

Nathaniel N. Purman, Sergt., wd. at Cliancellorsville, May 3, 
'63; tr. to 105th Co. 2d Battl. V. R. C, Jan. 30, '65; dSsch. 
Sept. 4, '65; exp. term. 

Henry Zimmers, Sergt.; wd. at Gettysburg, July 2, '63; abs. 
at mus. out. 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 411 

John C. Coen, Sergt., pr. to Corp. July 1, "64; to Sergt., 
May 1, "65; mus. out with Co. JVlay 31, "65. 

Cornelius J. Bark, Sergt., pr. fr. Corp., Nov. 1, "63; disch. on 
Snrg. Cert. March 16, "65. 

Wiliain A. Brown, Sergt., killed at Gettysburi^, July 2, "63. 

J. S. Ilerrington' Corp., pr. to Corp. July 1, "64; tr. to V. R. 
C; disch. by Gen. Order, July 20, '65. 

Alpheus Crawford, Corp., disch. by Gen. Order, June 6, "65. 

Carey M. P"ulton, Corp., nuis. out with Co. May 31, '65. 

Thomas J. Kent, Corp., pr. to Corp. July 1, '64; mus. out with 
Co. May 31, "65. 

James B. Reinhart, Corp., pr. to Corp. July 1, "64; mus. out 
with Co. May 31, "55. 

Joseph Bane, Corp., pr. to Corp. July 1, (54; mus. out with 
Co. May 31, '65. 

Kramer Gabier, Corp., mus. oat with Co. May 31, "65. 

Spencer Stephens, Corp., pr. to Corp. May 1, "65; mus. out with 
Co. May 31, '65. 

Leroy S. Greenlee, Corp., killed at Gettysburg, July 2, '63; bur. 
in Evergreen Cemetery. 

John W. Peden, Corp., killed in action, May 15, "64. 

James Woods, musician, mus. out with Co. May 31, "65. 

Morgan Dunn, musician, mus. out with Co. May 31, "65. 

Anderson, Harrison, inus. out with Co. May 31, "65. 

Acklin, Samuel, mus. in Feb. 27, '64; tr. to V. li. C; disch. 
by Gen. Order, Feb. 24, '65. 

Armstrong, Oliver, tr. to Co. F, 18th Reg. V. R. C, Aug. 
10, "64; disch. by Gen. Order, June 27, "65. 

Anderson, James, tr. to 114th Co. 2d Battl. V. R. C, March 
13, '64; disch. by Gen. Order, July 18, '65. 

Acklin, John, killed at Petersburg, Va., June 17, "64. 

Burson, Oliver, II. P., mus. out with Co. May 31, "65. 

Bennett, John, mus. out with Co. May 31, "65. 

Barney, Peter, tr. to 51st Co. 2d Battl. V. R. Corps. Nov. 6, 
"63; disch. Sept. 4, '65; exp. term. 

Clutter, Samael, mus. oat with Co. May 31, '65. 

Cox, John, Jr., mus. out with Co. May 31, "65. 

Clutter, Noah D., mus. in April 13, "64; tr. to Co. K, 1st Recr. 
V. R. C, Sept. 1, "63; disch. by Gen. Order, July, "65. 

Cowan, Joseph, des. Dee. 10, "63. 

Doman, George N., mus. out with Co. May 31, "65. 

Dunstan, Benjamin, killed at Spotlsylvania, Va., May 12, "64. 

Eddy, Michael, tr. to Vet. R. Corps. Jan. 6, "65. 

Eddy, John W., wd. and cap. at Gettysburg, July 2, "63; died 
at Richmond, Va., Jan. 27, "64. 



412 HISTORY OB^ grep:ne county. 

Freelaud, George, discli. on Snrg. Cert. Jan. 16, '65. 

Fislier, John, raus. in Nov. 29, '62; tr. to Co. li, 53d Eeg. 
P. v., May 30, '65. 

Frays, David, missing in action at Spottyslvania, C. II. Va., 
May 12, '64. 

Freeland, Charles A., died Nov. 17, '62. 

Garber, Thornton, disch. by Gen. Order, Jnly 10, '65. 

Gray, George, raus. out with Co. May 31, '65. 

Geary, Simon, wd. at Tolopotomy, Ya., March 31, '65; absent 
at mias. out. 

Green, John E. M., billed at Cold Harbor, Ya., June 6, '64. 

Green, Isaac P., died at Falmouth, Ya., Jan. 8, '63. 

Gray, John, killed at Cold Harbor, Ya., June 2, '64. 

Henry, John, wd. at Spottsylvania, C. H., May 12, '64; disch. 
by Gen. Order, June 8, '65. 

Hopkins, Daniel S. mus. in Feb. 29, '64; tr. to Co. H, 58d 
Eeg. P. Y., May 30, '65. 

Harris, Stephen C, tr. to Ind. Batty. C, Pa. Artillery, Feb. 
15, '64. 

Hoge, David E., died at Washington, D. C, Jan. 10, '65; bur. 
in Nat. Cem. Arlington. 

Jones, John C, mus. out with Co. May 31, '65. 

Jones, George, mus. in Feb. 27, '64; tr. to Co. H, 53d Eeg. P. 
Y., May 31, '65. 

Kent, Eegin S., wd. at Bristoe Station, Ya. Oct. 14, '63; absent 
at mus. out. 

Kener, Oliver, raus. out with Co. May 31, '65. 

King, Daniel, disch. on Surg. Cert. Jan. 17, '65. 

Kent, James F. discli. by Special Order, March 13, '63. 

King, Daniel, mus. in March 22, '64; tr. to Co. H. 53d Eeg. 
P. Y., May 30, '65; disch. by Gen. Order, June 3, '65. 

Loar, Benjamin F., died at Philadelphia, Aug. 1, of wds. reed, 
at Gettysburg, July 2, '63. 

Meighen, John, mus. out with Co. May 31, '65. 

Miller, John H., disch. on Snrg. Cert. Jan. 20, '63. 

Mariner, George W., tr. to 114th Co. 2d Battl. Y. E. C, March 
13, '65; disch. by Gen. Order, July 18, '65. 

Miller, Abraham, tr. to Yet. Ees. Cor. Dee. 1, '63. 

Morris, Franklin E., missing in action at Chancellorsville, Ya., 
May 8, '63. 

Morris, Lindsay, died at Washington, D. C, Dec. 22, 64; bur. 
in Nat. Cem. Arlington. 

McCuUough, L. G., disch. by Gen. Order, June 6, '65. 

McCnllough, Hiram, missing in action at Eeam's Station, Ang. 
25, '64. 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 413 

Ogderi, William, absent, sick at mus. out. 

Pipes, Abner, disch. by Gen. Order, June 26, '65. 

Pettit, Joseph, died July 7, '64, at Ale.xandria, Va.; grave 2,346. 

Push, John A., mus. out with Co. May 31, '65. 

Poop, John E., mus. out with Co. May 31, '65. 

Poop, William, disch. on Surg. Cert. Jan. 16, '63. 

Poop, Lindsay, mus. in March 26, '64; tr. to Co. II, 53d Peo- 
P. v., May 30, 65. 

Poop, Henry, mus. in March 26, '64; tr. to Co. II. 53(1 Reg. P. 
v., May 30, '65. 

Robinson, Ale.x. D., mus. in Feb. 29, 64; tr. to Co. II, 53d Reg. 
]*. v.. May 3, '65. 

Pidgway, Samuel, died at Parkton, Md., Nov. 25, '62. 

Poope, Michael, mus. in March 26, '(54; died July 29, of wds. 
reed, at Cold Harbor, June 2, "64; bur. in Nat. Cem., Arlington. 

Steel, Nicholas, disch. by Gen. Order, July 15, '65. 

Steel, Ehud, mus. out with Co. Maj^ 31, '(55. 

Swart, James M., mus. out with Co. May 31, '65. 

Scott, Simon P., mus. out with Co. May 31. '65. 

Scott, Henry, mus. out with Co. May 31, '(55. 

Sprowls, Jesse, wd. at Spottsylvania, C. IL, May 12, '64; absent 
at mus. out. 

Strosnider, Caleb, disch. by Gen. Order, July 12, '65. 

Sergeant, Richard, disch. March 10, '63. 

Strosnider, Kener L., tr. to 169th Co., 2d Battl, V. R. C, 
Jan. 9, '65; disch. by Gen. Order, July 3, '65. 

Sanders, Harvey, tr. to Vet. Pes. Corps. Sept. 1, '63. 

Smith, Job, Jr., mus. in March 9, '64; missing in action at 
S])ottsylvania, May 12, '64. 

Simpson, John, mus. in Feb. 27, 64; died Sept. 17 of wds. reed, 
in action, Aug. 14, '()4; bur. in Nat. Ceni., Arlington, Va. 

Steward, Jesse, died at Philadelphia, April 9, '65. 

Spragg, John M., killed at Mine Run, Nov. 29, '63. 

SinitlK Job, Sr., des. July 2, '63. 

Taylor, Abner AY., mus. out with Co. May 31, '65. 

Taylor, Levi, tr. to Vet. Res. Corps. March 13, '65. 

Troy, Norval L., mus. in Nov. 29, '62; died June 27 of wds. 
reed, at Tolopotomy, May 31, '64; bur. at Ale.xandria, grave 2,234. 

Wilson, John P. H., mus. out with Co. May 31, '65. 

Wilson, George W., mus. out with Co. May 31, '65. 

Wallace, Benjamin F., tr. to 51st Co. 2d Battl. V. P. C, Jan. 
18, '65; discli. Sept. 4, '65. 

Walters, Brezan T. mus. out with Co. May 31, '65. 

Woolum, Harrison, disch. by Gen. Order, May 15, '65. 

Wallace, Francis A., disch. on Surg. Cert. Oct. 12, '63. 



414 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

West, Simon S., tr. to Independent Battery C, Pa., Art. date 
unknown. 

Walters, Andrew J., mus. in Feb. 27, '64; died at Philadelphia, 
Jiilj 4, of wds. reed, at Spottsylvania, C. H., May 12, '64. 

Welsh, Morris, mus. in April 3, '65, des. May 15, '65. 



CHAPTER XXX. 



Company K, Fifteenth Cavalry, One Hundred and Sixtieth of 
THE Line. 

Battle of Antietam — Disobganized — Sent to Kentucky- — Stone 
PivEE — Refusal to Advance — Colonel Palmee Released — 
Oeganization Completed — Battle of Chicicamauga — Rose- 
CKANS Shut Up by Beagg at Chattanooga — Geant in Command 
— Victoey — Aemy' Relieved — Valley of the French Beoad 
— Oedeeed to Nashville to Receuit — Nashville — Puesuitof 
Hood — Pursuit of Davis — Capture of Beagg and Yast Sums 
of Money — Musteeed Out — Individual Recoed. • 

COMPANY K, of the 15th Cavalry, 160th of the line, was in part 
recruited in Greene County. It was partially organized at Car- 
lisle, in September, 1862; but before it was completed, and before the 
company officers were selected, the regiment was ordered to the front 
and participated in the Antietam campaign then in progress. Un- 
fortunately, Colonel Palmer, who was looked to by the men to see 
that suitable officers should be selected, was taken prisoner, and be- 
fore further company organization was effected, the regiment was 
ordered west to the army of Rosecrans, in Kentucky, and arrived 
upon the eve of the battle of Stone River. Well knowing that the 
regiment was in no condition to go into battle in its disorganized 
state, without company officers, and wholly wanting in drill and dis- 
cipline, all but three companies stacked arms and refused to obey the 
order to advance. Majors Rosengarten and Ward, with about three 
hundred men, went into the battle. The former officer was killed, 
and the latter mortally wounded, and thirteen men were killed and 
sixty-nine wounded and missing. 

On the 7th of February, Colonel Palmer, having been released 
from captivity, returned to the regiment and a complete organization 




^^ccat <^ o<^-^^>2i^ 



HISTOUY OF GMEENK COUNTY. 417 

of the entire command was efl'ected. On the 24th of June the army 
moved forward on the Chickamauga campaign, Companies H, 11 and 
K being detailed as escorts to General Kosecrani^, and the balance 
of the regiment performing courier duty between the right and left 
wings of the army. V>j the disaster to the right wing, and the 
escape of Rosecrans to Chattanooga, and the final retreat of the 
army, it became hemmed in, and the animals, as well as men, were 
brought to a state bordering on starvation. Colonel Palmer was, ac- 
cordingly, sent into the Se<iuatchie Valley, thirty miles away, where 
corn and provisions were found in abundance, and whence supplies 
were forwarded to Chattanooga. The arrival of Grant, and the battle 
of the 25th of November, wrought a marvelous change in the con- 
dition of the army, Bragg having been swept from before the place. 
Palmer was now sent with the Fifteenth to join Sherman in his re- 
lief of Knoxville, where Burnside was held by Longstreet. Upon its 
arrival it was sent against a party of whites and Indians approaching 
from North Carolina, and by skillful dispositions gained a complete 
triumph. In the active operations in the valley of the French Broad 
which succeeded, the regiment participated with credit. After Long- 
street had put his army in winter quarters, brisk skirmishing en.sned 
on the part of both armies, while engaged in foraging and gathering 
supplies, in which the Fifteenth gained much credit for its skillful 
operations, and its midnight descents upon the foe. 

In May, 1864, the regiment was ordered to Nashville to reci'uit 
and remount. It was August before this was accomplished, and, on 
ai>proaching the front, was kept busy in defending the communica- 
tions of Sherman, now well on his way in the Atlanta campaign. 
After the fall of Atlanta, and Sherman had cut loose for liis March to 
the Sea, the Fifteenth was ordered to the support of Thomas, at 
Nashville, in his operations against Hood, and when the latter had 
been routed and put to flight, the Fifteenth was put upon his track, 
and in the race which ensued, hung upon the rear and flanks of the 
retreating foe, despoiling him of material and trains so that his army 
was made powerless for further mischief. The operations were now 
largely confined, in the Western armies, to daring e.xploits of the 
cavalry, in which kind of warfare the men and officers of tiie 
Fifteenth had acquired great skill, and were very successful. 

With fresh horses the cavalry started on the spring campaign of 
1865, under General Stoneman. Its operations extended over por- 
tions of east Tennessee, western North Carolina, and northern Georgia, 
and finally when the news came of the surrender of Lee and John- 
ston, the Fifteenth was put upon the track of Jeff Davis. " On the 
morning of the 8th inst.," says General Palmer in his official report, 
"while searching for Davis near the fork of Appalachee and Oconee 
Rivers, Colonel Ijett's Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry captured 

21 



418 HISTOKY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

seven wagons in the woods, which contained $188,000 in coin, $1,- 
580,000 in bank notes, bonds, and securities and about $4,000,000 
of Confederate money, besides considerable specie, plate, and other 
valuables belonging to private citizens of Macon. The wagons con- 
tained also the private baggage, maps and official papers of Generals 
Beauregard and Pillow. Two days after, Company G, Captain 
Samuel Phillips, captured Genei-al Bragg, his wife, staff officers and 
three wagons. On the 15th news was received of the capture of 
Davis and party by Colonel Pritchard, of the Fourth Michigan Cav- 
alry, detachments from Colonel Bett's command being close upon 
his trail. The campaigning of the regiment was now at an end, and 
returning to Nashville on the 21st of June, it mustered out of service. 

Company K, One Hundeed and Sixtieth Regiment, Fifteenth 
Cavalry. 

Recruited in Greene County, mustered in Aug. 30, 1862. 

Jacob R. Plewitt, Capt., mus. in Nov. 31. '60; pr.fr. private An- 
derson Troop, Oct. 10, '62; resigned Feb. 27, '63. 

Abraham B. Garner, Capt., mus. in Oct. 3, '62; pr. fr. 1st Sergt. 
May 8, '63, to Maj., March 13, '65; inus. out with Regt. June 21, '65. 

Charles E. Scheide, Capt., mus. in Oct. 3, '62; pr. fr. Adj. March 
13, '65; mus. out with Co. June 21, '65. 

Frank E. Reniont, 1st Lieut., mus. in Aug. 22, '62; pr. fr. Sergt. 
Co. C, May 8, '63; to Capt., Co. I, Aug. 15, '64; mus. out with Co. 
June 21, '65. 

Nathaniel M. Sample, 1st Lieut., mus. in Oct. 3, '62; pr. fr. pri- 
vate to Q. M. Sergt. March 1, '63; to 1st Sergt. March 16, '64; to 1st 
Lieut. Nov. 8, '64; mus. out with Co. June 21, '65. 

Michael M. Musser, 1st Sergt., mus. in Oct. 3, '62; pr. to Corp. 
March 1, '63; to Sergt. May 16, '63; to 1st Sergt. Jan. 1, '65; com. 
2d Lieut. May 20, '65; not mus.; mus. out June 21, '65. 

W. W. Blackraar, 1st Sergt. mus. in Aug. 30, '62; pr. fr. Corp. 
to Sergt. March 1, '63; to 1st Sergt. May 5, '63; to Lieut. 1st R§gt. 
W. Va. Cav. March 18, '64; disch. as Capt. July 8, '65. 

Theophilus H. Smith, Q. M. Sergt., pr. to Corp. Jan. 4, '63; to Q. 
M. Sergt. March 16, '64; mus. out with Co. June 21, '65. 

J. Lingerfield, Jr., Com. Sergt., mus. in Oct. 3, '62; pr. fr. private 
March 1, '63; mus. out June 21, '65. 

John C. Wilson, Sergt., mus. in Oct. 3, '62; pr. to Corp. Oct. 30, 
"62; to Sergt. March 1, '63; mus. out June 21, '65. 

James Agnew, Sergt., mus. in Oct. 3, '62; pr. to Corp. March 1, 
'63; to Sergt. May 15, '63; mus. out June 21, '65. 

Jacob H. Isett, Sergt., mus. in Oct. 3, '62; pr. to Corp. Oct. 30, 
'62; to Sergt. Feb. 5, '65; mus. out June 21, '65. 



HISTOUY OK GREENE COUNTY. 419 

Jaines II. Shertz, Sergt., inus. in Oct. 3, '62; pr. to Curp. May 15, 
'68; to Sergt. Feb. 5, '65; inus. out June 21, '65. 

Jacob Weutzler, Sergt., pr. to Corp. Nov. 29, '64; to Sergt. March 
16, '65; mus. out June 21, "65. 

Henry C. Potts, Sergt., mus. in Oct. 3, '62; pr. fr. Corp. Co. L, 
March 1, '63; disch. March 15, '63. 

Sealy S. Byard, Sergt., pr. tV. Sergt. Oct. 30, "62; disch. on Surg. 
Cert. Feb. 27, "63. 

William II. Small. Corp., pr. to Corp. April 1, "61:; luus. out 
June 21, "(15. 

James A. Kenney, Corp., inns, in Sept. 6, '62; pr. to Corp. Feb. 
5, '64; mus. out June 21, "65. 

Alexander H. Robinson, Corp., inus. in Oct. 3, '62; pr. to Corp. 
Fel). 5, "65; mus. out June 21, '65. 

Benjamin Bartrain, Corp., mus. in Oct. 3, "62; pr. to Corp. Feb. 
5, '65; mus. out June 21, "65. 

Joseph Copeland, Corp., mus. in Sept. 6, '62; pr. to Corp. March 
15, '65; mus. out June 21, '65. 

Jacob W. Miller, Corp., mus. in Oct. 10, "62; pr. to Corp. March 
15, '65; mus. out June 21, '65. 

Nathaniel B. Briggs, Corp., pr. to Corp. March 15, '65; nius. out 
June 21, '65. 

John P. Geinmill, Corp., pr. to Corp. May 15, '65; died at ('hat- 
tanooga Dec. 24, '63. 

William M. Murdock. Bugler, mus. in Oct. 3, '62; mus. out June 
21, '65. 

George W. Wright, Bugler, inus. in Oct. 3, '62; inus. out June 
21, '65. 

Jere. K. Parshall, Blacksmith, mus. in Oct. '62; disch. on Surg. 
Cert. Jan 15, '63. 

William McGee, Saddler, pr. to regimental saddler, March 1, "63. 

Askwith, John D., mus. in Sept. 28, '64; mus. out with Co. June 
21, '65. 

Adainsoii, John, tr. to Co. I, date unknown. 

Arvecost, Joseph, inus. in Oct. 3, '62; tr. to Co. C, date unknown. 

Burke, Joseph R., mus. in Oct. 3, '62; mus. out with Co. June 
21, '65. 

Beck, Henry L., inus. in Aug. 30, '62; tr. to U. S. Array Oct. 
30, '62. 

Burson, David F., mus. in Aug. 30, "62; disch. on Surg. Cert. 
Feb. 23, '63. 

Burchinell, Win. K., mus. in Oct. 3, "62; tr. to Signal Corps 
Oct. 27, "63. 

Burns, Andrew S., mus. in Aug. 18, "64; tr. to Co. A, June 
21, '65. 



420 HISTORY OF GUEENE COUNTY. 

Barnett, James P., died at Carlisle, Pa., Nov. 18, '62. 

Brooks, William, died at Lavergue, Tenn., Jan. 5, '63, of wds 
rec'd in action. 

Bell, Joseph, tr. to Co. B, date unknown. 

Bell, John H., tr. to Co. I, date unknown. 

Brown, John E., mus. in Oct. 3,62; tr. to Co.P, date unknown. 

Bond, Edward, mus. in Oct. 10, '62; tr. to Co. H, date unknown. 

Beitz, Augustus O., mus. in Aug. 6, '64; not on mus. out roll. 

Campbell, William P., mus. in Oct. 3, '62; mus. out with Co. 
June 21, '65. 

Cleverstone, Daniel, mus. in Sept. 24, '64; mus. out with Co. 
June 21, '65. 

Clark, Adrian S., mus. out with Co. June 21, '65. 

Carr, Charles, mus. in Oct. 10, '62; disch. on Surg. Cert. Aug. 
6, '63. 

Clark, Edward B., disch. on Sui'g. Cert. March 3, '63. 

Cholette, Cor. M., tr. to U. S. Army Oct. 30, '62. 

Cover, Michael, mus. in June 4, '64; tr. to Co. A. June 21, '65. 

Crawford, Edwin E., died in Nashville, Tenn., Feb. 12, '63; bur. 
in Nat. Cem. 

Conner, William B., died in Nashville, Tenn., Feb. 3, '63; bur. 
Nat. Cem. Sec. B., grave 1,177. 

Cotterel, William, mus. in Oct. 3, '62; tr. to Co. G, date un- 
known. 

Cumston, John, mus. in Oct. 10, '62; tr. to Co. E, date unknown. 

Chambers, William H., mus. in Oct. 10, '62; tr. to Co. H., date 
unknown. 

Cotterel, Jonas, mus. in Aug. 30, '62; tr. to Co. M. 

Duer, Florence, mus. in Sept. 23, '64; disch. by Gen. Order, June 
24, '65. 

Dye, William L, disch. by Gen. Order, June 24, '65. 

Denney, Clark, mus. in Oct. 3, '62; tr. to Co. I, date unknown. 

Drake, Alexander S., mus. in Oct. 10, '62; died at Nashville, Tenn., 
Dec. 31, '62; bur. in Nat. Cem., Sec. B, grave 88. 

Evaus, Benjamin B., tr. to Co. F, date unknown. 

Estle, Daniel L., tr. to Co. I, date unknown. 

Farrer, John G., mus. out with Co.. June 21, '65. 

Faas, John, mus. in Sept. 10, '64; mus. out with Co- June 21, '65. 

Fisher, David F., miis. in Sept. 19, '64; mus. out with Co. I, June 
21, '65. 

Fullerton, Bryam M., mus. in Aug. 20, '64; mus. out with Co. 
June 21, '65. 

Frankenberry, A. D., tr. to Signal Corps Oct. 27, '63. 

Filbey, Barton E., mus. in Oct. 3, '62; des. Dec. 8, '63. 

Gosline, Nelson, mus. out with Co, June 31, '65. 



HISTORY OF GREENK COUNTY. 421 

Gibbons, Anthony J., nuis. in Sept. 25, '64; prisoner from April 
13 to 30, '65 ; disch. June 20, '65; to date May 18, '65. 

Grim, David, raus. in Sept. 19, '64; mus. out with Co. June 21, '65. 

Griffin, Samuel C, mus. in Jan. 27, '64; tr. to Co. A, June 21, '65. 

Gass, Samuel W., mus. in Oct. 3, '62; tr. to Co. F, date unknown. 

Grim, William., mus. in Oct. 3, '62; tr. to Co. D, date unknown. 

Grim, Lycurgus, mus in Aug. 30, '62; tr. to Co. F, date unknown. 

Househalter, Philip, mus. in Sept. 22, 64; mus. out with Co. 
June 21, '65. 

Himes, John, mus. in Oct. 3, '63; mus. out with Co. June 21, '65. 

Howard, George W., mus. in Sept. 6, '62; pr. to 2d Lieut., 4th 
Regt. U. S. Col. Art., April 5, 65; mus. out Feb. 25, '66. 

Heiter, Joseph J., mus. in March 24, '64; tr. to Co. A, June 
21, '65. 

Hoke, George N., mus. in Sept. 6, '62; died at Murfreesboro, 
Tenn., April 2, '63; bur. in Nat. Cem. Stone River. 

Hawkins, A. LeRoy, mus. in Aug. 30, '62; tr. Co. I, date un- 
known. 

Hewitt, Jacob, mus. in. Aug. 30, '62; tr. to Co. F, date unknown. 

Hewitt, Eli, mus. in Oct. 3, '62; tr. to Co. B, date unknown. 

Hewitt, Samuel, mus. in Oct. 10, '62; tr. to Co. H, date unknown. 

Houlsworth, James, mus. in Oct. 3, '62; tr. to Co. G, date un- 
known. 

Houston, Samuel, mus. in Oct. 3, '62; tr. to Co. H, date un- 
known. 

Houston, Josepii, mus. in Oct. 3, '62; tr. to Co. H, date 
unknown. 

Hartzell, Edwin, mus. in Aug. 30, '62; tr. to Co. I, date uu- 
krfown. 

Hartley, John M., mus. in Aug. 30, '62; tr. to Co. D, date un- 
known. 

Hughes, James, mus. in Oct. 29, '64; not on mus. out roll. 

Johns, Albert M., mus. in Aug. 30, '62; disch. on Surg. Cert. 
Oct. 12, '63. 

Johnstone, Valentine, mus. in Aug. 8, '64; tr. to Co. A, June 
21, '65. 

Jamison, Wilbur T., mus. in Oct. 3, '62; tr. to Co. H, date 
unknown. 

Jameson, John A., mus. in Oct. 3, '62; tr. to Co. F, date un- 
known. 

Jordan, Robert H., mus. in Oct. 3, '62; tr. to Co. H, date un- 
known. 

Kimmel, Jacob, mus. in Oct. 10, '6S; mus. out with Co. June 
21, '65. 

Kinney, Eaton, mus, in Oct. 3, '62; dis, on Surg. Cert, Feb,33, '63, 



422 HISTOKY OF GKEENE COUNTY. 

Ketchem, John, raus. in Aug. 30, '62; tr. to Co. F, date unknown. 

Keys, Cory M., nius. in Oct. 3, '62; tr. to Co. G, date unknown. 

Kincaid, Robert, raus. in Oct. 3, '62; tr. to Co. H, date unknown. 

Kent, James, inus. in Oct. 10, '62; tr. to Co. E, date unknown. 

Krouse, Enos, mus. in Oct. 3, '62; not on inus. out roll. 

Lamoreux, E. B., mus. in Aug. 8, '64; mus. out with Co. June 
21, '65. 

Leas, William H., mus. in Sept. 22, '64; discli. by Gen. Order, 
June 9, '65. 

Lippincott, W. H., mus. in Sept. 27, '64; mus. out with Co. 
June 21, '65. 

Lundy, William, mus. in Aug. 30, '64; tr. to Co. D, date un- 
known. 

Lewis, Josiah, mus. in Oct. 3, '64; tr. to Co. G, date unknown. 

Mehl, Edwin M., mus. in Aug. 22, '64; mus. out with Co. June 
21, '65. 

Metzler, John C, mus. in Aug. 22, '64; raus. out with Co. June 
21, '65. 

Miller, C. G. Jr., mus. in Aug. 22, '64; raus. out with Co. June 
21, '65. 

Mills, Edward L., mus. in Oct. 19, '62; mus. out with Co. June 
21, '65. 

Moyer, James H., mus. in Oct. 3, '62; mus. out with Co. June 
21, 62.' 

Morrow, William H., mus. in Oct. 3, '62; disch. on Serg. Cert. 
April 28, '63. 

Myers, Alpheus, mus. in Aug. 30, '62; disch. on Surg. Cert. Feb. 
25, '63. 

Moore, Jacob B., mus. in Oct. 3, '62; tr. to Signal Corps, Oct. 
27, '63. 

Marcus, William, raus. in March 21, '64; tr. to Co. A, June 
21, '65. 

Morony, Matthew, mus. in March 11, '64; tr. to Co. A, June 
21, '65. 

Minor, Andrew J., mus. in Aug. 30, '62; tr. to Co. H, date 
unknown. 

Murdock, Wm. B., mus. in, Oct 3, '62; tr. to Co. G, date un- 
known. 

Milligan Samuel, mus. in Oct. 3, 62; tr. to Co. G, date unknown. 

Milligan, James H., mus. in Oct. 3, '62; tr. to Co. G, date un- 
known. 

Milligan, Jonas, mus. in Oct. 3, '62; tr. to Co.. I, date unknown. 

Milligan, Edward, mus.* in Oct. 3, '62; tr. to Co. I, date unknown. 

Messenger, James, mus. in Oct. 10,'62; tr. to Co. B, date unknown. 



HISTORY OB' GRKKNK COUNTY. 423 

Mill-dock, John, inus. in Aug. 30, '62; mus. out with Co. June 
21, '65. 

McNay, Jasper P., mus. in Aug. 30, '62; mus. out with (-o. June 
21, '65. 

McClain, William, mus. in tr. to Co. A, June 

21, '65. 

McGovern, Thomas, mus. in Aug. 30, '62; died atNasli^'ilie, Tenn., 
Jan. 22, '63; bur. in Nat. Cem. section E, grave 2,089. 

McNay, Newton B., mus. in Aug. 30, '62; tr. to Co. H, date un- 
known. 

McCormick, James, mus. in Oct. 3, '62; tr. to Co. F, date un- 
known. 

McCarty, Boyd J., mus. in Oct. 10, '62; tr. to Co. G, date un- 
known. 

McGlumphey, J. B., mus. in Oct. 3, '62; tr. to Co. D, date 
unknown. 

Newman, AVm. H., mus. in Sept. 6, '62; prisoner from May 2 to 
May 16, '65; disch. June 16, to date. May 21, '65. 

Norman, S. II., mus. in Aug. 22, '62; pr. to 2d Lieut. Co. B, 
184th Kegt. r. V. April 29, '64. 

Nichols, Thomas M., mus. in Oct. 3, '62; disch. on Surg. Cert. 
Feb. 8, '63. 

Newbecker,'!'. C, mus. in Aug. 22, '62; tr. to Yet. Res. Corps 
Aug. 1, '63; disch. by Gen. Order July 5, '65. 

Nichols, Erasmus, mus. in Oct. 3, '62; des. Dec. 8, '62. 

Pierce, Joseph K., mus. in Aug. 22, '62; disch. by Gen. Order 
May 29, '65. 

Pratt, Ingram, mus. in Aug. 30, '62; died at Nashville, Tenn., 
Feb. 8, '63; bur. in Nat. Cem., section B, grave 1,104. 

Pyles, James M., mus. in Aug. 30, '62; tr. to Co. 11, date un- 
known. 

Phillips, John W., mus in Oct. 2, '62; tr. to Co. G, date un- 
known. 

Robertson, John, mus. in Sept. 6, '62; mus. out with Co. June 
21, '65. 

Rull, William, mus. in Aug. 22, '62; mus. out with Co. June 
21, '65. 

Ross, Jacob, mus. in Aug. 22, '62; disch. on Surg. Cert. April 
4, '65. 

Reynolds, Jacob A., mus. in Aug. 30, '62; disch. March 10, '63. 

Ransom, George P., mus. in Aug. 8, '64; died at Nashville, Tenn., 
May 26, '65; bur. in Nat. Cem., section 1, grave 1,126. 

Riggle, Amos, mus. in Aug. 30, '62; des. Feb. 19, '63. 

Reynolds, John B., mus. in Sept. 6, '62; des. March 1, 'tj3. 

Ross, David D., mus. in Oct. 3, '62; tr. to Co. F, date unknown. 



424 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

Richuy, James L., mus. in Aug. 30, '62; tr. to Co. H, date un- 
known. 

Rex, John, mns. in Aug. 30, '62; tr. to Co. C, date unknown. 

Rineliart, Bennett, mus. in Oct. 3, '62; ti-. to Co. B, date un- 
known. 

Kitchie, Clement, mus. in Aug. 30, '62; tr. to Co. B, date 
unknown. 

Sawyers, John W., mus. in Sept. 15, '64; mus. out with Co. June 
21, '65.* 

Schrader, Anthony, mus. in Sept. 12, '64; mus. out with Co. June 
21, '65 

Shoaf, Daniel, mus. in Aug. 19, '64; mus. out with Co. June 
21, '65. 

Sullivan, William, mus. in Aug. 21, '64; mus. out with Co. June 
21, '65. 

Simday, John, mus. in Oct. 10, '62; mus. out. with Co. June 
21, '65. 

Struble, Lot J., mus. in Aug. 30, '62; miis. out with Co. June 
21, '65. 

Sharps, Charles T., mus. in Oct. 3, '62; disch. on Surg. Cert. 
April 29, '63. 

Steel, William, mus. in Aug. 30, '62; tr. to U. S. Army, Oct. 
30, '62. 

Shaffer, William G., mus. in Aug. 22, '62; tr. to Vet. Res. Corps, 
Sept. 80, '63. 

Supplee, Henderson, mus. in Aug 22, '62; tr. to Vet. Res. Corps, 
April 30, '64. 

Smith, John, mus. in Oct. 17, '64; tr. to Co. A, June 21, '65. 

Smith, William, mus. in June 18, '64; tr. to Co. A, June 21, '65, 

Stees, Thomas W., mus. in Oct. 10, 62; died at Murfreesboro. 
Tenn., June 2, '63. 

Stevenson, Alfred, mus. in Aug. 30, '62; tr. to Co. F; date un- 
known. 

Stone, George E., mus. in Aug 30, '62; tr. toCo. ; I date unknown. 

Sproat, Timothy R., mus. in Aug. 30, '62; tr. to Co. B; date un- 
known. 

Smith, William P., mus. in Aug. 30, '62; tr. to Co. F; date 
unknown. 

Sayers, Harry E., mus. in Aug. 30, '62; tr. to Co. G; date 
unknown. 

Shirk, Michael M., mus. in Aug. 30, '62; tr. to Co. G; date un- 
known. 

Sliope, Milton S., mus. in Oct. 3, 62; tr. to Co. G; date un- 
known. 

Strosnider, William JVI., mus. in Aug. 30, '62; not on mus. out roll. 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 425 

Thornlee, James W., mus. in Aug. 22, '62; des. March 1, 63. 

Thomas, Joshua, mus. in Aug. 3U, '62; died at Nashville, Tenn., 
March 4, '63; bur. in Nat. Cem., Section E, grave 816. 

Turner. Abel, mus. in Aug. 30, '62; tr. to Co. 11; date un- 
known. 

Turner, Josiah P., mns. in Aug. 30, '62; tr. to Co. D; date un- 
known. 

Thomas, Francis M., mus. in Aug. 30, '62; tr. to Co. M; date 
unknown. 

Walter, John, mus. in Aug. 30, '62; disch. by Gen. Order, July 
5, '65. 

Watts, Wilbur, mus. in (Jet. 10, '62; mus. out with Co. June 
21, '65. 

Weatherby, J. C, Jr., mus. in Aug. 22, 62; mus. out witli Co. 
June 21, '65. 

Wagner, Augustus D., mus. in Oct. 10, 62; disch. on Surg. 
Cert. Oct. 31, '63. 

Wilson, Charles T., mus. in Oct. 3, '62; disch. on Surg. Cert. 
July 30, '63. 

Wilson, William, mus. in Aug. 22, '62; disch. for promotion 
Feb. 28, '65. 

AViiliams, Edward P., mus. in Oct. 10, '62; disch. by Gen. 
Order, May 31, "65. 

Wood, "Edward W., mus. in Aug. 30, "62; tr. to Co. C; date un- 
known. 

Waychuff, John D., mus. in Oct. 3, "62; tr. to Co. F; date un- 
known. 

White, David C, mus. in Aug. 30, '62; tr. to Co. F; date un- 
known. 

Wiser, Angelo, mus. in Aug. 30, '62; tr. to Co. H; date un- 
known. 

Worthington, E., mus. in Aug. 30, '62; tr, to Co. F; date un- 
known. 

Wiley, James M., mus. in Aug. 22, '62; tr. to Co. M; date un- 
known. 

Zell, John M., mus. in Aug. 22, '62; mus. out with Co. June 
21, '65. 

21* 



426 HISTOEY OF GKEENE COUNTY. 



CHAPTEE XXXI. 
Companies A, C, and G, Eighteenth Cavalry, One Hundeed and 

SiXTY-TlIIED OF THE LiNE. 

Okganization — Mosby's Gueeeillas — Hanovee — Gettysbueg — 
E.OUND Top — Puesuit of Teains — Beandy Station and Uppee- 
viLLB — Raid to Kichmond — Wildeeness — Yellow Taveen — 
Hanovee Codet House — Ashland — St. Maey's Chuech — 

"WeLDON EaiLEOAD SpENCEE EiFLES WlNUHESTEE — Cedae 

Ceeek — Musteeed Out — Individual Eecoeds. 

THE One Hundred and Sixty-third regiment, of which Companies A, 
C, and G, were recruited in Greene County, was organized early 
in February, 1862, at camp near Fairfax Court House, with the fol- 
lowing field officers, viz.: Timothy M. Bryan, Jr., Colonel; James 
Gowan, Lieutenant-Colonel; Joseph Gilmore, William B. Darlington 
and Henry B. Van Voorhis, Majors; and was brigaded with Fifth 
New York and First Yermont Cavalry, under command of Col. Percy 
Wyndliam. Here the regiment M'as pitted against Mosby's guerrillas, 
citizens by day and soldiers by night. Being indifferently ai-med, 
the duty was anything but pride-exciting to a soldier. Early in the 
spring of 1862 William P. Brinton was made Lieutenant-Colonel in 
place of Lieut. Col. Gowan, who was honorably discharged, and the 
brigade was associated with a brigade of Michigan troops under 
Gen. Custer, the division being in command of Gen. Julius Stahel. 
Before entering upon the Gettysburg campaign Gen. Stahel was 
superceded by Gen. Kilpatrick, and the division became the Third of 
the Cavajry corps oi the army of the Potomac. 

Proceeding northward, Kilpatrick was sent in search of the rebel 
Gen. Stuart, who, since his defeat at Upperville, had been separated 
from the main body of Lee's army, and was known to be pushing on 
through Pennsylvania, while Lee himself was moving up the Cum- 
berland Yalley, the South Mountain intervening. Kilpatrick's 
column had alfeady passed Hanover, and the Eighteenth Pennsyl- 
vania, which was of the rear guard, was resting in the streets of that 
village, when the head of Stuart's column came up and immediately 
attacked. Kilpatrick formed on the hills to the south of the town, 
while the enemy ranged along the heights to the north. Artillery 
firing and skirmishing was kept up until nightfall, when Stuart with- 



in STORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 427 

<lre\v and pursiied his journey northward, being tlius prevented, by 
tlie stubborn front presented liy Kilpatrick, from joining Lee at 
Gettysburg, wliere he was so mucli needed in the progress of the 
battle. The division came up with tlie enemy's extreme left, at 
■Gettysburg, on the 2d of July, where some skirmishing occurred, 
and at evening moved to the extreme left of the Union Line, beyond 
Round Top. Towards evening of the 8d, the First Brigaile, led by 
Col. Farnsworth, was ordered to charge, and gallantly drove the 
enemy in upon his fortified line behind stone- walls and rocky-wooded 
heights. The commander, Col. Farnsworth, was killed and several 
men in the Eighteenth were wounded. 

Scarcely was the rebel army withdrawn from the Gettysburg field, 
before Kilpatrick was upon its track, and struck Ewell's wagon train 
near Monterey Springs, on its way across South Mountain. Kilpat- 
rick promptly charged, and having scattered the train guard, captured 
two pieces of artillery, a thousand prisoners, and two hundred wagons 
and ambulances. At break-neck speed he drove down the mountain, to 
escape the head of Lee's infantry, which was making a forced march for 
a crossing of the Potomac. At Smithfield the captured wagons were 
burned, and the prisoners delivered to the column of Gen. French, at 
Boonesboro. At Ilagerstown, where the rebel infantry had arrived, 
two batallions of the Eighteenth, led by Captains William C. Lindsey 
and John "W. Phillips, under command of Lieut. Col. Brinton, 
charged. From shelter in the narrow streets and alleys the enemy 
kept up a hot fire, even the women joining in the fusilade, while 
the cavalry only used their sabres, and consequently suffered se- 
verely. Capt. Lindsey was killed, as was also the color-bearer, 
Thomas Eagon, and Benal Jewel, of Company G. 

After the escape of Lee across the Potomac, the Union army 
leisurely followed, " and during the fall and early winter the regi- 
ment was actively engaged in scouting and skirmishing, meeting the 
enemy at Brandy Station and at Culpepper on the 18th of September; 
on the 11th of October, again near Brandy Station, wliere the 
Eighteenth charged a force of the enemy following from Culpepper, 
and lost its commander. Major Van Vom-his, three lieutenants and 
fifty men, by capture; on the 13th at Buckland Mills and New Bal- 
timore; on the 18th of November, in a scout across the Ivapidan, 
where the camp equipage, regimental colors, and camp guard, 
including a number of otticers and men, were captured, and Lieut. 
Roseberry Sellers was killed; and on the 6th of December went into 
"winter quarters near Stevensburg." On the 28th of February the 
Eighteenth started with Kilpatrick on his raid upon Richtnond, for 
the delivery of Union prisoners. Though unsuccessful in the main 
■object of the campaign, the troops behaved with gallantry, and Dahl- 
green, who led a division, was killed. Gen. AVilson now succeeded 



428 HISTORY OF gkeene county. 

Kilpatrick iu command of the division, and Col. Mcintosh was placed 
over the brigade. 

On the opening of the spring campaign of 1864, now under 
Grant, Xhe Eighteenth encountered the head of Longstreet's corps 
on the Plank lioad. Brisk fighting immediately commenced, and 
in the progress the Eighteenth was cut off and apparently sur- 
rounded; bat by a desperate break at an unguarded pomt, at a dense 
pine thicket and swamp supposed to be impenetrable, the command 
was brought off, tliough i-eported captured. The loss was one officer 
and thirty-nine men in killed, wounded and captured. 

On the 9th of May tlie regiment, witii the main body of Sheri- 
dan's command, moved around the right of the flank of Lee's army 
and struck boldly out towards Richmond. In this exciting and diffi- 
cult marc!), where the enemy sprang up on all sides, and greatly 
harrassed and impeded its coarse, the regiment participated, being 
engaged on the 11th at Yellow Tavern, on the 12th at Richmond, 
and, tinally, on the 16th, reached Haxall's landing on the James. 
After a few days rest, Sheridan returned and rejoined Grant near the 
South Anna. At Hanover Court House the Eighteenth Pennsylvania, 
supported by the Second Ohio, was ordered to charge and clear the 
town. At twilight the charge was made, dismounted, and thougli 
opposed by vastly superior numbers, well covered with breastworks,, 
was driven in utter rout and confusion, and many prisoners were 
taken. Lieut.-Col. Brinton and Major Phillips, who led the charge, 
were both slightly, and Captains M. S. Kingsland and David Hamil- 
ton, severely wounded. The enemy was again met at Ashland, and 
severe fighting ensued. At St. Mary's Church the enemy's infantrj' 
was again met, and for five hours was held at bay, the regiment 
losing thirty-three in killed, wounded and missing, Lieuts. Treson- 
thick and McCormick being mortally wounded. 

In conjunction with the Third New Jersey, the regiment was 
detached from the division and ordered to duty witla Gen. Wright, of 
the Sixth Corps, and was employed in picketing a line of nearly live 
miles, on his left flank. On the 23rd of June, the regiment, supported 
by a few sharpshooters, drove the enemy from the VVeldou Railroad, 
at Yellow House. 

In August Sheridan was sent to the Shenandoah Yalley, with 
two divisions of cavalry, to confront the rebel general Early, the 
Eighteenth being included. At Washington the regiment was armed 
with Spencer repeating rifles. At Winchester, and Summit Station, 
at Charlestown, and Leetown, it was actively employed in holding 
the rebel column in check, and on the 19th of September occurred 
the memorable battle of Winchester. "With the Eifth and Second 
New York deployed as skirmishers, the Eighteenth was ordered to 
charge. The Tiiird Battalion had the advance, and dashing forward, 



IIISTOUY OF GREENE COUNTY. 429 

<irove the enemy from his works and into a wood beyond, from wliicli 
it was in turn repulsed by a rapid tire. But at this juncture the 
main body of the regiment came np, led by Colonel Brinton, and 
drove the enemy for half a mile, and, aided by the rest of tiie brigade, 
held this commanding position until Sheridan's infanti-y came to his 
relief. Colonel Brinton, after having his horse twice shot, and his 
clothing riddled with bullets, finally fell into the enemy's hands." 
In the general assault, which was delivered in the afternoon, it ])ar- 
ticipated and shai'ed in the glories of the decisive triumph. In the 
pursuit if the enemy up the valley frequent heavy skirmishin!; 
ensued. On the 8tli of October the command moved towards Cedar 
Creek, the Eighteenth acting as rear guard and suffering from fre- 
quent and severe attacks of the enemy. On the following day tlie 
division assumed the offensive, and swept forward with resistless 
power, driving the enemy, under Rosser, in confusion, capturing all 
his artillery, si.\ pieces, and his entire ambulance and wagon train. 

In the battle of Cedar Creek the regiment was engaged from 
early dawn until evening, when it jiarticipated with the brigade in a 
brilliant charge, which closed the struggle and swept from the 
Enemy's grasp his guns and trains. This single brigade was ac- 
credited with the capture of forty-tive pieces. At Cedar Creek, on 
the 12th of November, the division again met the enemy and drove 
him three miles, and soon after went into winter quarters near 
Harper's Ferry. The regiment subsequently participated in the 
descent upon Waynesboro, whereby the remnants of Early's army 
were captured, and with the Fifth New York Cavalry was detailed 
to conduct the prisoners taken, amounting to fifteen hundred, back 
to Winchester. On the way General Tlosser repeatedly attacked, 
counting confidently on the release of the prisoners, but was foiled 
in every attempt, and the prisoners were all safely delivered to the 
commanders at Winchester. This virtually closed the active cam- 
paigning of the regiment, and after consolidation with the Twenty- 
second Cavalry was finally mustered out on the .31st of October, 
1865. 

Company A, Onk IIu.vdrkd axd Si.xTY-iniui) Rkgiment, Ei<ani:ENTn 
Cavai.kv. 

Recruited in Greene County, mustered in November 21, 1802. 

William C. Lindsey, Captain, killed at Ilagerstown. Maryland, 
July (j, '63. 

Guy Brian, Jr., mus. in June 12, '63; pr. fr. Adj. May 18, '65; 
onus, out with Co. B, 3d Reg. Prov. Cav., Oct. 31, '65. 

James P. Cosgrey, 1st Lieut., resigned May 1, '63. 



430 HISTORY OF GllEENE COUNTY. 

Benjamin F. Campbell, 1st Lieut., pr. fr. 2d Lient. May 9, '63;, 
disch. ieb. 10, '64. 

George E. Newlin, 1st Lieut, mus. in April 7, '61; mns. out 
with Co. B, 3d Keg. Prov. Cav., Oct. 31, '65. 

Eoseberrj Sellers, 2d Lieut., mus. in Aug. 29, '62; pr. fr. 1st 
Sergt. May 9, '63; killed at Gennania Ford, JSlov. 18, '63. 

William Scott, 2d Lieut., pr. fr. Sergt. Co. G, Jan. 2, '65; mus., 
out witii Co. B, 3d Reg- Prov. Cav., Oct. 31, '65. 

Benj. W. Yoders, 1st Sergt., disch. by Gen. Order, July 11, '65. 

John B. Gordon, 1st Sergt., died at Washington, D. C, Dec. 5,. 
'64; bnr. in Mil. Asylum Cemetery. 

John C. White, Com. Sgt., mus. in Feb. 23, '64; mus. out with 
Co. B, 3d Reg. Prov. Cav., Oct. 31, '65. 

Joseph Cooke, Com. Sgt., prisoner from June 10 to Dec. 31, '64r 
disch. by Gen. Order, July 11, '65. 

Benjamin F. Herrington, Com. Sgt., mus. in Aug. 23, '62; pr.. 
to 2d Lieut. Co. G, Dec. 8, '62. 

4 George W. Kent, Sergt., mus. out with Co. B, 3d Peg., Prov. 
Cav. Oct. 31, '65. 

Edward Fraucke, Sergt., mus. in Feb. 17, 64; mus. out with Co.. 
B, 3d Reg., Prov. Cav." Oct. 31, '65. 

William J. Holt, Sergt., mus. in Feb. 29, '64; vvd. near Peters- 
burg, June 27, '64; mus. out with Co. B, 3d Reg., Prov. Cav. Oct.. 
31, '^'65. 

John R. Smith, Sergt., disch. by Gen. Order, July 10, '65, 

James Graham, Sergt., inus. in Sept. 22, '62; wd. at Spottsyl- 
vania. May 8, '64; disch. on Surg. Cert. May 18, '65. 

Jacob Whipkey, Sergt., mus. in Aug. 23, '62, tr. date and org., 
unknown. 

William D. Smith, Sergt. Nov. 21, '62; died Sept. 29, '64. 

Cyrus C. Elms, Sergt., mus. in April 6, '65; des. Sept. 10, '65. 

Thoiyas L. Dagg, Corp. mus. in March 11, '64; mus. out withi 
Co. B, 3d Regt., Prov. Cav. Oct. 31, '65. 

James Seals, Corp., mus. in March 9, '64; mus. out with Co. B, 
3d Regt. Prov. Cav., Oct. 31, '65. 

Kendal Brant, Corp., mus. in Sept. 10, '62; disch. March 26, '63.. 

Jonas Whipkey, Corp., mus. in Aug. 23, '62; disch. bv Gen. 
Order, June 12, '65. 

Robert M. Yates, Corp., mus. in Nov. 23, '62; disch., date un- 
known. 

Robert J. Tukesberry, Corp., disch. by Gen. Order, July 11, '65. 

John Evans, Corp., prisoner fr. June 30 to Oct. 9, '63; disch. by- 
Gen. Order, July 11, '65. 

Salatial Murphy, Corp., disch. by Gen. Order, July 11, '65. 



HISTORY OF GREKNE COUNTY. 431 

George K. Wiscarver, Corp., mns. in Oct. 27, 'tV2; tr., date and 
org. unknown. 

John T. Morris, Corp.; cap.; died at Andersonville, (in., June 
26, '64; grave 2,508. 

Henry Cook, Corp., killed at Opeqiian, Va., Sept. 11>, '64. 

John Boylan, Corp., JMarcii 31, "()5; des. Sept. 10, "(iS. 

Samuel S. Rhineiiart, Corp., mus. in Aug. 23, '()2; died March 
10, '65; bur. in U. S. Gen. IIosp. Cem., No. 2, Annapolis, Md. 

Andrew Wilson, Jr., Bugler, dieil at Washington, D. C, April 1, 
of wds. rec'd. in action Jan. 18, '64; bur. in Mil. Asylum Cem. 

Charles White, Bugler, mus. in Feb. 25, '64; mus. out with Co. 
H, 3d Reg., Prov. Cav. Oct. 31, '65. 

fVederick Ramer, blacksmith, disch. by Gen. Order, July 11, '65. 

Everly L. Dow, blacksmith, disch. by Gen. Order, July 11, 'tiS. 

Warren Kneel, blacksmith, disch. by Gen. Order, July 11, '65. 

Lewis Perry, saddler, disch. by Gen. (^rder, July, '65. 
Adams, Elijah, mus. in Feb. 2!*, '64; mus. out witii Co. B, 3d 
Reg., Prov. Cav., Oct. 31, '65. 

Adams, Richard L., mus. in Feb. 23, '64; disch. b}' Gen. Order, 
Sept. 16, '65. 

Amtnonds, John, absent at mus. out. 

Adams, Jacob, mus. in Feb. 23, '64; died Oct. 6, "t)4. 

Anderson, William, mus. in March 31, '65; not acct. foi-. 

Boyers, George W., disch. by Gen. Order, July 11, '65. 

Bryner, William A., pris. fr. J uly 6, '63, to Dec. 8, '64; disch. by 
Gen. Order, July 11, '65. 

Bryner, George W^.. mns. in Oct. 27, 't)2; disch. by Gen. Order, 
June 5, '65. 

Brandymore, ]\[ort., mus. in March 31, "65; disch. by Gen. 
Order, July 12, '65. 

Courtright, James, mus. out with Co. B, 3d Reg., Pro. Cav., Oct. 
31, '65. 

Campbell, AV^. T. II., mus. in April 1, 't)5; mus. out with ('.>. !>, 
3d Reg., Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, '65. 

Concklin, S. M., abst. at mus. out. 

Cole, William, disch. by Gen. Order, July 11, '65. 

Cooley, Joseph B., mus. Sept. 9, 64; disch. by Gen. Order, June 
13, '65. 

Church. William, mus. in March 2'J, 'i]5; disch. by Gen. Order, 
June 10, '65. 

Chapman, George, cap.; died at Andersonville, Ga., Sept. '••. '64; 
grave 8,260. 

Chapman, Charles, mns. in April 22, '64; not acct. for.'' 

Champ, Charles, mus. in April 20, '64; not acct. for. 



4:32 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

Dickinson, William, miis. Sept. 8, '62; tr., org. unknown; Jan. 
21, '65. 

Davis, Henry, mus. in April 22, '64; not acct. for. 

Eckoft; Charles V., mns. in Feb. 29, '64; discli., dis. Oct. 13, '66. 

Evans, Azariali, disch. by Gen. Order, July 11, '65. 

Eagon, Solomon, disch. by Gen. Order, July 11, '65. 

Evans, Caleb, pris. from Nov. 18, '63, to April 11, '64; discli. by 
Gen. Order, July 11, '65. 

Eagon, Thomas, killed at Hagerstown, Md., July 6, '63. 

Edwards, Thomas W., mus. in March 21, '65; disch. by Gen. 
Order, Sept. 20, '65. 

Fox, James F., mus. in March 31, '65; niiis. out with Co. B, 3d 
Kegt., Prov. Cav., Oct. 21, '65. 

Finnegan, John, disch. by Gen Order, July 11, '65. 

Fry, John, disch. by Gen. Ordei-, July 11, '65. 

Friend, Michael, mus. in March 30. '65; not acct. for. 

Grey, Elijah, mus. in Marcii 31, '65; mus. out with Co. B, 3d 
Keg., Prov. Cav., Oct. 31, '65. 

Goodwin, Frank, mus. in Mav 21, "63; pr. to Ilospt. Steward 
U. S. Army, March 28, '64. 

Gallatin, Joseph P., mus. in JS'ov. 11, '62; disch. by Gen. Order, 
July 11, '65. 

Gardner, Freeman, mus. iu Nov. 11, '62; disch. by Gen. Order 
July 11, '65. 

Golf, Mott W., mus. in March 31, '64; disch. by Gen. Order, 
May 13, '65. 

Gumph, John, disch. by Gen. Order, July 18, "65. 

Gribben, Peter, mus. in Aug. 23, '62; wd. at Old Church, Va., 
June 11, '64; disch. by Gen. Order, July 5, '65. 

Galloway, Nicholas, mus. in July 19,, '63; des. Oct. *65. 

Gribben, Elias K., mus. in Aug. 23, '63; not on mus. out roll. 

Hacket, William, mus. in Feb. 29, "64; absent at mus. out. 

Ileudershot, Thomas F., mus. in Aug. 29, '64; captured at 
Fisher's Hill, Va., Oct. 8, '64; bur. rec, J. Hendershot died at 
Richmond, Va., Feb. 3, '65. 

Harrison, Moses, discli. by Gen. Order, July 11, '65. 

Huffman, James, dischg. by Gen. Order, July 11, '65. 

Hughes, David, mus. in March 23, '64; dischg. bv Gen. Order, 
June 19, '65. 

Hedge, Samuel, mus. in Sept. 16, '64; dischg. by Gen. Order, 
June 13, '65. 

Hinerman, Henry, mus. in Sept. 4, '(i2; died, date unknown. 

Johns, Ellis J., wd. at Opequau, Va., Sept. 19, '64; dischg. 
by Gen. Order, July 11, '65. 

Jeffries, Elisha, dischg. l)y Gen. Order, July 11, '65. 



IIISTOUY OF tillEENE COUNTY. 433 

John?, Hiram M,. inuri. in Feb. 23, "04; captured at Old Ch., 
Ya., June 11, '64; died, date univnown. 

Knox, William, absent at mus. out. 

Kent, Nicholas J., wd. at Opec^uan, Ya., Sept. 19, "64; dischg. 
by Gen. Order, July 11, '65. 

Knight, S. W., mus. in Oct. 20, "62; died, date unknown. 

Leonard, Asa, mus. in Feb. 5, '64; mus. out with Co. B, 3d 
Eegt. Prov. Cav., Oct". 31, '(55. 

Lincoln, Andrew, dischg. by Gen. Order, July 11, '65. 

Lindsay, Francis, nuis. in March 29, '65; dischg. by Gen. 
Order, June 27, '65. 

Longstretli. William, mus. in Nov. 23, '62; died at Washing- 
ton, 1). C, Aug. 19, '63; buried in Mil. Asylum Oeinetil-y. 

Lindsey, James, mus. in Nov. 23, '62; died at Wasliington, 
D. C, Aug. (i, "63; bur. rec, July 13, '63; buried in Mi!. Asylum 
Cemetery. /' 

Lapping, John, killed at Hanover Court House. -Va., May 30, 
'64. 

Lasiiire, Henry, died, date unknown. 

Lieb, John A., mus. in Feb. 26, '64; pr. to Capt. 127th Regt., 
U. S. 0. T.; dischg. Sept. 10, '()5. 

Morris, John P., mus. in Feb. 23, "64; mus. out with Co. !!, 
3d liegt. Prov. Cav., Oct. 31, '65. 

Monroe, Thomas J., mus. in April 4, "65; mus. out with Co. 
B, 3d Ptegt. Prov. Cav., Oct. 31, '65. 

Minor, Calvin, mus. in March 29. '65; mus. out with Co. P, 
3d Ptegt. Prov. Cav., Oct. 81, '6.5. 

Mitlaneer. Lemuel H., dischg. by Gen. Order, July 11, '65. 

Martin, Wm. H., discli. by Gen. Order, July 11, '65. 

Martin, Philip C, discli. by Gen. Order, July 11, '65. 

Maukey, Henry C, pris. from June 30 to Nov. 1. '63; dischg. 
by Gen. Order, July 11, '65. 

Martin, Joseph W., mus. in Oct. 8, '64; des. Jan. 14; ret. 
May 5, '65; dischg. by Gen. Ordei-, May 6. '65. 

Morris, Joseph C. captured; died at Richmond, Ya., P'eb. 26. 
'64. 

Meeks, Eli, captured; died at liichmond. Ya., Dec. 22. '63, of 
wds. reed, in action. 

Miller, John D., inns, in Feb. 5, '64; absent at mus. out. 

Mnrphy, John, mns. in April 6, '65; des. Sept. 10, '65. 

Martin, Matthias, dischg. by Gen. Order, July 1, '65. 

Murphy, Jeremiah, mus. in Sept. 7, '64; dischg. by Gen. Order, 
June 13, '65. 

Madigan, Dennis, mus. in April 5. '65; drafted; dischg. by Gen. 
Order, Jnne 21. '65. 



434 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

May, James, mns. in Marcli 25, '64; not accounted for. 

McGrady, liobert, absent at mus. out. 

McClellan, Asa S., dischg. Marcli 28, '63. 

McCnllougb, Joses, burial record L. C. McCougb; died at 
Andersonville, Ga., Aug. 14, '64; grave 5,642. 

O'Dwyer, Thos. J., nius. in April 4, '65; dischg. by Gen. Order, 
Aug. 25, '65. 

Poland, Jolin W., prisoner from Nov. 18, '63, to June 7, '65; 
dischg. by Gen. Order, Ju]y 1, '65. 

Poland, Cavalier, wd. at Spottsylvania, May 8, '64; tr. to Vet. 
K. C; dischg. by Gen. Order, Sept. 12, '65. 

Phelan, Wm., miis. in April 20, '64; not accounted for. 

Rineaart, John T., mus. in Feb. 23, '64; mus. out vritli Co. B, 
3d Eeg;-., Prov. Cav., Oct. 31, '65. 

Reese, David, dischg. by Gen. Order, Aug. 18, '65. 

Eadlinghafer, M., pris. from Nov. 30, '63, to Dec. 8, '64; dischg. 
by Gen. OrAer, July 11, '65. 

Rex, Harper, dischg. by Gen. Order, Jvtlj 11, '65. 

Rush, Levi, dischg. by Gen. Order, July 11, "()5. 

Rhoade, William P. dischg. by Gen. Order, July 11, '65. 

Rush, Peter, dischg. March 28, "63. 

Rogers, Alexander W., dischg. Aug. 25, '63. 

Rush, Isaiah, dischg. on Snrg. Cert. Nov. 10, '64. 

Richie, Samuel, mus. in Sept. 9, '64; dischg. by Gen. Order,. 
June 13, '65. 

Rex, George, mus. in Feb. 29, '64; capt. at Old Ch., Va., June 
11, '64; died at Andersonville, Ga., Sept. 17, '64; grave 9,019. 

Rhinehart, Arthur J., mus. in March 26, '64; died at Phila- 
delphia, Oct. 6, '64, of wds. reed, at Opequan, Va., Sept. 19, '64. 

Syphers, Peter M., mus. in Feb. 23, '64; mus. out with Co. B,. 
3d Regt. Prov: Cav., Oct. 31, '65. 

Smitii, Dennis, absent at mus. out. 

Smith, Francis, mus. in Dec. 1, '64; drowned near Racine, O.,^ 
Oct. 20, '65. 

Stull, Lewis W., mus. in Atig. 23, '62; dischg. May 14, '63. 

Stickles, Amos, dischg. Jan. '22, '63. 

Sherrick, Isaac W., wd. at Opequan, Va., Sept. 19, '64; disclig. 
on Surg. Cert.; date unknown. 

Straight, Henry, dischg. by Gen. Order, June 12, '65. 

Shape, Frederick, captured; died at Andersonville, Ga., Aug. 
13, '64; grave 5,494. 

Smith, William, des. Nov. 22, '62. 

Smith, Cowperthwait C, des. June, 5, '65. 

Sullivan, Cornelius, mus. in Sept. 16, '64; not accounted for 

Tukesbury, John, dischg. by Gen. Order, July 11, '65. 




^y^^^n c/-s ^ - ^^^>^^^r^^^^z^< 



"j^ 



IIISTOHY OK GREKNK COUNTY. 43T 

Thomas, John, killed at Fisher's Hill, \^a., Oct. 8, 'G-i. 

Tukeshury, William, wd. in action, Sept. 1, '64; not on nius. 
ont roll. 

Ulum, Henry, captured; died, date unknown. 

Valentine, Jolui, nius. in April lU, '1)5; disclig. by Gen. Order, 
May 23, '65. 

White, James D., wd. at Old Church, Va., June 11, '64; aUsent 
at mus. out. 

Whales, Alexander, abs. at nius. out. 

White, Francis M., wd. at Hanover, C. H. Va., May 31, '64; 
disclig. by Gen. Order, July 11, '65. 

Wagner, George W., mus. in Sept. 6, '64; disclig. by Gen 
Order, June 13, '65. 

West, Thomas, died at Fairfax Court House, Va., May 7, '63. 

Whipkey, Silas, mus. in March 23, '62; died at Fairfax C. II., 
June 20, "(i^. 

Wilson, John W., mus. in April 4, '65; des. Sept. 10, '65. 

Welte, Rudolph, mus. in Aug. 15, "64; not accounted for. 

Yates, Hazlet A[., wd. at Oj)e(pian, Va., Sept. 19, '64; dischg. 
by Gen. Order, July 11, '()5. 

Voders, .Joseph C., wd. at Opequan, Va., Sept. I'J, '64; dischg. 
by Gen. Order, July 11, '65. 

Yates, Alexander, died at Frederick, Md., Aug. 6, '63, of wds. 
reed, in action; bur. rec. July 25, '63; bur. in Nat. Cem., Antietam, 
Section 26, lot E, grave 501. 

Yoders, John J., mus. in March 11, '64; died at City Point, Yn., 
Aug. 9, '64; bur. in Nat. Cein., Section K, division 4, grave 107. 

Young, Harrison, mus. in March 30, '65; des. Sept. 10, '65. 

Yoders, Wni. H., dischg. by Gen. Order, June 22, '65. 

CoMP.\XY C, Oni; IIlNDUKI) .\N1) SiXTY-TlIIKl) IllOIMENT, ElGIlTKKNTH 

Cavalry. 

Recruited in Greene County, mustered in Nov. 23, 18t)2. 

James Hughes, Capt., nuis. in Nov. 27, '62; resigned Feb. 14, '63. 

Frederick Zarraclier, Capt., mus. in Ajiril 23, '64; mus. out with 
Co. C, 3d Regt. Prov. Cav. Oct. 31, '65. 

Samuel Montgomery, 1st Lieut., mus. in Dec. 3, '62; resigned 
Oct. 23, '63. 

Francis A. J. Grey, 2d Lieut., mus. in Nov. 20, '62; resigned 
May 14, '63. 

James R. Weaver, 2d Lieut., mus. in Nov. 15, '62; pr. fr. Sergt. 
to Major, June 18, '63; com. 1st Lieut. April 1, '()4; not mus.; Bv. 
1st Lieut., Capt., Major .and Lieut.-(\il. March 13, "(io; disch. May 
15, '65. 



438 HISTORY OF GKEENE COUNTY. 

Charles Edwards, 2d Lieut., pr. fr. Sergt. May 16, '65; com. 1st 
Lieut. May 16, '65; not mus.; mus. out with Co. 3d Eegt. Prov. Cav. 
Oct. 31, '65. 

James Burns, 1st Sergt., disch. by Gen. Order, July 10, '65. 

Eli J. White, 1st Sergt., killed at Opequan, Va., Sept. 19, '64. 

Jonathan Gregory, 1st Sergt., caijtured; died at Richmond, Va., 
Jan. 5, '64; bur. in Nat. Cem., Sec. C, div. 1, grave 187. 

John M. Ashbrook, 1st Sergt., captured at Mine Eun, Va., May 
5, '04; died at Florence, North Carolina, Nov. 18, '64. 

Benjamin H. James, 1st Sergt.; not on mus. out roll. 

^Y. H. McGluuiphey, Q. M. Sergt., dis. by Gen. Order, July 10, '65. 

George W. Love, Q. M. Sergt., mus. in Feb. 27, '64; mus. out witli 
Co. 3d Eegt. Prov. Cav., Oct. 31, '65. 

Samuel C. Oliver, Q. M. Sergt., not on mus. out roll. 

John S. Ackley, Com. Sergt., disch. by Gen. Order, July 10, '65. 

Eeuben Sanders, Sergt., prisoner fr. Oct. 11, '63, to April 16, '64; 
disch. by Gen. Order, July 10, '65. 

James L. Hughes, Sergt., pr. fr. Corp. May 1, '65; disch. by Gen. 
Order, July 10, '65. 

William M. Smith, mus. in Feb. 27, '64; mus. out with Co. C, 
3d Eegt. Prov. Cav. Oct. 31, '65 ; Vet. 

Frederick Filleman, Sergt., mus. in Feb. 27, '64; pr. fr. Corp. 
May 1, '65; mus. out with Co. C, 3d Eegt., Pro;'. Cav., Oct. 31, '65; 
Vet. 

Martin Supler, Sergt.; not on mus. out roll. 

A. L. Montgomery, Sergt. ; not on mus. out roll. 

John Hulings, Sergt.; mus. in Oct. 18, '62; tr. to V. E. Co.; 
disch. Oct. 18, '65; exp. term. 

Maxwell Bayles, Corp., mus. out with Co. C. 3d Prov. Cav., Oct. 
3, '65. 

Thomas Miller, <Corp., mus. in Feb. 25, '64; wd. at St. Mary's 
Church, Va., June 15, '64; mus. oat with Co. C, 3d Eegt. Prov. Cav., 
Oct. 31, '65. 

Edward E. Newlin, Corp., mus. in March 8, '64; wd. at Opequan, 
Sept. 19, '64; mus. out with Co. C, 3d Eegt. Prov. Cav. Oct. 31, '65. 

William Hofford, Corp., mus. in March 10, '64; mus. out with 
Co. C, 3d Eegt. Prov. Cav. Oct. 31, '65. 

William Filby, Corp., disch. by Gen. Order, July 10, '65. 

Elisha Dailey, Corp., mus. in Dec. 7, '62; wd. at St. Mary's 
Church, Va., June 15, '64; pr. to Corp., May 1, '65; disch by Gen. 
Order, July 10, '65. 

Daniel W. Vanata, Corp., mus. in Dec. 7, "62; disch. on Surg. 
Cert. Jan. 16, '65. 

Dennis Murphy, tr. to Vet. lies. Corps, Sept. 3, '64 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 439 

Francis Clutter, Corp., captured; died at Anderson ville, Ga., May 
31, '64. 

Joseph Eidle, Corp., mus^ in March 15, '04; killed at Opequan, 
Sept. 19, '64; bur. in Nat. Cem., Winchester, Va., lot 18. 

John B. Moorse, Corp., not on mus. out roll. 

Joseph Spilman, Corp., not on inus. out roll. 

Wilson Mortbrd, Corp., not on inns, out roll. 

James llagerty, Corp., not on mus. out roll. 

John Anderson, blacksmith, disch. by Gen. Order, July 10, '65. 

George Elms, blacksmith, disch. by Gen. Order, July 10, "6.^. 

William Ilenninger, saddler, inns, in March 12. 'n4; mus. out 
with Co. C, 3.1 Kegt. Prov. Cav., Oct. 31, 'Go. 

Thomas Vanata, saddler, mus. in March 12, '(54; mus. out with 
Co. C, 3d Regt. Prov. Cav., Oct. 31, "65. 

Aliums, Porter, disch. by Gen. Order, June 16, '()5. , 

Allen, James, mus. in Dec. 7, '63; died at Wilmington, N. C, 
March 9, '(iS. 

Burns, Harvey, mus. out with Co. C, 3d Regt. Prov. Cav., Oct. 
31, '65. 

Barnhart, Wilson, mus. in Dec. 7, "62; disch. date unknown. 

Barger, A. J., not on mus. out roll. 

Barnhart, Thomas, not on mus. out roll. 

Barnhart, Benjamin, not on mus. out roll. 

Clutter, Seeley B., mus. in Dec. 7, '62; disch. date unkown. 

Clutter, Addison, mus. in Dec. 7, '62; disch. date unknown. 

Carter, Daniel, mus. in Dec. 7, '62; disch. by Gen. Order, July 
10, '65. 

Crate, Joseph, mus. in March 3, '64; disch. June (J, "65. 

Clank, Samuel, mus. in Dec. 19, '62; mus. out with Co. C, 3d 
Regt. Prov. ('av., Oct. 31, "65. 

Cuthberson, William, mus. in Mar*^-!! 11, '64; mus. out with Co. 
C, 3d Regt. Prov. Cav., Oct. 31, '65. 

Canavan, John, mus. in Feb. 15, '64; mus. out with Co. C, 3d 
Regt. Prov. Cav., Oct. 31, 65. 

Curry, William, mus. in April 29, '64; mus. out with Co. C, 3d 
Regt. Prov. Cav., Oct. 31, '65. 

Crooks, John, mus. in March 4, '64; des. Sept. 9, '(55. 

Crawford, William, died; bur. in Nat. Cem., Gettysburg, Sec. E, 
grave 12. 

Cartwright, James II., tr. to Vet. Res. Corps; disch. by Gen. 
Order, July 14. 

Clark, James, not on mus. out roll. 

Campbell, Daniel, mus. in March 31, "64; disch. by Gen. Order, 
June 20, '65. 

Conner, Michael, mus. in March 28, '64; not accounted for. 



440 HISTOKT OF GREENE COUNTY. 

Cox, William, mus. in March 19, '64; not accounted for. 

Durbin, Jolm, mus. in Dec. 7, '62; disch. on Surg. Cert. June 
6, '65. 

Douglass, Andrew J., mus. in Dec. 7, '62; disch. by Gen. Order, 
July 10, '65. 

Dille, Abraham V., mus. in ISI^ov. 23, '62; disch. bj Gen. Order, 
July 10, '65. 

Durbin, Andrew J., captured; died at Salsburj, N. C, Dec. 8, '64. 

Day, William B., captured; died at Richmond, Va., Feb. 21, '64. 

Davisj Thomas, mus. in Feb. 26, '64; wd. at Kearneysville, Va., 
Aug. 26, '64; mus. out with Co. C, 3d Regt. Prov. Cav., Oct. 31, '65. 

Davie, Daniel, wd. at St. Mary's Church, Va., June 15, '64; disch. 
by Gen. Order, July 1, '65. 

Davis, William, mus. in March 19, '64; captured; died at Salis- 
bury, N. C, Dec. 4, '64. 

Dunlap, James B., mus. in Aug. 16, '63; des. July 20, '65. 

Denny, John H., not on mus. out roll. 

Duncan, John, mus. in March 8, '64; not accounted for. 

Doyle, Cornelius, mus. in March 22, '64; not accounted for. 

Elder, Joshua A. R., mus. in April 7, '64; disch. by Gen. Order, 
July 14, '65. 

Elder, Abraham, mus. in March 16, '64; mus. out with Co. C, 
3d Regt. Frov. Cav., Oct. 31, '65. 

Elliott, George, mus. in Dec. 7, '62; captured; died at Richmond, 
Va., Feb. 20, '64. 

Founer, David, disch. by Gen. Order, July 10, '65. 

Founer, Charles, mus. in March 28, '64; mus. out with Co. C, 3d 
Regt. Prov. Cav., Oct. 31, '65. 

Fleming, Henry S., mus. in March 8, '64; mus. out with Co. C, 3d 
Regt. Prov. Cav., Oct. 31, '65. 

Filby, Thomas, tr. to Vet. Res. Corps, Sept. 20, 64; disch. by 
Gen. Order, Aug. 2, '65. 

Fox, Henry, not on mus. out roll. 

Grandon, Isaac M., disch. by Gen. Order, July 10, '65. 

Gump, Philip, mus. in Dec. 7, '62; disch. May 22, '65, for wds. 
rec'd at Cedar Creek, Va., Oct. 19, '64. 

Gump, George W., died at Baltimore, Md., Feb. 19, '65; burial 
rec. Feb. 10, '65; bur. in Nat. Cem., Loudon Park. 

Gray, William, mus. in Feb. 28, '64; mus. out with Co. C, 3d 
Regt. Prov. Cav., Oct. 31, '65; Vet. 

Gump, David, not on mus. out roll. 

Gump, Peter, not on mus. out roll. 

Gaessler, Frederick, mus. in March 17, '64; not accounted for. 

Hickman, Morgan, disch. by Gen. Order, July 10, '65. 



HISTORY OE' GREENE COUNTY. 441 

Humbertson, William, miis. in April 7, '64; nuis. out with Co. 
C, 3d Regt. Prov. Cav., Oct. 31, '65. 

Hughes, William P., disch. by Gen. Order, May 15, '65. 

liartranft, Levi W., mus. in Feb. 26, '64; des. Sept. 17, '65. 

Huss, James C, not on mus. out roll. 

Harris, Edward, mus. in March 25, '64; not accounted for. 

James, John, disch. by Gen. Order, July 10, '65. 

Johnson, John D., tr. to Yet. lies. Corps, Sept. 20, '64; disch. on 
Surg. Cert., July 27, '65. 

Kemble, James, captured; died at Ilichraond, Va., Feb. 5, 't;'4 

Kline, Adam, mus. in Feb. 25, '64; mus. out with Co. C, 3d 
Eegt. Prov. Cav., Oct. 31, '65. 

Klinger, George, mus. in Feb. 25, '64; mus. out with Co. C, 3d 
Regt. Prov. Cav., Oct. 31, '65. 

Kerr, Jonathan, rans. iu Feb. 25, '64; died at Philadelphia. Jan. 
17, '65. 

Kenney, Henry, mus. in March 2, '64; des. June 1, '65. 

Kemble, John R., not on mus. out roll. 

Keller, A. J., not on mus. out roll. 

Leonard, Richard J., died at Harper's Ferry, Va., Jan. 4, '65. 

Lynn, Robert IL, mus. in Feb. 25, '64; mus. out with Co. C, 3d 
Regt. Prov. Cav., Oct. 31, '65. 

Mauger, Andrew J., mus. in March 2, "64; mus. out with Co. C, 
3d Regt. Prov. Cav., Oct. 31, '65. 

Masters, .Joseph, disch. by Gen Order, July 10, '65. 

Meloy, James H., disch. by Gen. Order, May 15, '65. 

Moser, Nathan, mus. in March 8, '64; mus. out with Co. C, 
3d Regt. Prov. Cav., Oct. 31, '65. 

Moi-ris, Randall, mus. in April 7, '64; disch. by Gen. Order, 
May 23, '65. 

Miller, Washington F., mus. in Feb. 2, '64; captured; died at 
Andersonville, Ga., Oct. 7, '64; grave 10,486. 

Murphy, John, mus. in March 16, '64; captured; died at Dan- 
ville, March 8, '65. 

Morse, Jonathan B., captured; died at Richmond, Ya., Feb. 20, 
'64; burial record Dec. 6, '63. 

Matthews, Samuel L., mus. in March 15, "64; des. July 7, '63. 

Montgomery, Levi, not on mus. out roll. 

McNutt, Joel, Dec. 7, '62; mus. out with Co. C, 3d Regt. Prov. 
Cav., Oct. 31, '65. 

McDonald, James, disch. by Gen. Order, July 10, '65. 

McKean, John, disch. by Gen. Order, July 10, '65. 

McKann, John, tr. to Yet. Res. Corps, Sept. 20, '64; disch. by 
Gen. Order, Aug. 2, '65. 



4:43 HISTORY OF GEEKNE COUNTY. 

McLaughlin, Thomas, mns. in Marcli 23, '64; wd. in action Sept. 
1, '64; mns. out with Co. C, 3d Kegt. Prov. Cav., Oct. 31, '65. 

McLaughlin, Edward, nius. in March 23, '64;' mus. out with Co. 
C, 3d Regt. Pro. Cav. Oct. 31, '65. 

McCloskey. F. P., mus. in March 23, '64: mus. out witli Co. C, 
3d Regt. Prov. Cav., Oct. 31, '65. 

McKean, Alexander, not on mus. out roll. 

McCabe, James, mus. in March 25, '64; not accounted for. 

Pitcock, Andrew, mus. in Dec. 7, '62; prisoner from May 5, '64 
to June 8, '65; disch. by Gen. Order, July 1, '65. 

Pettit, R. L., died at Winchester, Va., Nov. 21, of wds. ree'd 
Sept. 28, '64. 

Poland, Thomas, died; date unknown. 

Pettit, Levi, mus. in March 15, '64; mus. out with Co. C, 3d 
Regt. Prov. Cav., Oct. 31, '65. 

Peel, George W., mus. in Feb. 25, "64; nnis. out with Co. C, 
3d Regt. Prov. Cav., Oct 31, '65. 

Porter, James M. A., mus. in March 22, '64; mus. out. with Co. 
C, 3d Regt. Prov. Cav., Oct! 31, '65. 

Poland, Cavalier, tr. ,to Co. A., date unknown. 

Rum, William, disch. by Gen. Order, July 19, '65. 

Roach, Samuel II., tr. to 9th Regt. Res. Corps, Sept. 20, '64; 
disch. by Gen, Order, Aug. 2, '65. 

Reese, Abednego, mus. in March 4, '64; mus. out with Co. C, 3d 
Regt. Prov. Cav., Oct. 31, '65. 

Ray, Joseph, mus. in Feb. 25, '64; wd. in action March 9, '65; 
mus. out with Co. C, 3d Regt. Prov. Cav., Oct. 31, '65. 

Ray, William, mus. in Feb. 25, '64; mns. out with Co. C, 3d Regt. 
Prov. Cav., Oct 31, "65. 

Richards, John, mus. in Feb. 25, "64; mus. out with Co. C, 3d 
Regt. Prov. Cav., Oct. 31, '65.. 

Ranch, Levi, mus. in Feb. 25, '64; mus. out with Co. C, 3d Regt. 
Prov. Cav., Oct. 31, '65. 

Rich, Jacob, mus. in March T, '64; mus. out with Co. C, 3d Regt. 
Prov. Cav., Oct. 31, '65. 

Roberts, Lemuel, tr. to Vet. Res. Coi-ps, Jan. 21, '65; disch. on 
Surg. Cert. June 16, '65. 

Reaves, James S., mus. in March 17, '64; not accounted for. 

Steward, Isaac, mus. in Dec. 7, '62; absent, sick at mus. out. 

Stall, John, disch. on Surg. Cert., July 13, '65. 

Sloan, James, mus. in Dec. 7, '62; disch. on Surg. Cert., Feb. 
8, '65. 

Shultz, Jacob, disch. by Special Order, July 10, '65. 

Staggers, John P., disch. by Special Order, July 10, '65. 

Snyder, David, disch. by Special Order, July 10, '65. 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 443 

Snyder, Philip, discli. l)y Special Order, July 11, '65. 

Sellers, Levi, tr. to Vet. lies. Coi'ps; date unknown. 

Stewart, John W., des. ; date unknown. 

Snyder, Gotlieb G., iniis. in April 15, 'VA; mus. out with Co. C, 
3d Regt. Prov. Cav., Oct. 31, '05. 

Stanley, William J., mus. in March 28, '64; mus. out with Co. C, 
3d Kegt. Prov. Cav., Oct. 31, '65. 

Simmons, Samuel, mus. in Feb. 25, '64; disch. by Gen. Order, 
June 20, '65. 

Smith, Peter, mus. in March 18, '64; not accounted for. 

Thompson, Stephen C, mus. out with ('o. C, 3d Hegt. Prov. Cav., 
Oct. 31' '65. 

Toppin, John, inus. in Feb. 29, '64; mus out with Co. C, 3d Eegt. 
Vfov. Cav., Oct. 31, '(iS. 

Tatterson, Marshall, mus. in Feb. 29, '()4; mus. out with Co. C, 
3d Kegt. Prov. Cav., Oct. 31, '65. 

A^anatta, Clark, not on mus. out roll. 

Wright, John M., disch. by Gen. Order, July 10, '65. 

Whipkey, Noah, mus. in Dec. 7, "62; disch. by Gen. Order, June 
'21, '65. 

AVinters, Samuel, mus. in March 15, "()4; mus. out with Co. C, 3d 
Prov.Cav. Oct.31, '65. 

Walley, Peter, mus. in March 23, '64; mus. out with Co. C, 3d 
Pegt. Prov. Cav., Oct. 31, '65. 

Walker, Edward, mus. in April (>, "64; mus. out with Co. C, 3d 
Pegt. Prov. Cav., Oct. 31, '65. 

AVingert, David, mus. in March 9, "64; killed at Opequan, Va., 
Sept. 19,'''64. 

AVingert, Moses, not on mus. out roll. 

Wortman, Andrew, not on mus. out roll. 

AVilliamson. Charles, mus. in March 28, '64; not accounted for. 

AVilliams, Thomas, mus. in March 28, '64; not accounted for. 

AVicks, John, mus. in March 19, '64; not accounted for. 

Zeiser, Philip J., mus. in March 4, '64; des. June 1, '65. 

Company G., One IIuNriKKi) and Sixty-tiitkh Regiment, Eightek.xth 
Cavaijiy. 

Recruited in Greene County; mustered in Nov. 19, 1862. 

M. S. Kingsland, Capt., mus. in Dec. 8, '62; wd. at Germania 
Ford, A^a., Nov. 18, '63, and at Hanover C. H. May 31, '64; disch. 
Aug. 17, '64. 

Benjamin F. Ilerrington, Capt., mus. in Aug. 23, '62; pr.fr. Com. 
Sergt., Co. A, to 2d Lieut., Dec. 8, '62; to CaptT, May 13, '65; disch. 
by Special Order, July 21, '(55. 



444 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

Thomas P. Shields, 1st Lieut, mus. in Nov. 23, '62;' disch. Oct. 
22, '63. 

James A. Irwin, 1st Lieut., pr. to 1st Lieut., Nov. 1, '64; com. 
Capt. Aug. 18, '64; not mus., resigned April 8, '65. 

John Eodgers, 1st Lieut., pr. fr. Sergt., May 14, '65; mus. out 
with Go. C, 3d Eegt. Fi'ov. Cav., Oct. 31, '65. 

William H. Webster, 1st Sergt., mus. out with Co. C, 3d Eegt. 
Prov. Cav., Oct. 31,'65. 

Charles H. Hook, 1st Sergt., prisoner from June 10, '64, to June 
10, '65; disch. by Gen. Order, June 30, '65. 

Isaac Buckingham, Com. Sergt., mus. out with Co. C, 3d Pegt., 
Prov. Cav., Oct. 31, '65. 

Wm. C JVIiliken, Sergt., mus. in Dec. 8, '62; mus. out with Co. 
C, 3d Eegt. Prov. Cav., Oct. 31, '65. 

Theophilus L. Bunzo, Sergt., captured; mus. out with Co. C, 3d 
Eegt. Prov. Cav., Oct. 31, '65. 

Shudrack M. Sellers, Sergt., mus. in Dec. 7, '62; dischg. by Gen. 
Order; date unknown. 

John Coe, Sergt., mus. in Dec. 7, '62; dischg. by Gen. Order; 
date unknown. 

Samuel Dodd, Sergt., mus. in Dec. 7, '62; pro. to Veterinary 
Surg. March 3, 1863. 

Nicholas J. Headlee, Sergt.; tr. to Vet. Ees. Corps, Feb. 2, '63. 

Lorenzo D. Headlee, Sergt., killed at Chantilly, Va., Feb. 2, '63. 

Zenas Jewell, Sergt., killed at Hagerstown, Md., July 6, '63; 
bur. in Nat. Cem., Antietam, Sec. 26, lot D, grave 392. 

Thomas Thompson, Sergt., captured at Mine Eun, May 5, '64; 
died at Andersonville, Ga., July 28, '64; grave 4,116. 

William Scott, Sergt., pro. to 2d Lieut., Co. A, Jan. 2, '65. 

John Wells, Corp., mus. in Feb. 29, '64; mus. out with Co. C, 
3d Eegt. Prov. Cav., Oct. 31, '65. 

Charles T. Webster, Corp., mus. out with Co. C, 3d Eegt. Prov. 
Cav., Oct. 31, '65. 

William Milliken, Corp., mus. in Dec. 9, '62; dischg. by Gen. 
Order; date unknown. 

James II. Miller, Corp., dischg. by Gen. Order; date unknown. 

Amos P. Eyan, CorjJ., disclig. by Gen. Order; date unknown. 

Eoseberry, Hughes, Corp., wd. at Hagerstown, Md., July 6, '63, 
and at Winchester, Va., Aug. 17, '64; dischg. by Gen. Order, July 
21, '65. 

John C. Shields, Corp., dischg.; date unknown. 

David Thorp., Corp., captured at Mine Eun, Va., May, 5, '64; 
died at Andersonville, Ga., Sept. 19, '64; grave 9,212. 

John Yoders, Bugler, mus. in Dec. 9, '62; mus. out with Co. C, 
3d Eegt. Prov. Cav., Oct. 31, '65. 



JlISTOKY nF (IKKKN'K COHNTV. 445 

Anderson, Isaac-, uiiis. in Oct. '.•, "(i2; killed at Ilagei'stowii, ^Id., 
July 6, '63. 

Burke, Silas, uius. in July <), 'ti4; drafted; nuis. (_)ut with (Jo. 
C, 3d Regt. Prov. Cav., Oct. 31, 'Go. 

Bennett, Isaac, disclig. by Gen. Order; date unknown. 

JJehey, Ilenry, nius. in Sej^t. 10, 'tU; drafted; disclig. by (ien. 
Order; date unknown. 

Barren, Dalles, inus. in" Feb. 20, 'tU; tr. to V. R. C; dischg. by 
Gen. Order; date unknown. 

Church, Jolm C, mus. in Dec. 7, '(')2; absent, sick at muster out. 

Cumley, Henry, absent, sick at nius. out. 

Campbell, Duncan, mus. in April 15, '65; dischg. by Gen. Order, 
Aug. 18, '65. 

Gathers, Orin C, mus. in Dec. 7, '62; dischg. by Gen. Order; 
date unknown. 

Conner, Calvin, nius. in Dec. 7, '(V2, dischg. on Surg. Cert.; 
date unknown. 

Church, Rinehart B., mus. in Dec. 7, '62; dischg. by Gen. 
Order; date unknown. 

Cooper, John B., dischg. by Gen. Order; date uidvuown. 

Caster, Porter, drafted; dischg. by Gen. Order, June 22, '('>.j. 

Castlow, James, mus. in Sept. 20, '64; drafted; dischg. by Gen. 
Order, June 22, '65. 

Carter, George W., mus. in Sept. 3, "64; dischg. by Gen. Order; 
date unknown. 

Cox, James, mus. in March 18, '65; dischg. by Gen. Order, June 
20, '65. 

Cunningham, Isaac, died at Washington, 1). C, Oct. 17, '63; 
bur. in Mil. Asylum Cem. 

Clayton, James W., mus. in June 25, "64; never joined company. 

Cisney, James W., mus. in Sept. 2, '64; never joined Co. 

Carroll, Andrew, mus. in March 30, '64; not accounted for. 

Davis, Lewis, mus. in June 10, 64; drafted; mns. out with Co. 
C, 8d Regt. Prov. Cav., Oct. 31, '()5. 

Dunn, Francis, dischg. by Gen. Order; date unknown. 

Davis, Simeon, mus. in Feb. 18, '64; dischg. by Gen. Order, 
June 16, '65. 

Davis, John, mus. in Feb. 17, '()4; wd. at Cedar Creek, Va., Oct. 
10, '64; dischg. on Surg. Cert. June 21, '65. 

Debolt, Isaac, wd. at Glendale, Va., May 12, '(j4; died at Han- 
over June. June 28, '64. 

Dunston, Daniel, captured; died at Richmond, Va., April 14, '(54. 

Edgar, Reuben, dischg. bj^ Gen. Order; date unknown. 

Fordice, Silas, mus. in Feb. 28, 'Ii4; mus. out with Co. C, 3d 
Regt. Prov. Cav., Oct. 31, '65. 



446 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

Grim, Lawreuce C, mus. in Sept. 3, '64; disch. by Gen. Order; 
date unknown. 

George, "William, mus. in Sept. 19, '64; drafted; dischg. by Gen. 
Order, June 22, '65. 

Gump, David, missing in action at St. Mary's Churcli, Ya., June 
15, '64. 

Gray, Benjamin, des. July 25, '63. 

Garrison, Levi, mus. in Feb. 27, '64; died at Alexandria, Ya., 
March 29, '64. 

Hoffman, Milton, mus. in Feb. 24, '64; mus. out with Co. C, 3d 
Eegt. Prov. Cav., Oct. 31, '65. 

Huffman, Abraham, mus. in Sept. 24, '62; absent, sick at mus. 
out. 

Headlee, John T., mus. in Dec. 9, '62; dischg. to date Oct. 
31, '65. 

Hart, George W., dischg. by Gen. Order, June 17, '65. 

Henderson, Abner, wd. at Glendale, Ya., May 12, '64; dischg. 
by Gen. Order; date unknown. 

Headlee, Epraim, dischg. on Surg. Cert.; date unknown. 

Headlee, Jonas D., captured; died at Andersonville, Ga., March 
15, '65; grave 12,883. 

Ishart, Nicholas, mus. in Dec. 9, '62; captured; died at Ander- 
sonville, Ga., March 23, '64; grave 124. 

Kinney, John H., mus. in Feb. 29, '64; mus. out with Co. C, 3d 
Eegt. Prov. Cav., Oct. 31, '65. 

Keyner, Elisha, dischg. by Gen. Order, Aug. 18, '65. 

Kinney, Hiram, mus. in Sept. 3, '64; dischg. by Gen. Order; 
date unknown. 

Kintyhtt, Leroy W., mus. in Dec. 7, '62; dischg. by Gen. Order; 
date unknown. 

Killian, John, mus. in April 6, '65; never joined Co. 

Lewis, George T., mus. in Feb. 29, '64; wd. in action, Sept. 1, 
'64; mus. out with Co. C, 3d Eegt. Prov. Cav., Oct. 31, '65. 

Lyons, Henry, mus. in Dec. 7, '62; dischg. by Gen. Order; date 
unknown. 

Lewis, Constantine, mus. in April 12, '65; dischg. by Gen. 
Order, June 14, '65. 

Love, Thomas J., mus. in Sept. 2, '64; never joined company. 

Leely, Ansel, mus. in April 15, '65; drafted; dischg. by Gen. 
Order, July 19, '65. 

Miller, Samuel, mus. in Sept. 21, '64; absent, sick at mus. out. 

Martin, Eobert, mus. in April 14, '65; drafted, abs., sick at 
mus. out. 

Mahon, James, wd. at Cedar Creek, Ya., Oct. 19, '64; disch. by 
Gen. Order, July 17, '65. 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUXTY. 447 

Martin, Samuel, in us. in Dec. 7, '62; disch. by Gen. Order; date 
unknown. 

Martin, Thomas, mns. in xVpril 14, "65; discb. by Gen. Order, 
June 21, "65. 

Milliken, Thomas, mus. in Sept. 21, 'G4; disch. by Gen. Order, 
date unknown. 

Morris, Joseph, died at Fairfax Court House, Va., June 10, '()3. 

Morris, James, died at Fairfax Court House, Va., June 23, '63. 

Malson. Andrew C, mus. in Dec. 9, "62; died at Fairfax, Ct. H., 
June 23, "63. 

Michaels, Ellis E., des.; date unknown. 

McGlone, James, mus. in Feb. 24, "64; absent, sick at mus. out. 

McXeever. John, died July 23, '64; bur. in Nat. Cem., Arling- 
ton, Va. 

Phillips, John, Jr., mus. in Dec. 9, "62; died at Annapolis, Md., 
Oct. 30, '63. 

Fliillips, John, Sr., inus. in Dec. 7, "62; died at Fairfax, Ct. 11., 
May 19, "63. 

Piles, AVilliam, des.; date unknown. 

Roades, John, mus. in Feb. 24, '64; mus. out with Co. C, 3d 
Eeg., Prov. Cav. Oct. 31, '65. 

Porick, William J., mus. in Aug. 1, 'Cti; mus. out with Co. C, 
3d Reg., Pro'v. Cav., Oct. 31, "65. 

Ryan, Harvey, absent in ar. action at mus. out. 

Roupe, Silas, mus. in Dec. 7, '62; disch. by Gen. Order, date 
unknown, 

Rusli, John, disch. by Gen. Order, date unknown. 

Rhone, Jacob P., mus. in April 12, '65; sub., disch. by Gen. 
Order, June 15, '65. 

Rush, Stephen, cap., died at Andersonville, June 14, '64; grave, 
1,922. 

■ Reynor, Elisha, mus. in Dec. 7, '62; wd. at St. Mary's Churcli, 
June 15, and at Kearnysville, Aug. 25, '64; disch. by Gen. Order, 
Aug. 31, '65. 

Seckman, Henry C., mus. in Feb. 29, '64; mus. out with Co. C, 
3dReg., Prov. Cav., Oct. 31, "65. 

Schofield, Joseph M., wd. at Charlestown, Va., Aug. 22, '64; 
absent, sick at mus. out. 

Strosnider, Jordan, disch. by Gen. Order, July 5, '65. 

Staggers, James, disch. by Gen. Order, date unknown. 

Sterner, Jacob F., disch. by Gen. Order, date unknown. 

Stall, John J., killed at Cedar Creek, Va., Oct. 19, '64. 

Stiles, Isaac, mus. in Dec. 7, '62; captured, died at Richmond. 
Va., Dec. 25, '63. 

Six, William H., des. Oct. 1, "63, 



448 HISTORY OF greene county. 

Tliompson, Henry, inns, iu Feb. 27, "(34; missing in action at 
Mine Run, Va., May 5, '()4. 

Thomas, Eli, mus. in Feb. 27, '64; died at Alexandria, Va., March 
26, '61, grave 1,639. 

Vandaver, Donnellj', April 1, '65; mns. out with Co. C, 3d Reg. 
Prov. Cav. Oct. 31, '65. 

Watson, Robert, mus. in Feb. 24, '64; mus. out with Co. C, 3d 
Reg. Prov. Cav., Oct. 31, '65. 

Wilt, Ephraim, mus. in June 18, '64; drft., mus. out with Co. 
C, 3d Reg. Prov. Cav., Oct. 31, '65. 

White, Uazlett, mus. in Feb. 29, '64; disch. by Gen. Order, date 
unknown. 

Weller, Joliu, disch. by Gen. Order; date iinknown. 

Wells, Thomas, mus. in Feb. 29, '64; disch. by Gen. Order, 
June 17, '65. 

AVliitlatch, George, captured; died at Andersonville, Ga., '65; 
burial record, Raleigh, JM. C, March 10, '64; bur. in Nat. Cem., 
Sec. 20, grave 19. 

Wise, Isaac, captured; died at Andersonville, Ga., March 27, 
'64, grave 192. 

Yeager, Jesse, disch. by Gen. Order; date unknown. 

Zimmerman, Joseph, captured; died March 18, '64; bur. in 
Marietta and Atlanta Eat. Cemetery, Marietta, Ga., Sfec. F., grave 
1,017. 

KKCOEDS OF SOLDIKKS WHO ICNTEREl) OTIIEK OEGANIZATIONS THAN 
TUOSE (tIVEN ABOVE AND WHO J3IED IN THE SEEVICE. 

James Burwell, Sergt. Co. A, 168th Pa. Inf., died at Washington, 
N. C, June 22, '63. 

John Kenner, Sergt. Co. A, 168th Pa. Inf., died at Washington, 
N. C, June 29, '(53. 

Joseph Minor, Sei-gt. Co. A. 168th Pa. Inf., died at Hampton, 
Va., June 2, '63. 

William Burgess, Sergt. Co. I, 32d U. S., Colored, died on trans- 
port returning from Texas, '65. 

Monroe Lewis, Sergt. Co. I, 32d U. S., Colored, died date un- 
known. 

Emanuel Patterson, Sergt. Co. D, 6th U. S., Colored, killed at 
New Market Heights, Va., Sept. 29, '64. 

Kane Richardson, died date unknown. 

William Armstrong, Co. I), 1st W. Va. Cav., died at Harper's 
Fei-ry, Va. 

James Ushbur, Co, P, 7th W. Va, Inf., died at ISeverly, W. Va., 
Oct. 20, '64. 



IIISTOIJT OF GREENE COUNTY. 449 

William Ashber, Co. B, 7th W. Va. Inf., died at Alexandria, 
July 8, '65. 

Marson, Applegate, Cu. B, 1st W. Va. Cav., died March 2, '64. 

AVilliam H. Bland, Co. K, 14th W. Va. Inf., killed at Cloyd, Mt., 
Va., Oct. 24, '64. 

Isaac H. Beach, Co. Iv, 14th W. Va. Inf., died at Audersou- 
ville, Ga. 

Eli Brant, Sergt., Co. F, 7tli W. Va. Inf., died at Front Royal, 
Va., June '62. 

Joseph J. Cline, Co. A, 3d W. Va. Inf., date unknown. 

John L. Clutter, Co. 1, 4tli AY. Va. Inf., died at Danville, Yn., 
March 10, "65. 

Jonathan Cauipbell, Co. 1', 7t]i AV. Va. Inf., died at Philadelphia, 
bur. at AVind Ridge. 

George A. Conner, Co. F, 7th AV. Va. Inf., died at AVashington, 
D. C, of wds. reed, at Ream's Station, Va., bur. at Taylorstown, 
Greene County. 

John Degerman, Co. F, 7th AV. A^a. Inf, died at camp in Md., 
Feb. "62; bur. at Grafton, AA'^. A^a. 

John A. Doty, Cu. A, 3d AV. A^a. Inf., date unknown. 

David Durbin, Co. F, 7th AV. Va. Inf.. date unknown. 

Thomas Fonner, Co. I, 15th AV. Va. Inf., died at Cumberland, 
Md., "64. 

AVilliam Gillett, Co. A, 12th AV. A^a. Inf., died at Point of 
Rocks, Feb. "65. 

Henry Gould, Co. F, 7tli AV. A'a. Inf., died March 11, "62. 

Doctor Gould, Co. F, 7thAV.Va. Inf., prisoner; died at Salisbury, 
N. C, Oct. 30, '64. 

Andrew Gninip, C!o. !■", 7th AV^. Va. Inf, died at Ft. Monroe, 
Aug. 29, '62. 

Isaac Ilerrington, 7th AV. Va. Inf., date unknown. 

James Herrington, Co. F, 7th AV. Va. Inf., died at City Point, 
Va., July 30, '64, of wds. at Deep Bottom, July 28, '64; bur. at 
City Point, Va. 

Thomas Herrington, Co. A, 8th AV. A^a. Inf., died June 15, '62, 
of wds. reed, at Cross Keys, Va. ; bur. at Mapletown. 

John AV. Ilannan, Co. F, 7th AV. Va. Inf., died in Hospital, Md., 
Nov. 29, '62. 

Henry Henderson, Co. N, 6th AV. Va. Inf., died; bur. at AVindy 
Gap Church. 

AVilliam Hoftman, Co. F, 7th AA^. Va. Inf., died, date unknown. 

George Hoifman, Co. F, 7th AV. Va. Inf., died at Baltimore, Feb, 
8, "65. 

Josiah Holmes, Co. D, 1st AV. Va. Inf, killed at Piedmont, 



450 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

John Jones. Co. F, W. V:i. Inf., died in Camp in Maryland, Feb. 
28, '62; bnr. in Nat. Cam. CTi-afton, W. Va. 

Thomas King, Co. F, 7th W. Va. Inf., died March 28, '62; bur. 
in Nat. Cem., Grafton, W. Va. 

John Kennedy, Co. F, W. Va. Inf., died at Alexandria, Va.; 
bur. near Mount Mori'is, Greene County, Pa. 

George W. Kent, Co. F, 7th W. Va. Inf., died Nov. 18, '63, of 
wds. reed, at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, '62. 

Daniel Kimball, Co. A, 11th W. Va. Inf., date unknown. 

John Kimball, Co. K, 14th W. Va. Inf., Pris. from Jan. 4, '64; 
died at Andersonville, Ga. 

Asa Kimball, Co. K, 14th W. Va. Inf., Pris. from Jan. 4, '64; 
died at Andersonville, Ga. 

Mathew Masters, Co. 13, 7th W. Va. Inf., killed at Wilderness, 
May 9, '64. 

George Masters, Co. K, 14th W. Va. Inf., killed at Cloyd Moun- 
tain, Va., Oct. 24, '64. 

James Meighen, Co. K, 14th W. Va. Inf., died at New Creek, 
Va., '63. 

Andrew Miller, Co. D. 1st W. Va. Inf., killed by explosion on 
board vessel at sea. 

Simon Main, Co. F, 7th W. Va. Inf., died at Gettysburg, July 
3, '63, of wds. reed, in battle; bar. in Nat. Cem. 

George P. Moore, Co. F, 7th W. Va. Inf., died, date unknown. 

Isaac A. Moore, Co. F, 7th W. Va. Inf., died Dec. 18, '62; bur. 
at Mt. Harmon. 

Thomas Noon, Co. D, 1st W. Va. Inf., died at Cumberland, Md. 

James Newman, Co. D, 1st W. Va. Cav., killed at Hagerstown, 
Md., July 6, '68. 

Henry Pethtel, Co. F, 7th W. Va. Inf., died at Camp Maryland, 
Jan. 10, '62; bur. in Nat. Cem., Grafton, W. Va. 

John Eogers, Co. F, 6th W. Va. Inf., I'ris. from March '64; 
died at Millen, Ga., Aug. '64. 

Jacob F. Rainer, Co. F, 7th W. Va. Inf., Pris., died at Salisbury, 
N. C, Nov. 15, '64. 

Martin Riley, Co. B, 1st W. Va. Cav., died 1861; bur. at Hope- 
well Church, Greene Co., Pa. 

Thomas H. Shanes, Co. K, 14th W. Va. Inf., killed at Cloyd 
Mt., Va., Oct. 24, '64. 

C. A. Shibler, Co. F, 6th W. Va. Inf., died at Andersonville 
while a prisoner. 

Jesse Taylor, Co. F, 7th W. Va. Inf., killed at Eomney, W. Va., 
Oct. 26, '61; bur. at home; first soldier from Greene Co. who lost 
his life in battle. 



/•^A 
"^1 



.^%5^ 





^^/eo^ f^^^, 



c-n^ 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 453 

James Tuttle, Co. K, 14tli W. Ya. Inf., died at New Creek, W. 
Va., '03; bur. at home, Springliill Township. 

Elliot £. Tuttle, Co. I, 2d Col. Cav., died at Ft. Leaveinvortli, 
Kansas, Sept. 24, '65. 

William Weaver, Co. I, 78th 111. Inf., killed at Atlanta, Ga., 
Sept. 17, "64. 

Win. F. l>allan, Co. E, 14th Pa. Cav., died from surg. opera- 
tion; bur. at Greensboro. 

Wm. F. Eoulton, Co. E, 14tli Pa. Cav., died at Beverly, W. Va., 
Oct. 13, '63. 

Elijah Coleman, Co. E, 14th Pa. Cav., killed at Pocky Gap, Ya., 
Ang. 27. "63. 

Phillip G. Hughes, Co. E, 14th Pa. Cav., died at Annapolis, 
Md., March 19, "65. 

Adrian Johnston, Co. E, 14tli Pa. Cav., drowned at Jackson 
Piiver, Ya., Dec. 20, '63. 

Robert L. Keener, Co. E, 14th. Pa. Cav., died at Annapolis, Md., 
Nov. 25, '63. 

Charles A. Mestragatt, Co. E, 14th Pa. Cav., prisoner, died at 
Andersonville, Ga. ; bur. rec. died at Pichmond, Ya., March 7, '64. 

Wm. M. Stone, Co. E, 14th Pa. Cav., killed at Bunker Hill, Ya., 
March 19, '64. 

Samuel Whetsler, Co. E, 14th Pa. Cav., prisoner, died; bur. rec. 
S. Nitzler, Pichniund, J'eb. 13, '64. 

Benjamin Woody, Co. E, 14th Pa. Cav., killed accidentally by 
cars near Grafton, W. Ya., 1864. 

James W. Yeager, Co. E, 14th Pa. Cav., died at Martinsburg, 
Aug. 24, "63; bur. at Greensboro, Pa. 

Adam H. Hewitt, Co. K, 16th Pa. Cav., died at Philadelphia, 
Oct. 23, '63. 

Matto.x, Elias H., Co. K, 16th Pa. Cav., died Aug. 19, "63, of 
wds. reed, at Shepherdstown, Ya., July 16, '63. 

Zenas C. Piley, Co. K, 16tli Pa. Cav., died; date unknown. 

Isaac Saunters, Co. K, Kith Pa. Cav., died at Ilarrisburg, Dec. 
4, '62. 

John B. Sheets, Co. K, 16th Pa. Cav., died at Dumfries, Ya., 
May 25, '63. 

Judson Throckmorton, Co. K, 16th Pa. Cav., died at Ilarris- 
burg, Nov. 1, '62. 

Abraham C. Teagarden, Co. K, 16th Pa. Cav., died July 20, '63, 
of wds. reed, at Shepherdstown, Ya., July 16, '63. 

Early in the summer of 1861, Union mass meetings were held 
along the border line between Greene County, Pennsylvania, and 
Monongalia County, Yirginia, (now West Yirginia) which were 
largely attended by citizens living on each side of the State line, 



454 HISTORY OF GKEENE COUNTY. 

notably among which was one at Eosedale at which Hon. Jonathan 
Gerard presided, and an other on the farm of Adam Brown, at which 
more than one thousand people were present. At these mass meet- 
ings the situation was fully and freely discussed. The people of 
Western Virginia were encouraged to remain loyal to the government 
of the United States, with the promise that Pennsylvania would 
render them all the assistance possible. 

West Virginia refused to secede. Delegates were elected who 
met in convention at Wheeling on the lltli day of June, 1861. 
Forty (40) counties were represented and on the 20th of June gave 
a unanimous vote in favor of separation. Francis H. Peirpoint, of 
Marion County, was chosen Governor. The legislature which soon 
met at Wheeling was a legislature of Virginia, elected on the regular 
appointed day of election, eastern as well as western counties being- 
represented therein. This legislature, as well as the convention, 
heartily assented to the formation of the State of West Virginia. 
In the meantime a company was recruited along the border on the 
Greene County side of the State line, all of whom were citizens of 
Greene County, and on the 18th day of September, 1861, were mus- 
tered into the service of the United States as Company F, Seventh 
Eegiment, Virginia Infantry Volunteers. 

The following is a complete roster of said company at date of 
muster into the United States service: 



James B. Morris, Capt., pro. to Major. Thos. II. B. Fox, Corporal. 

Ambrose A. Stont, 1st Lieut. William Gidley, " 

Bayles W. Thompson, 2d Lieut. John G. Fordyce, " 

Eli Brant, 1st Sergeant. Wm. li. Meighen, " 

Henry W. Taylor, Sergeant. George W. Shough, " 

James L. Garrison, " George W. Kent, " 

John Fordyce, " James A. Rice, " 

Vincent Stephens, " Abraham Taylor, " 



James D. Burns, William B. Fogg, 

Benson Bayers, ' William Fox, 

William Bosworth, John Flowers, 

ISTorval Brown, William Gibbons, 

Lewis Chesler, Noah Guthrie, 

George A. Conner, Doctor Gould, 

John Coss, ' Daniel Gregg, 

Abraham Cummans, William Gehs, 

Solomon Calvert, Andrew J. Gump, 

John Deyarm^n, Henry Gould, 



HISTOUY OK GREENE COUNTY. 



455 



Jefferson Dye, 
David Durbiii, 
Leonard (roodeii, 
Samuel Gregg, 
Thomas J. Huffman, 
James Ilorrington, 
William Ilardesty, 
Washington Ilardesty, 
George Hoffman, 
William Hoffman, 
John M. Hennon, 
Isaac Husk, 
John Jackson, 
Andrew L. Jones, 
George Jones, 
John Jones, 
Nathaniel Jones, 
George Kendall, 
Sanford Kendall, 
James Kendle, 
Thomas King, 
James A. King, 
Alexander King, 
John Kennedy, 
Coleman Lewellen, 
Thomas Longstreet, 
John Lightner, 
Eobert Laughlin, 
Francis Taylor, Jr., 
Francis Taylor, Sr., 
Samuel N. Conner, 



Samuel Griffith, 
David Gibbons, 
Dennis K. Meighen, 
Simon Main, 
Thomas II. Meighen, 
James Jones, 
John McLelland, 
George P. Moore, 
Isaac A. Moore, 
Morris Pethtel, 
Henry Pethtel, 
Thomas Phillips, 
David Phillips, 
Joseph Phillips. 
Kobert W. Phillips, 
John T. Pouge, 
Joshua Rice, 
Benjamin F. Earner, 
Jacob F. Eamer, 
Jacob Eush, 
Timothy W. Ross, 
Arthur B. Smith, 
Manassas Shaw, 
Abner Six, 
Nathan Starkey, 
William Shanks, 
Jesse Taylor, 
Thomas Taylor, 
Zadoc Whitehill, 
Hezekiah Walls. 
Robert Wears, 



DIKIJ WHILE IN THE SEKVICE. 



Jesse Taylor, the lirst soldier 

John Deyarman, 

John Jones, 

David Durban, 

Henry Gould, 

Doctor Gould, 

John Kennedy, 

Andrew J. Gump, 

John M. Hennon, 

George W. Kent, 

Isaac A. Moore, 



from the county killed in the war. 
Henry Pethtel, 
Thomas King, 
George Iloff'man, 
James Flerrington, 
George P. Moore, 
Jacob F. Eamer, 
Eli Brant, 
George A. Conner, 
William Hoffman, 
Simon Main. 



456 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 



DISCHARGED FOE WOUNDS OK DISABILITY 



William Fox, 
Thomas Longstreth, 
Benson Boyers, 
Lewis ChisJer, 
John Flowers, 
William Shanks, 
Washington Hardesty, 
A. L. Jones, 
James Jones, 
James Kendle, 
Thomas H. Meigher, 
John McLelland, 



Robert Wears, • 
John G. Fordyce, 
Manassas Shaw, 
John Coss, 
Samuel Griffith, 
Thomas Taylor, 
Isaac Hask, 
Nathaniel Jones, 
Francis Taylor, 
Robert Laughlin, 
Dennis R. Meigher, 
Hezekiah Walls. 



HISTOHY OK GREENE COUNTY. 457 

RECAPITULATION. 

Summary of Losses by Death «/ Soldiers from Greene County, Penn., while in the 

Service of the United States during the War of the Rebellion, 1861-'U5. 



Or 


janizations in which the soldiers weue 
Enlisted or Served at time op Death. 


Causes of Death. 






M "Ci 


m 


■3 


t^ 














^ 


c2 a 


>. 


c 


'a 


"a 


S 3 d 
— OK 


<« a 
<a 


a ; 

"S a 




=3 
C 

S 


a 

"3) 


0.2 

o 


!-. a 

C 0- 

3 S 


S'g a 
■2 c.S 


^ 


i m 
^ 


a 






S 


H 


3 boo 


aS 
a V 


a 


H- 






P 




;z;.2 2 


■A 


•a 




F* 


1st Penn. Cav. 


July, 1S61 


3 years 


10 


9 


4 


33 


I* 


8th Penn. Res. Inft. 


May, 1861 


3 " 


25 


13 


8 


45 


G 


8th Penn. Res. Inft. 


May, 1861 


3 " 


1 






1 


A 


nth Penn. Inft. 


Sept. 1861 


3 " 




i 




1 


E 


14th Penn. Cav. 


Nov. 1863 


3 " 


3 


7 


'2 


11 


K* 


15th " 


Oct. 1863 


3 " 


3 


17 




19 


K 


16th " 


Oct. 1863 


3 " 


3 


5 




7 


A* 


18th " 


Ndv. 1863 


3 " 


9 


11 


ii 


31 


c* 


18th " 


Nov. 1863 


3 " 


7 


8 


14 


39 


G* 


18th " 


Nov. 1863 


3 '• 


7 


10 


10 


27 


D 


22d " 


Sept. 1863 


3 " 


1 






1 


C 


61st Penn. Inft. 


Aug. 1861 


3 " 






1 


1 


D 


61st " 


Aug. 1861 


3 " 


2 






2 


I 


61st " 


Aug. 1861 


3 " 


2 






2 


A 


85th " 


Oct. 1861 


3 " 




i 




1 


B 


8oth " 


Oct. 1861 


3 " 


'2 


1 




3 


D 


85th " 


Oct. 1861 


3 " 


1 


2 




4 


F* 


85th " 


Oct. 1861 


3 " 


13 


18 




31 


G 


85th " 


Oct. 1861 


3 " 


4 


13 




17 


I 


116th " 


July 1863 


3 " 




1 




1 


H 


12Sd " 


Aug. 1863 


9 mo. 


2 


1 




3 


A* 


140th " 


Sept. 1863 


3 " 


19 


8 




27 


D 


140th " 


Sept. 1863 
Drafted Militia 


3 " 


3 


1 


i 


5 


A* 


168th " 


Oct. 1863 


9 mo. 




3 




3 




U. S.Col'd " 


1863 


3 years 


i 


3 




4 





Total in Pennsylvania 


Regiments 




1 115 


133 


52 


299 


D 


1st W. Va. Inft. 






1 


2 




3 


B 


1st " Cav. 








1 




1 


D 


1st " Cav. 






1 


1 






A 


3d " Inft. 






1 


2 




3 


1 


4th " 










1 


1 


F 


6th " 




£ 






2 




N 


6th 




!■ 




1 




1 


B 


7fh " 




'^^ 




3 




4 


F* 


7th " 




s 


6 


15 


3 


23 


A 


nth " 




.a 




1 




1 


A 


12th " 




H 




1 




1 


K 


14th " 






3 




3 


8 


1 


15th " 








1 




1 


1 


2d Colorado Cav. 








1 




1 


1 


78th Illinois Inft. 






i 






1 



60 



353 



Total in West Virginia and other State Regimenls 

Aggregate l o ss by death of Greene County Soldiers 129 163 

Note.— The Companies marked with a Star (») were each known as Greene County Companies, 
having been wholy recrnited in and ofticercd by men from the county. 

Besides the above the county was represented in the service, during the war, by many of her 
citizens serving in several other commands, but no losses by death of sucli are reported to "have oc- 
curred therein. 



458 



HISTORY OF C4HEKNE COUNTT. 



CHAPTER XXXII. 

County Offices. 

Shekiffs — County Teeasueees — Cleeks of Couets — Eegisters — 
Peothonotaeies — Kecoedees — CoEONEES — SealeesofWeights 

AND MeASUEES NOTAEIES PuBLIC CoUNTY SuEVEYOES JUS- 
TICES OF THE Peace — School Supeeintendents. 



James Hook, Nov. 8, 1796. 
Eobert Cather, March 3, 1800. 
Jacob Barley, Nov. 4, 1802. 
Samuel Harper, Oct. 25, 1805. 
Barnet Eeinhart, Oct. 21, 1808. 
Thomas Mitchel, Nov. 12, 1811. 
Thomas Wood, Dec. 1, 1814. 
Adam Hays, Oct. 1, 1817. 
Isaac Teagarden, Nov. 23, 1820. 
James Hughes, Oct. 13, 1821. 
Joseph Mollis, Oct. 28, 1824. 
Mark Gordon, Oct. 26, 1827. 
Jacob Barnes, Nov. 1, 1830. 
Beniamin Smith, Oct. 28, 1833. 
Benj. Woodruff, Nov. 21, 1836. 
E. H. Lindsay, Oct. 25, 1839. 
John Barnes, Oct. 27, 1842. 



Silas Barnes, June 3, 1845. 
Nelson Thomas, Nov. 10, 1845. 
Isaac Thomas, May 25, 1846. 
John Lindsey, Oct. 26, 1846. 
E. K. Campbell, Oct. 24, 1849. 
David A. Worley, Nov. 17, 1852. 
Elijah Adams, Oct. 29, 1855. 
George Wright, Oct. 28, 1858. 
Thomas Lucas, Nov. 23, 1861. 
Heath Johns, Nov. 10, 1864. 
Henry B. Silvius, Oct. 13, 1867. 
Abner Eoss, Nov. 4, 1870. 
Jas. P. Cosgrav, Nov.' 5, 1873. 
John G. Dinsinore. Dec. 8, 1876. 
Jos. F. Eandolph, Dec. 4, 1879. 
David A. Spragg, Dec. 11, 1882. 
John S. Lemley, Dec. 14, 1885. 



COUNTY TEEASUEEES. 



William Seals, Jan. 4, 1821. 
William Seals, Jan. 18, 1822. 
Asa McClelland, Jan. 6, 1825. 
John Inghram, July 12, 1829. 
Benj. Campbell, March 18, 1834. 
Benj. Campbell, Jan. 8, 1835. 
Jesse Einehart, Jan. 6, 1836. 
Jesse Einehart, July 3, 1837. 
Jesse Einehart, Jan. 3, 1838. " 
Eobert Adams, Jan. 11, 1839. 
Eobert Adams, Jan. 27, 1840. 



A. G. Cross, Dec. 17, 1851. 
Obediah Vancleve, Dec. 21, 1853. 
Jacob Lemley, Dec. 17, 1855. 
Silas Barnes, ]SIov. 2, 1857. 
S. H. Adamson, Nov. 7, 1859. 
Jos. F. Eandolph,- Nov. 12, 1861. 
James S. Jennings, Nov. 24, 1863. 
Thomas lams, Oct. 18, 1865. 
Abner M. Baily, Oct. 18, 1867. 
James Meek, Oct. 19, 1869. 
Thomas Goodwin, Dec. 19, 1871. 



HISTORY OF OKEENE COUNTY. 



459 



James Golden, Oct. 31, 1840. Saimiel i>ayard, Now 10, lN73. 

Jaraes Golden, Jan. 7, 1842. -Jclni llniit, -Nov. 7, 1875. 

"William Cotteral, Oct. 26, 1843. John South, Dec. 27, 1878. 
Elijah Adams, Dec. 11, 1845. Furman South, Jan. 1, 1882. 
W. T. H. Pauley, Dee. 24, 1847. AViUiam Jacobs, Jan. 5, 1885. 
Hiram C. Wood, Nov. 13, 1849. liohert Smith, Jan. 2, 1888. 



CLEKKS OF COUKT. 



John 
John 
John 
Wra. 
Wm. 
A\^m. 
Wm. 
Wm. 
Wra. 
Enos 
John 
John 
John 
John 

ir. L. 



Boreman, March 17, 1796. 
Boreman, March 3, 1800. 
Boreman, March 25, 1809. 
T. Hays, Oct. 17, 1814. 
T. Ha^ys, Jan. 15, 1818. 
T. Hays, Feh. 8, 1821. 
T. Hays, Feb. 28, 1824. 
T. Hays, Jan. 13, 1827. 
T. Hays, Jan. 20, 1830. 
Hook, Dec. 31, 1832. 
Hook, Dec. 23, 1835. 
Phelan, Jan. 25, 1839. 
Phelan, Nov. 14, 1839. 
Phelan, Nov. 12, 1842. 
Pennock, Nov. 17, 1845. 



H. L. Pennock, Nov. 25, 1848. 
John Lindsey, Nov. 22, 1851. 
John Lindsey, Nov. 21, 1854. 
David A. Worley, Nov. 19, 1857. 
David A. AVorley, Nov. 19, 1860. 
Justus F. Temple, Nov. 23, 1863. 
Justus F. Temple. Nov. 8, 1866. 
S. Montgomery, Nov. 20, 1869. 
H. C. Pollock, Nov. 12, 1872. 
H. C. Pollock, December 8, 1875. 
James C. Garard, Dec. 11, 1878. 
James C. Garard, Dec. 28, 1881. 
John R. Pipes, Dec. 22, 1884. 
John R. Pipes, Dec. 24, 1887. 



John Boreman, March 17, 1796. 
John Boreman, March 3, 1800. 
John Boreman, March 25, 1809. 
William T. Hays, Oct. 17, 1814. 
AVilliam T. Havs, Jan. 15, 1818. 
William T. Hays, Feb. 8, 1821. 
K. S. Boreman,' Feb. 28, 1824. 
Levi Rienhart, Jan. 13, 1827. 
Jesse Lazear, Jan. 20, 1830. 
Jesse Lazear, Dec. 31, 1832. 
A. N. Johnson, Dec. 23, 1835. 
George Hoskinson, Jan. 25, 1839. 
George Hoskinson, Nov. 14, 1839. 
Wm. W. Sayers, Nov. 12, 1842. 
Wm. W. Sayers, Nov. 17, 1845. 



Reuben D. Mickle, Nov. 25, 1848. 
William A. Porter, Nov. 22, 1851. 
Absalom Hedge, Nov. 21, 1854. 
Justus F. Temple, Nov. 12, 1857. 
Justus F. Temple, Nov. 19, 1860. 
Peter Brown, Nov. 23, 1863. 
Peter Brown, Nov. 8, 1866. 
Thos. Hoskinson, Nov. 20, 1869. 
Thos. Hoskinson, Nov. 12, 1872. 
James L. Yoders, Dec. 14, 1875. 
James L. Toilers, Dec. 11, 1878. 
W. W. Patterson, Dec. 8, 1881. 
W. W. Patterson, Dec. 22, 1884. 
Wm. H. Sutton, Dec. 24, 1887. 



I'KOTHONOTAKIES. 



John Boreman, March 17, 1796. John Lindsey, Nov. 22, 1851. 

John Boreman, March 3, 1800. John Lindsey, Nov. 21, 1854. 

John Boreman, March 25, 1809. David A. Worley, Nov. 19, 1857. 

William T. Hays, Oct. 17, 1814. David A. Worley, Nov. 19, 1860. 



460 HISTORY OF GKEENE COUNTY". 

William T. Hays, Feb. 28, 1824. Justus F. Temple, Nov. 23, 1863. 
William T. Hays, Jan. 13, 1827. Justus F. Temple, Nov. 8, 1866. 
William T. Hays, Jan. 20, 1830. Hiram H. Lindsey, Nov. 13, 1869. 
Enos Hook, Dec. 31, 1832. Hiram H. Lindsey, Nov. 12, 1872. 

John Hook, Dec. 23, 1835. George W. Ullom, Dec. 8, 1875. 

John Phelan, Jan. 25, 1839. George W. Ullom, Dec. 11, 1878. 

John Phelan, Nov. 14, 1839. J. L. Yoders, Dec. 28, 1881. 

John Phelan, Nov. 12, 1842. James M. Hoge, Jan. 4, 1884. 

Henry L. Pennock, Nov. 17,1845. J. C. Garard, Dec, 22, 1884. 
Henry L. Pennock, Nov. 25, 1848. J. C. Garard, Dec. 24, 1887. 

KEC0E])EES. 

John Boreman, March 17, 1796. Reuben D. Miekle, Nov. 25, 1848. 
John Boreman, March 3, 1800. William A. Porter, Nov. 22, 1851. 
John Boreman, March 25, 1809. Absalom ILedge, Nov. 21, 1854. 
Wm. T. Hays, Oct. 17, 1814. Justus F. Temple, Nov. 12, 1857. 
Wm. T. Hays, Jan. 15, 1818. Justus F. Temple, Nov. 19, 1860. 
Wm. T. Hays, Feb. 8, 1821. Peter Brown, Nov. 20, 1863. 

K S. Boreman, Feb. 28,1824. Peter Brown, Nov. 8, 1866. 
Levi Rinehart, Jan. 13, 1827. Thomas Hoskinson, Nov. 20, 1869. 
Jesse Lazear, Jan. 20, 1830. Thomas Hoskinson, Nov. 12, 1872. 

Abijah N. Johnson, Dec. 23, 1835. James L. Yoders, Dec. 14, 1875. 
Geo. Hoskinson, Jan. 25, 1839. James L. Yoders, Dec. 10, 1878. 
George Hoskinson, Nov. 14, 1839.W. W. Patterson, Dec. 8, 1881. 
William W. Sayers, Nov. 12, 1842.W. W. Patterson, Dec. 22, 1884. 
William W. Sayers, Nov. 17, 1845.William H. Sutton, Dec. 24, 1887. 



James Boone, Nov. 8, 1796. Wm. G. W. Day, July 11, 1857. 

Samuel Harper, Nov. 4, 1802t' James Acklin, Feb. 15, 1864. 

Samuel Huston, Oct. 25, 1805. Wm. B. Stewart, Jan. 4, 1868. 

Samuel Harper, Oct. 31, 1817. Joel A. Harris, Jan. 6, 1871. 

Lot Lantz, Feb. 26, 1821. Lewis N. Johnson, Nov. 5, 1873. 

Robert Maple, March 21, 1822. Robert Doxigherty, Dec. 8, 1876. 

George Monis, Dec. 24, 1833. William H. Rose, Dec. 11, 1878. 

Daniel Smith, Feb. 25, 1840. Leroy W. Carrel, Dec; 28, 1881. 

William Campbell, Nov. 9, 1846. George Frazier, Dec. 22, 1885. 

SEALEES OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 

Thomas Hill, April 24, 1857. Isaac Teagarden, Jan. 13, 1874. 

Samuel Braden, Aug. 4, 1858. Isaac Teagarden, Jan. 25, 1877. 

Daniel Owen, April 6, 1864. Isaac Teagarden, Feb. 9, 1880. 

James Acklin, Dec. 12, 18(.;7. Isaac Teagarden, Feb. 15, 1881. 
James Coates, March 14, 1870. 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 461 

NOTAKIES PUBLIC. 

John Phelan, Dec. 17, 1835. 
John Strawn, Dec. 2, 1839. 
John C. Flenniken, March 27, 1848. 
John Straun, Dec. 1, 1842. 

John C. Flenniken, Sept. 1, 1851, IJorougli of Waynesbnrg. 
Amos Clevenger, Jan. 6, 1855, Borougli of Wayneshnrg. 
John H. AVells, Jan. 13, 1858, Borough of Waynesburg. 
Absak)m Hedge, Dec. 17, 1860, J'orough of Waynesburg. 
George E. Minor, Nov. 17, 1803, Borough of AV^ayneslturg. 
George S. Geffrey, Dec. 27, 1866, Borough of Waynesburg. 
George S. Geffrey, Feb. 3, 1870, Borough of Waynesburg. 
George W. Donglierty, Sept. 12, 1872, Borough of Canniehaels. 
George S. Geffrey, Feb. 17, 1873, Greene County. 
J. P. Mitchener, Oct. 6, 1875, Greene County. 
James E. Sayers, March 11, 1876, Borough of Waynesl)urg. 
J. P. Mitchner, March 31, 1876, 15orough of Carmichaels. 
James G. Patterson, April 17, 1878, l>oroughof Carmichaels. 
James E. Sayers, March 10, 1879, Borough of Waynesburg. 
James E. Sayers, March 1, 1882, Borough of AVaynesburg. 
James E. Sayers, Feb. 3, 1883, Borough of AVaynesburg. 
James M. Iloge, March 3, 1885, Borougii of AVaynesburg. 
James E. Sayers, March 21, 1885, Borough of AVaynesburg. 
John F. Thompson, Aug. 19, 1885, Borough of Greensboro. 
John F. Thompson, Jan. 29, 1887, Borough of Greensboro. 
Samuel M. Smith, Aug. 16, 1887, Borough of Jefferson. 
Jesse II. Wise, Nov. 25, 1887, Borougii of AVaynesburg. 
Ira L. Nickeson, March 5, 1888, Richhill, Township. 
W. R. Hoge, March 15, 1888, Borough of AVaynesburg. 

COUNTY SUKVEYOES. 

George F. Wolf, Dec. 15, 1856. George Iloge, Dec. 19, 1871. 
George F. AVolf, Dec. 26, 1859. C. C. Brock, Dec. 14, 1874. 
George Hoge, Dec. 19, 1865. C. C. Brock, Jan. 5, 1878. 
George Hoge, Feb. 17, 1869. James B. Smith, Dec. 31, 1880. 

George Hoge was elected county surveyor in 1883, but died 
before entering office. James B. Smith was appointed, and held 
office until 1886, when he was re-elected, and is present incumbent. 

.JUSTICES f)F THE PEACE. 

John Minor, July 13, 1796. Thomas Lucas, Oct. 12, 1819. 

AVm. Ingraham, Dec. 28, 1797. Richard Ilerwood, Feb. 21, 1820. 

William Paul, Jan. 12, 1798. Jonathan Parkinson, Feb. 21, 1820. 

Robert Ross, Jan. 12, 1798. David Gray, Jr., Feb. 21, 1820. 

Joseph Gibbons, Jan. 12, 1798. JeremialiGlasgow, March 20,1820. 



462 



HISTORY OB" GKEENE COUNTY. 



Eleazer Lnce, Feb. 9, 1799. 
Jonatliaa Johnson, Feb. 9, 1799. 
John McKee, Feb. 9, 1799. 
Jared Brush, Feb. 9, 1799. 
John Glasgow, Feb. 9, 1799. 
John Corbly, Jan. 15, 1801. 
Thomas Patterson, Feb. 27, 1801. 
Jacob Black, April 2, 1802. 
Thomas Lazear, April 1, 1803. 
John Hair, Jan. 1, 1806. 



John Crawford, March 14, 1822. 
Corbly Garrard, Jan. 25, 1823. 
Matthew Dill, March 24, 1823. 
John Pettit, March 16, 1824. 
Levi Monis, March 16, 1824. 
Nicholas tiagar, Feb. 5, 1825. 
Nathaniel Campbell, Feb. 5, 1825. 
Ed. McGlumphey, June 23, 1827. 
William Burge, May 2, 1828. 
Hiram Heaton, May 12, 1828 



H. Postlethwaite, April 22, 1807. John T. Rinehart, March 31, 1829 
David Worley, March 29, 1808. John Hijler, April 29, 1829. 



James Dye, Oct. 20, 1808. 
Thomas Hersey, Jan. 21, 1809. 
Rees Hill, March 15, 1809. 
James Clark, May 2, 1809. 
Samuel Hill, Jan. 14, 1811. 
Robert Milliken, Jan. 14, 1811. 



Joseph Johnson, May 22, 1829. 
Abia Minor, Jan. 28, 1830. 
Benjamin Miller, April 21, 1831. 
James Mustard, Jan. 21, 1832. 
John Lindsey, Oct. 29, 1832. 
William Seals, March 18, 1833. 



Ephraim Coleman, July 4, 1811. Wm. McCallester, March 10, 1833 



Jacob Baily, July 4, 1811. 
Robert Lewis, July 4, 1811. 
John Morrison, Dec. 15, 1812. 
William Heaton, Feb. 13, 1813. 
Jacob Rickey, Feb. 3, 1814. 
David Taylor, April 28, 1815. 
Thomas Burson, Dec. 1, 1815. 
Joshua Cobb, Dec. 24, 1816. 
WilHam Baily, March 20, 1817. 
James Tuttle, Feb. 15, 1819. 



Lewis Headlee, March 18, 1833. 
John McMay, April 22, 1883. 
Joseph Adamson, Dec. 27, 1833. 
George Haner, Feb. 14, 1834. 
Vincent Smith, May 27, 1834. 
Jesse Kent, June 9, 1834. 
James Cree, June 9, 1834. 
G. B. Goodrich, June 9, 1834. 
Benjamin Jennings, June 9, 1834. 
Robert Boyd, Dec. 2, 1834. 



Carey McLelland, Feb. 15, 1819. John Parkinson, Aug. 31, 1835. 

District No. 2 is composed of the Township of Morgan and town 
of Clarksville. 

District No. 8 is composed of the Townships of Cumberland and 
Jelferson. 

District No. 4 is composed of the Townships of Greene, Dunkard 
and Monongahela. 

Disti'ict No. 5 is composed of the Townships of Whitely, Wayne, 
and part of Aleppo. 

District No. 6 is composed of the Townships of Richhill, Centre, 
and part of Aleppo. 

Benjamin F. Black, March 1, '36, District No. 4. 

Ralph Drake, March 13, '36, District No. 3. 

Henry Neil, March 13, '86, District No. 3. 

Ralph Drake, May 15, '37, District No. 2. 

Samuel D. McCarl, Jan. 10, '38, District No. 5. 



IIISTOKY OF GREENE COUNTY. 463 

William Phillips, Jan. 10, '38, District No. 6. 

Abner Garrison, March 8, '38, District No. 5. 

Justus Garard, June 19, '38, District No. 4. 

George Strope, March 18, '39, District No. 6. 

James Walton, May 10, '39, District No. 2. 

Joseph Debolt, April 14, '40, Township of Aleppo. 

William Hoge, April 14, '40, Morgan. 

Thomas Horner, April 14, '40, Cumberland. 

Caleb Kimble, April 14, '40, Aleppo. 

Abraham Tustin, April 14, '40, Wayne. 

Alexander Stephenson, April 14, '40, Greene. 

Asa Sellers, April 14, '40, Centre. 

Silas Rush, April 14, '40, Morris. 

John Reynolds, April 14, '40, Borough of Jefferson. 

James Walton, April 14, "40, Morgan. 

Lewis Headlee, April 14, '40, Whitely. 

Benjamin Long, April 14, '40, Dunkard. 

Benjamin F. Black, April 14, '40, Monongaliela. 

Edward Barker, April 14, '40, Morris. 

James Garrison, April 14, '40, Dunkard. 

George Haver, April 14, '40, Cumberland. 

Jesse Kent, April 14, '40, Centre. 

Justus Garard, 14, '40, Monongahela. 

William Kincaid, April 14, '40, Jefferson. 

Henry Neel, April 14, '40, Borough of Jefferson. 

Vincent Smith, April 14, '40, Franklin. 

Jacob Barnes, April 14, '40, Washington. 

Michael Strosnider, April 14, '40, Jefferson. 

David Gray, April 14, '40, Richhill. 

Robert Boyd, April 14, '40, Washington. 

Corbly Garard, April 14, '40, Greene. 

Fletcher Brock, April 14, '40, Wayne. 

John Clark, April 14, '40, Franklin. 

Daniel Hook, April 14, '40, Marion. 

Thomas Lazear, April 14, '40, Richhill. 

Benjamin Jennings, April 14, '40, Marion. 

Joseph B. Johnson, April 14, '40, Jackson. 

Abner Garrison, April 14, '40, Jackson. 

John Fonner, April 14, '40, Aleppo. 

Boaz Boydston, April 14, '40, Perry. 

Levi Anderson, April 14, '40, Perry. 

Samuel Vanatta, April 11, '43, Richhill. 

Moses Coen, April 11, '43, Franklin. 

Joseph Adam son, April 11, '43, Morgan. 

William Phillips, April 11, '43, Aleppo. 



464 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

William Boone, April 9, '44, Monongahela. 

James Kincaid, April 9, '44, Jeiferson. 

Mattliew Dill, April 9, '44, Morgan. 

George Davis, April 15, '45, Cumberland. 

William Wiley, April 15, '45, Cumberland. 

Samuel C. Orr, April 15, '45, Dunkard. 

Simon Strosnider, April 15, 45, Wayne. 

Abner Hoge, April 15, '45, Centre. 

Jacob Loar, April 15, '45, Richliill. 

Michael Strosnider, April 15, '45, Jefi'erson. 

Benjamin Maple, April 15, 45, Monongahela. 

Alexander Stephenson, April 15, '45, Greene. 

Elijah Chalfan, April 15, '45, Whitely. 

Benjamin L. Wells, April 15, '45, Wayne. 

Daniel Fuller, April 15, '45, Whitely. 

Benjamin Long, April 15, '45, Dunkard. 

James PI. Fordyce, April 15, '45, Greene. 

Edward Barker, April 15, '45, Morris. 

John McClelland, April 15, '45, Jackson. 

James McElroy, April 15, '45, Borough of Jefferson. 

Henry Neel,' April 15, '45, Borough of Jefferson. 

Benjamin Miller, April 15, '45, Morris. 

Daniel Hook, April 15, '45, Marion. 

Thomas W. Taylor, April 15, '45, Washington. 

John Clark, April 15, '45, Franldin. 

Benjamin Jennings, April 15, '45, Marion. 

Kobert Boyd, April 15, '45, Washington. 

Jesse Kent, April 15, '45, Centre. 

Abner Garrison, April 15, '45, Jackson. 

Henry Loughman, April 14, '46, Morris. 

Silas Ayers, April 14, '46, Aleppo. 

John B. Minor, April 13, '47, Ferry. 

Jesse Headlee, April 13, '47, Perry. 

Henry Moore, April 11, '48, Aleppo. 

Samuel Vanatta, April 11, '48, Richhill. 

David Crawford, April 11, '48, Franklin. 

John Lewis, April 11, '48, Morgan. 

James McElroy, April 9, '50, Jefferson. 

Jacob Loar, April 9, '50, Eichhill. 

Alexander Stephenson, April 9, '50, Greene. 

Samuel P. Bayard, April 9, '50, Jackson. 

Johnston T. Smith, April 9, '50, Jackson. 

Roliert Boyd, April 9, '50, Washington. 

William Wily, April 9, '50, Cumberland. 

Simon Strosnider, April 9, '50, Wayne. 



HISTORY OF GIIKENE COUNTY. iliS 

Samuel C. Orr, April 9, '50, Dunkard. 

James Murdoclc, April 9, '50, Cumberland. 

Elijah Chalfaut, April 9, '50, Whitely, 

Edward Barker, April 9, '50, Morris. 

James Garrison, April 9, '50, Dunkard. 

JeremJali Stewart, April 9, '50, Greene. 

Henry Sliriver, April 9, '50, Wayne. 

Samuel Ferguson, April 9, '50, Centre. 

Samuel Garner, April 9, '50, Washington. 

Benjamin IVlaple, April 9, '50, Monongahela. 

Henry Neel, April 9, '50, Jefferson. 

George John, April 9, '50, Whitelj. 

George Sellers, April 9, '50, Centre. 

John Barnes, April 9, '50, Franklin. 

Michael Strosnider, April 9, '50. Jefferson. 

Daniel Hook, May 21, '50, Marion. 

Wm. T. E. Webb, May 21, '50, Marion. 

Jolin Bogard, April 15, "51, Aleppo. 

Joshua C. Phillips, April 15, '51, 15orough of Waynesburg. 

John Booze, April 15, "51, Morgan. 

Abraham Stout, April 15, '51, Jefferson. 

Henry Loughman, April 15, 51, Morris. 

Wm. T. E. Webb, May 9, '51, Borough of Waynesburg. 

William F. Bradley, April 15, '51, Borough of Jefferson. 

Euas Headlee, May 5, '52, Perry. 

John B. Minor, May 5, '52, Perry. 

Thomas Hill, June 11, '52, Franklin. 

Justice Garrard, April 13, '53, Monongahela. 

Jacob Gutlirie, April 13, "53, Whitely. 

William Fox, April 13, "53, Aleppo. 

Samuel Vanata, April 13, "53, Richhill. 

Thomas W. Taylor, April 13, '53, Washington. 

John Billingsly, April 13, '53, I'erry. 

James Pipes, April 13, '53, Franklin. 

John Lewis, April 13, '53, Morgan. 

Daniel Hook, April 11, '54, Borough of AVaynesburg. 

Azariah Stephens, April 11, '54, Greene. 

John B. Litzinburg, July 6, '54, Borough of Jefferson. 

Johnston L. Smith, April 10, '55, Jackson. 

John B. Seckman, April 10, '55, Centre. 

Peter M. Grimes, April 10, '55, Jackson. 

Jesse K. Baily, April 10, '55, Cumberland. 

Nicholas Shanes, April 10, '55, Wayne. 

Jeremiah Stewart, April 10, '55, Greene. 

Robert Eoss, April 10, '55, Monongahela. 



466 HISTORY OF GKEENE COUNTY. 

John E. ParkinsoD, April 10, '55, Aleppo. 

Henry Bebout, April 10, '55, Morris. 

Joseph Kniseley, April 10, '55, Wayne. 

Jacob Loar, April 10, '55, Kichhill. 

Elijah Chalfan, April 10, '55, Whitely. 

George Sellers, April 10, '55, Centre. 

Eobert Boyd, April 10, '55, Washington. 

Thomas Horner, August 8, '55, Borough of Carmichaels. 

William Wily, August 8, '55, Borough of Carmichaels. 

Thomas Lucas, April 10, '55, Cumberland. 

William T. E. Webb, April 19, '56, Borough of Waynesburj 

Eobert Wallace, April 16, '56, Borough of Jefferson. 

John Booze, April 16, '56, Morgan. 

William King, April 28, '56, Wayne. 

Edward Barker, April 28, '56, Morris. 

William P. Scott, April 16, '56, Jefferson. 

James Garrison, May 17, '56, Dunkard. 

Thomas H. Meighen, October 1, '56, Gilmore. 

John P. Morris, October 1, '56, Gilmore. 

Jesse Headlee, April 14, '57, Perry. 

Enoch H. Denny, July 14, '57, Borough of Jefferson. 

John D. Wood, April 14, '57, Franklin. 

■ John Bradley, July 14, '57, Borough of Jefferson. • 

Jacob Guthrie, April 13, '58, Whitely. 

Justus Garrard, April 13, '58, Monongahela. 

James Pipes, April 13, '58, Franklin. 

John A. Billingsly, April 13, '58, Perry. 

Jonah K. Wood, April 13, '58, Borough of Carmichaels. 

Samuel Vanatta, April 13, '58, Kichhill. 
James A. Black, April 13, '58' Monongahela. 

Thomas W. Taylor, April 13, '58, Washington. ■ 

John Lewis, April 13, '58, Morgan. 

Enoch Estle, July 13, '58, Borough of Jefferson. 

William Fox, Nov. 2, '58, Aleppo. 

Simon Rinehart, April 12, '59, Marion. 

George Howard, April 12, '59, Dunkard. 

Jesse Craig, April 12, '59, Washington. 

John Stephenson, April 12, '59, Greene. 

Jeramiah Stewart, April 10, '60, Greene. 

Johnson T. Smith, April 4, '60, Jackson. 

John I. Worley, April 10, '60, Wayne. 

Peter M. Grimes, April 10, '60, Jackson. . 

James Hughes, April 10, '60, Kichhill. 

George W. Bell, April 10, '60, Wayne. 

John B. Seckmau, April 10, '60, Centre. 



IIISTOKY OF GREENE COUNTY. 467 

John Elbiii, April 10, '60, Aleppo. 

William liogers, April 10, '60, Centre. 

AVilliam Ilartinau, April 10, '60, Cariuichaels Ijoroiigh. 

Morgan Young, April 10, '60, Cumberland. 

Jesse K. Bailey, April 10, '60, Cumberland. 

Elijah Chalfan, vVpril 10, '60 AVhitely. 

Norman Powers, April 10, '60, Morris. 

Michael Strosnider, April 10, "69, Perry. 

Stephen AVhite, April 10, '60, Springhil'l. 

William T. E. Webb, May 28, '61, Marion. 

Edward Barker, May 28, '61, Morris. 

John Mitchner, May 28, '61, Morgan. 

Jackson Hinerman, June 3, '61, Aleppo. 

Henry Maskil, June 3, '61, Jeiferson. 

Jacob Rush, June 3, '61, Jefl'erson. 

James Call, June 3, '61, Centre. 

Samuel Dodd, June 17, '61, Eranklin. 

John P. Morris, April 15, '62, Gilmore. 

Abraham Ammons, April 29, '62, Perry. 

John Lantz, April 29, '62, Gilmore. 

Elias Scott, April 29, '62, Centre. 

Lewis Dowlin, April 29, '62, Dunkard. 

Enoch 11. Denny, April 29, '62, Jefferson Borough. 

Thomas Horner, May 15, '62, Jefl'erson. 

Isaac Clark, May 5, '68, Franklin. 

Thomas W. Taylor, May 15, '63, Washington. 

James Burdine, May 5, '63, Springliill. 

Miller lams. May 5, '63, Morgan. 

Eli Rose, May 5, '63, Whitely. 

William L. Pogue, May 5, '63, Jefferson. 

James A. Black, May 5, '63, Monongahela. 

Joseph Connor, May 5, '63, Perry. 

Andrew Dunlap, May 5, '63, Monongahela. 

Francis Drake, May 5, '63, Richhill. 

Jonah R. Wood, July 13, '63, Carmichaels Borough. 

Simon Rinehart, April 5, '64, Marion. 

Michael McClelland, April 5, '64, AVashington. 

John Stephenson, April 5, '64, Greene. 

George Howard, April 5, '64, Dunkard. 

Elijah Chalfan, April 10, '65, AVhiteley. 

Simon A. Huston, April 10, '65, Richhill. 

Stephen White, April 10, '65, Springhill. 

Peter M. Grimes, April 10, '65, Jackson. 

AVilliam AVily, June 29, '65, Borough of Carmichaels. 

Johnson L. Smith, April 10, '65, Jackson. 



468 HISTOKY OK GREENE COUNTY. 

George W. Bell, April 10, '65, Wayne. 

Jolin 11. Lygard, April 10, '65, Wayne. 

Jesse K. Bailey, April 10, '65, Cumberland. 

Jeremiah Stewart, April 10, '65, Greene. 

NormaTi Powers, April 10, '65, Morris. 

Jolin T. Elbin, April 10, '65, Aleppo. 

Morgan Young, April 10, '65, Cumberland. 

Henry Lantz, April 10, '65, Greene. 

James Coates, July 17, '65, Jacksonville Borough. 

William T. E. Webb, April 5, '66, Marion. 

James Pipes, April 5, '66, Franklin. 

Yincent Lewis, April 5, '66, Morris. 

James Call, April 5, '66, Centre. 

A. J. Hinerman, April 5, '66, Aleppo. 

William Hoskinson, April 5, '66, Springhill. 

Thomas B. Eoss, April 5, '66, Morgan. 

Jacob Rush, April 5, '66, Jefferson. 

Wreeubury Wade, April 3, '67, Perry. 

George W. Ullom, April 3, '67, Centre. 

Lewis Dowlin, April 3, '67, Dunkard. 

John Lantz, Apiil 3, '67, Gilmore. 

Samuel Bayard, April 3, '67, Jefferson. 

Enoch Estle, April 3, '67, Borough of Jefferson. 

Salem Lemmons, April 3, '67, Gilmore. 

Corbly Ornduff; April 18, '67, Whitely. 

Joseph Clutter, April 18, '67, Morris. 

Samuel Sharpneck, April 17, '68, Jefferson. 

Jesse Ileadlee, April 7, '68, Perry. 

Francis Drake, April 7, '68, Puchhill. 

Miller lams, April 7, '68, Morgan. 

Jonah K. Wood, April 7, '68, Borough of Carmichaels. 

Workman Hickman, April 7, '68, Whitely. 

Stephen Day, April 7, '68, Morris. 

Isaac Clark, April 7, '68, Franklin. 

Andrew Dunlap, April 7, '68, Monongahela. 

John P. Williams, April 8, '68, Monongahela. 

Wm. L. Pogue, April 7, '68, Borough of Jefferson. 

Franklin Seaton, April 7, '68, Greene. 

Jacob Johns, May 26, '68, Washington. 

Simon Binehart, April 6, '69, Marion. 

Cephas Craig, April 6, '69, Washington. 

George Howard, April 6, '69, Dnnkard. 

William Estle, March 16, '70, Jackson. 

William Pollock, March 16, '70, Wayne. 

Isaac Hewitt, March 16, '70, Cumberland. 





'l-<-^^?-K^ 



HISTORY OF GKEKNK COUNTY. 471 

Walter L. IJatson, Marcli 16, '70, Morris. 

Peter M. Grimes, March 16, '70, Jackson. 

Solomon Hoge, March 16, '70, Wayne. 

Stephen Knight, March 16, '70, llichhill. 

John T. Elbin, March 16, '70, Aleppo. 

William Wily, March 16, '70, Borough of Carmichael(s. 

Stephen AVhite, March 16, '70, Springhill. 

J. K. Baily, Marcli 16, "70, Cumberland. 

Henry Lantz, March 16, '70, Greene. 

Moredock Silveus, Nov. 22, Whitely. 

William T. E. Webb, April 1, '71, Marion. 

John Mitchiner, April 1, '71, Marion. 

Jacob S. Kush, xipril 1, '71, Jefferson. 

J. Monroe White, April 1, '71, Aleppo. 

Win. P. Iloskinson, April 1, '71, Springhill. 

Zadock Gordon, April 1, '71, Centre. 

Henry Jacobs, April 9, '72, Franklin. 

George W. Ullom, April 9, '72, Centre. 

Andrew Lantz, April 9, '72, Greene. 

James M. Shroyer, April 9, "72, Perry. 

Corbly Ornduff, April 9, '72, Whitely. 

David H. Paul, April 9, '72, Dunkard. 

William Clovis, April 9, '72, Gilmore. 

Salem Lemmons, April 22, '72, Gilmore. 

John P. Willian:s, April 15, '73, Monongahela. 

Benjamin Mapel, April 15, '73, Monongahela. 

Isaac C. Booher, April 15, '73, Richhill. 

Stephen J. Day, April 15, '73, Morris. 

Samuel Felton, April 15, '73, Franklin. 

Jacob John, April 15, '73, Washington. 

Greenberry Wade, April 15, '73, Perry. 

Franklin Seaton, April 15, '73, Greene. 

James G. Patterson, April 15, '73, Borough of Carmichaels. 

John B. Johnson, April 15, '73, Centre. 

Enoch 11. Denny, April 15, '73, Borough of Jefferson. 

Solomon B. Wise, April 15, '73, Morgan. 

Enoch Estle, April 15. '78, Borough of Jefferson. 

Hiram C. Cloud, April 15, '73, Jefferson. 

Simon Einehart, March 17, '74, Marion. 

Cephas Craig, March 17, '74, Washington. 

George Howard, March 17, '74, Dunkard. 

Hiram L. Granlee, March 13, '75, Wayne. 

William P]stle, March 13, '75, Jackson. 

William Johnson, March 13, '75, Wayne. 

George W. Daugherty, March 13, '75, Borongh of Carmichaels. 



472 HISTOEY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

John T. Elvin, March 13, '75, Aleppo. 
Peter M. Grimes, March 13, '75, Jackson. 
J. K. Bailey, March 18, '75, Cumberland. 
Norman Powers, March 18, '75, Morris. 
James Stiles, March 13, '75, Springhill. 
Archibald Kerr, March 13, '75, Cumberland. 
Stephen Knight, April 3, '75, Richhill. 
Peter A. Myers, May 31, '75, Greene. 

D. M. Silveus, March 13, '75, Whitely. 
John Munnel, March 9, '76, Marion. 
James Huge, March 11, '76, Centre. 

J. Monroe White, March 11, '76, Aleppo. 

Thomas H. Meighen, March 11, '76, Springhill. 

William Burson, March 11, '76, Morgan. 

A. F. Ammons, Mai-ch 11, '76, Jefferson. 

A. C. Pennington, March 11, '76, Monongahela. 

John Munnel, March 17, '77, Marion. 

Minor L. Carpenter, March 17, '77, Gilmore. 

Milton Worley, March 17, '77, Franklin. 

James Murdock, March 17, '77, Borough of Oarmichaels. 

William Clovis, March 17, '77, Gilmore. 

Corbly Orndnff, March 17, '77, Whitely. 

Manassa Wildman, March 17, '77, Dunkard. 

Andrew Lantz, March 17, '77, Greene. 

John Blair, March 17, '77, Perry. 

Lester Kughn, April 4, '77, Jackson. 

Thomas L. Lincoln, Mai-ch 25, '78, Borough of Carmichaels. 

Thomas Tuttle, March 25, '78, Washington. 

William Kincaid, March 25, '78, Jefferson. 

Henry Bell, March 25, '78, Morgan. 

Andrew Dnulap, Marcli 25, '78, Monongahela. 

Enoch Estle, March 25, '78, Borough of Jefferson. 

Warren Mankey, March 25, '78, Morris. 

James M. Scott, March 25, '78, Franklin. 

Isaac C. Booher, March 25, '78, Eichhill. 

E. H. Denny, March 25, '78, Borough of Jefferson. 
John B. Johnson, March 25, '78, Centre. 

John A. Billingsly, March 25, '78, Perry. 

Simon Pinehart, March 4, '79, Borough of Waynesburg. 

Cephas Craig, March 27, '79, Washington. 

James A. Black, March 27, '79, Borough of Greensboro. 

Alfred Maple, March 27, '79. Dunkard. 

Joim Fox, Marcli 27, '79, Whitely. 

Simon Rinehart, Jr., March 27, '79, Borough of Waynesburg 

John H. Carson, March 27, '79, Marion. 



IIISTOKY OF GREENE COUNTY. 473 

John Miniiiel, Marcli 27, '79, Borough of Waynesburg. 

Allen J. Neel, May 13, "79, Mouoiigahela. 

Peter M. Grimes, March 30, '80, Jackson. 

Archibald Kerr, Marcli 30, '80, C'limberhuul. 

David II. Brewer, March 30, '80, Richhill. 

James Stiles, March 30, '80, Springhill. 

II. S. Granlee, March 30, '80, Wayne. 

'William II. Johnson, March 30, 'SO, "VVaync. 

Norman Powers, March 30, '80, Morris. 

Daniel liich, March 30, '80, Cumberland. 

Jesse S. Hinermaii, March 30, '80, Aleppo. 

P. A. Myers, March 30, '80, Greene. 

Jesse Ulloni, April 19, '81, Centre. 

Thomas II. Meighen, April 19, '81, Springhill. 

A. F. iVmmons, April 19, '81, Jefferson. 

J. M. White, April 19, '81, Aleppo. 

John Matthews, April 19, '81, Morgan. 

W. II. Laning, April 19, '81, Borough of Greensboro. 

Manassa AViklman, April 8, '82, Dnnkard. 

John Leinley, A])ril 8, '82, W^hitely. 

Milton AVorley, April 8, '82, Franklin. 

George W. Lantz, April 8, "82, Greene. 

William Knox, April 8, '82, Borough of Carmichaels. 

Jefferson Dye, April 8, '82, Gilmore. 

Thomas Pennington, April 8, '82, Borough of Greensboro. 

John Lantz, April 8, '82, Gilmore. 

Hiram Hatfield, April 8, '82, Perry. 

George Rinehart, April 8, '82, Jackson. 

James Hoge, iVpril 6, '83, Centre. 

Thomas Tnttle, April 6, '83, Washington. 

James M. Scott, April 6, "83, Franklin. 

Thomas L. Lincoln, April 6, '88, Borough of Carmichaels. 

William Kincaid, April 6, '83, Jetferson. 

Warren Mankey, April 6, '83, Morris. 

Andrew Dunlap, April 6, '83, Monongahela. 

Michael C. Monroe, April 6, "83, Perry. 

Isaac C. Booher, April 6, '83, Richhill. 

William Pollock, April 6, '83, Borough of Jefferson. 

James L. Corbett, April 6, '83, Morgan. 

James A. Black, April 7, 84, Borough of Greensboro. 

Alfred Maple, April 7, '84, Dunkard. 

Hamilton Kuhn, April 7, '84, AVhitely. 

W. T. Webb, April 7, '84, Borough of Waynesburg. 

Ingram Rush, April 7, '84, Washington. 

M. M. McClelland, April 7, '84, Washington. 



474 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

Simon Kinehart, April 7, '84, Borough of Waynesburg. 

A. J. Neil, April 7, '84, Monongahela. 

W. II. Laniiig, April 7, '84, Borough of Greensboro. 

Enoch Estle, May 15, '84, Borough of Jefferson. 

Archibald Kerr, April 16, '85, Cumberland. 

Peter M. Grimes, April 16, '85, Jackson. 

Enoch Mapel, April 16, '85, Wayne. 

Daniel Rich, April 16, '85, Cumberland. 

Jesse S. Hinerman, April 16, '85, Aleppo. 

David H. Brewer, April 16, '85, Richhill. 

II. L. Granlee, April 16, '85, Wayne. 

James Stiles, April 16, '85, Springhill. 

r. A. Myers, April 16, '85, Greene. 

Elias C. Stone, Api-il 16, '85, Borough of Greensboro. 

William Clevenger, April 16, '85, Monongahela. 

John II. Carson, October 30, '85, Borough of Waynesburg. 

J. M. White, April 17, '86, Aleppo. 

A. F. Amnions, April 17, '86, Jefferson. 

John II. Smith, April 17, '86, Morris. 

Perry Teagarden, April 17, '86, Jefferson. 

John L. Matthews, April 17, '86, Morgan. 

Francis Barger, April 17, '86, Springhill. 

Jesse Ullom, April 17, '86, Centre. 

Wm. M. Nickerson, April 17, '86, Borough of Carmichaels. 

A. L. Montgomery, April 17, '86, Franklin. 

J. H. Carson, April 17, '86, Borough of Waynesburg. 

Eobinson John, April 17, '86, Whitely. 

James F. Morris, April 25, '87, Jackson. 

George W. Lantz, April 25, '87, Greene. 

Hiram Hatfield, April 25, '87, Perry. 

Jefferson Dye, April 25, '87, Gilmore. 

J. W. Rinehart, April 25, '87, Franklin. 

Salem Lemmon, April 25, '87, Franklin. 

Benjamin Stone, April 25, '87, Dunkard. 

L. F. Stentz, April 25, '87, Borough of Greensboro. 

Thomas Montgomery, April 25, '87, Morgan. 

John W. Hays, November 29, '87, Borough of Waynesburg. 

Warren Mankey, April 5, '88, Morris. 

Thomas L. Lincoln, April 5, '88, Borough of Carmichaels. 

W. H. Faddis, April 5, '88, Jefferson. 

J. C. Booher, April 5, '88, Richhill. 

Jesse McJSTeeley, April 5, '88, Centre. 

William Pollock, April 5, '88, Borough of Jefferson. 

George Frazier, April 5, '88, Borough of Waynesburg. 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 475 



John Milliken, April 5, '88, Terry. 
J. O. Kennedy, April 5, '88, Gilmore. 

COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS OF SCHOOLS. 

John A. Gordon, May, '54. 

A. J. McGlumphy, May, '57. 

G. W. Baker, May, '59. 

John A. Gordon, May, '60. 

A. B. Miller, May, '61. 

T. J. Teal, May, '63. 

T. J. Teal, May, '66. 

T. J. Teal, May '69. 

T. J. Teal, May, '72. 

A. F. Silvius, May, '75. 

S. F. Iloge, May, '78. 

William M. Nickerson, May, '81. 

James S. llerrington, May, '84. 

A. J. Waychoff, May; "87. 

DISTRICT ATTORNEYS. 

Cornelins Darrah, 1850. 

Wm. H. Babbit, 1850 to 1855, two terras. 

A. A. Purman, 1855 to 1861, two terms. 
R. A. McConnell, 1861 to 1864. 

G. G. Ritchie, 1864 to 1866. 
D. E. P. IIuss, 1866 to 1870. 
Geo. W. Ingraliam, 1870 to 1873. 
W. A. Hook, 1873 to 1879, two terms. 

B. W. Carpenter, 1879 to 1882. 
W. H. Barb, 1882 to 1885. 

D. R. P. Ilnss, 1885 to 1888. 
D. R. P. IIuss, 1888. 

COMMISSIONERS. 

Geo. Estle, January, 1871, to January, 1873. 

Stephenson Garard, January, 1872, to January, 1875. 

Wm. P. Cosgray, January, 1873, to January, 1876. 

Robert Smith, January, 1874, to January, 1876. 

Wm. L. Pogue, January, 1875, to January, 1876. 

Wm. L. Pogue, ) 

J.P.Morris, ■ January, 1876, to January, 1879. 

John Morris, \ 

Jacob Coll, ji 

Stephen M. Knotts, I January, 1879, to January, 1882. 

Thomas Lucas, ) 



476 



HISTORY OP GREENE COUNOTY. 



William Hickman, 
Thomas Koss, 
S. li. Adamson, 
Stephen Acklin, 
Corbly Ornduff, 
Hiram White, 
William Blair, 
Thomas Courtwriglit, 
William Clovis, 



January, 1882, to January, 1885. 



January, 1885, to January, 1888. 



January, 1888. 



David A. Spragg, January, 1871, to January, 1874. 

Samuel Montgomery, January, 1872, to January, 1875. 

Lester Kughn, January, 1873, to January, 1876. 

Corbly Ornduff, January, 1874, to January, 1876. 

John R. Bell, January, 1875, to January, 1876. 

Edward W. Wood, ) 

John R. Bell, [ January, 1876, to January, 1879. 

W. C. Leonard, \ 

F. M. Shriver, 

Eli Titus, 

Richard ZoUars, 

John A. Knisely, 

J. M. White, 

J. W. Gregg, 

C. H. Fraker, 



January, 1879, to January, 1882. 



January, 1882, to January, 1885. 



January, 1885, to January, 1888. 



January, 1888, present board. 



Jesse Courtwriglit, 
Harvey Day, 
M. M. Shirk, 
Isaac I. Ferrel, 
John C. Llampson, 

POOE HOUSE DIEECTOES. 

Richard lams, January, 1871, to 1874. 

Yalentine Nichols, January, 1872, to 1875. 

Thomas M. Ross, January, 1873, to 1876. 

Isaac Mitchell, January, 1874, to 1877. 

John Scott, January, 1875, to 1878. 

James M. Adamson, January, 1876, to 1879. 

Thomas Smith, 1878 to 1881. 

George McYay, 1879 to 1882. 

James Kelley, elected 1879. . Resigned. 

Joseph Webster, 1881 to 1884. 

Isaac Mitchell, 1881 to 1883. Short term. 

Samuel Braden, 1882 to 1885. 

C. W. Scott, 1883 to 1886. 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 477 

Isaac J. IIupp, 1884 to 1887. 

H. P. Rinehart, 1885 to 1888. 

Stephen TJ. McNeely, 1886, ) 

Cephas Grimes, 1887, J- Present Board. 

Emanuel Beall, 1888, ) 

.JURY COMMISSIONEES. 

George W. Connor, Jacob Greenlee — 1871 to 1874. 
Thomas McClenathan, Isaac Teagarden — 1874 to 1877. 
William P. Scott, Josiah Gwynn, 1877 to 1880. 
A. M. Temble, Cephas Guthrie— 1880 to 1883. 
Samuel Roberts, John L. Ray— 1883 to 1886. 
J. P. Allum, W. II. Virgin— 1886 to 1889. 

BURGESSES OF WAYNESBUEG. 

A. G. Cross, 1862. 

G. W. G. Waddell, 1868. 

A. G. Cross, 1869. 

W. T. E. Webl), 1872. 

G. W. G. Waddell, 1873-1874. 

R. F. Downey, 1876. 

J. W. Ray. 

D. S. Walton. 

John Guiher. 

W. E. Miner. 

T. R. Purman. 

Robt. A. Sayers, 1887-1888. 



478 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 



CHAPTER XXXIll. 
ALEPPO TOWNSHIP. 

SpECULATOES BOUNDAEIES OuTLOOK ON THE HIGHLANDS LeWIS 

Wetzel — Have a Scalp oe Lose My Own — Note of the Tue- 

KEY GOBLEE A PeICE SeT ON lilS HeAD PuT IN IeONS 

Agility in Punning — " Conead Maee" — Schools — Dieectoes. 

« 

ALEPPO was organized as a township in 1821, and formerly 
embraced Springliill. It was, however, late in becoming gen- 
erally peopled, from the fact that speculators had bought up large 
blocks of land and prevented their being opened to settlement except 
at high prices. The sui-face is broken, and though it has no large 
streams it is well watered, the copious springs along its high- 
lauds forming the source of water-ways that flow to almost every 
point of the compass, the South Fork of Wheeling Creek and its 
tributaries flowing to the north and east, and those of Fishing Creek 
to the south and west. It is bounded on the north by Richhill, on 
the east by Jackson, on the south by Springhill, and on the west by 
the State line, which' separates 'it from West Virginia. 

Tenants are found here, as they are found spread all over the 
southwestern corner of the county. The Fletchers, the Hinermans, 
the Mjtchells, and GllUenstines, and the population generally are in- 
dustrious, enterprising and prosperous, the farms being under a good 
state of cultivation, the highways well kept, and the houses and out- 
buildings in good condition. In the western part of this township, 
on the highlands which divide the head waters of Long Run from 
those of Herod's Run, is one of the most beautiful and picturesque 
views that gladdens the eye of the traveler in any part of tlie world. 
The road winds along the very summit of the ridge, past the 2:)leas- 
ant seat of the Centennial Church, the outlook from the entrance to 
which commandsa wide view of all this delectable country. For grand- 
eur, and quiet serene loveliness, not the hills of the Rhine, nor the 
valleys of the Arno can match it. On a clear autumnal day, when 
all tlie forests are painted in their matchless colors, and the roseate 
tints of the morning are softening into the golden light of noon, the 
traveler pauses to revel on the enchanting view and is loth to quit 
this bewitching region. It was in the month of May tliat one 
who had trod the highlands of Scotland, and the margins of her 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 479 

lakes renowned in story, the green lanes of merry England, the 
goodly heritage of France, tilled like a garden, the towering moun- 
tains of Switzerland, and the classic shores of Italy, paused upon 
this elevation to brush from his brow the dust of travel, and inhale 
the refreshing breeze beneath the ample shade. The forest, now in 
full leaf, sweeps down through the deep valley and up the oppos- 
ing hills, interspersed with patches ot wheat and long stretches of 
green meadow. Soft wooled Hocks gladden the hills, and foals with 
their dams lay stretched at full broadside after their morning feed 
upon the fresh pasturage. The bird sings his gladsome note, and 
from far away in the valley comes the monotonous call of the quail, 
and the quickened drumming of the partridge. On the far distant 
height of the well rounded hill at the very summit is left a single 
tree, tall and stately, rejoicing in dense foliage, around which the 
kine gather to chew the quid of content. And here he thought is 
the delectable spot, more charming than any that has ever greeted 
his eye before. 

From the fact that the land in this township was held back from 
settlement, it was for many years the favorite haiint of game and 
the chosen tramping ground, in the proper season, of huntsmen, botii 
whites and Indians. A celebrated hunter, Lewis Wetzel, though his 
home was on Wheeling Creek, outside of the township, spent much 
of his time in roaming up and down its spacious forests. A notice, 
therefore, of some of his exploits may not inappropriately be given 
here. His own experience with the cold blooded massacres of the 
red men had taught him swift revenge, and he lived to be the avenger 
of their cruelty. 

In the summer of 178G the Indians became very troublesome in 
the neighborhood of Wheeling. A purse of $100 was offered to the 
man who would bring in the first Indian scalp. The families of 
Wetzel and Bonnet dwelt at this time on Wheeling Creek, and the 
two youths, Lewis Wetzel and Lewis l>onnet, joined the company 
which volunteered to hunt the savages. Having trailed them across 
the Ohio into the Indian country, and come upon an encamjjnient 
greatly outnumbering the volunteers, it was decided to return with- 
out attacking. When the return march had commenced, Wetzel was 
observed to be sullen, and on being asked by the commander, Major 
McMahan, if he was not going back, "No," was the response, "I 
have come to hunt Indians, and I shall have a scalp, or lose my 
own." Moving stealthily through the forest he came upon a hunt- 
ing camp occupied by two Indians. After cooking their supper they 
sat down to amuse themselves l)y telling stories and indulging in 
boisterous laiighter. Finally one of them started out with a torch, 
as if to watch at a deer lick. When the other had sunk to profound 
slumber, young Wetzel entered the camp, plunged his knife to the 



480 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

heart of the savage, and departed with his victim's scalp. He 
reached home on the following day and claimed the prize. 

A favorite method practiced by the Indians to decoy the settlers 
to their death, was to go near a settlement and imitate, at early dawn, 
the gobble of a wild turkey. This was almost sure to draw forth 
the settler with his rifle to secure the bird. There was a. cave on the 
liill-side overlooking the creek, and from the neighborhood of this 
cave Wetzel had heard the familiar call and suspected it to be the 
decoy of an Indian. Crawling from his cot before the dawn, he went 
by a circuitious route out of view of the mouth of the cave, until he 
had reached an opening from which he could observe it without at- 
tracting attention. He had not been long in position — the gray 
dawn now breaking — before the top-knot of an Indian emerged from 
the cavern, and a very good imitation of a turkey gobbler's note was 
uttered, when the wily savage slunk back into his secure hiding 
place, to watch for the approach of some luckless hunter. Soon the 
polished head of the savage was again seen issuing from the cave. 
But now Wetzel was prepared for him and taking deliberate aim 
sent a bullet through the brain of the cunning denizen of the woods. 
The song of that turkey lured no more huntsmen to their doom. 

When bloody massacres had been perpetrated, Wetzel never hes- 
itated to follow single-handed and attack the savages wherever found. 
On one occasion, having pursued across the Ohio into the Muskingum 
country, he came upon a camp occupied by four braves. Waiting 
till they were all in profound slumber, he leaned his rifle against a 
tree, and seizing his tomahawk in one hand and his long knife in tlie 
other, crept noiselessly into their midst and buried his hatchet in 
the skull of one, and quick as thought hewed down another, ac- 
companying his movements with unearthly yells. A third shared a 
like fate. The fourth, seized with a mortal terror, rushed wildly into 
the forest and escaped. With three Indian scalps to grace his belt 
he returned home. 

On another occasion, while out hunting, he entered a deserted 
cabin and crawling up into the rafters, laid down to sleep. He 
had not been long there before six marauding Indians entered to pass 
the night. Waiting till all were asleep he noiselessly descended, and 
placed himself on guard for the morning. Early one of the Indians 
came out, yawned, stretched, and at that instant a ball from Wetzel's 
rifle pierced his heart. Not trusting to further adventure Wetzel 
lost no time in placing himself at a safe distance from the rest of 
the party. 

Having shot an Indian after terms of peace liad been concluded 
with General Harmer, he was seized and placed in irons; but having 
excited the pity of Harmer, the shackles were struck from his feet, 
and he amused his guards by showing his fleetness of foot. One day 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 481 

he ran so swiftly that he forgot to return. lie was tired upon, l)ut 
escaped unharmed to the river bank, where he was ferried across by 
liis old friend, Isaac Wiseman, when tlie liandcutfs were knocked from 
his hands and he returned to his home, llarmer subsequently olfercd 
a reward for his apprehension, and while on a visit to Kentucky lie 
was again captured and put in irons, but was released on bail. Judge 
Foster describes him in 1789, " as a man 26 years old, five feet ten, 
full-breasted, very broad-shouldered, long arms, dark-skinned, black 
eyes, face pitted deep with small-pox, and hair, of which he was vei-y 
careful, when combed, reaching to the calves of his legs." 

Having lived for some time in Kentucky he returned to Wheeling 
Creek, and having been invited by a young friend and relative to 
accompany him to Dunkard Creek, he went. Arrived at his friend's 
cabin, what was their surprise to find a mass of smoking ruins, the 
work of a party of savages. Examining the tmil, Wetzel decided 
that it was a party of three Indians, a renegade white, and a girl 
whom they were carrying away captire, and whom they rightly guessed 
was the affianced of his frieud. The young men were not long in 
preparing to follow the trail. The Indians had crossed the Ohio l)e 
fore they were come up with, and had their camp near the mouth of 
Captiua Creek. Swimming the stream at evening they reconnoitered 
the camp, but prudently decided to await the dawn. As soon as 
day broke, Wetzel singled out the largest Indian, and his friend the 
white man, and tired simultaneously, both bringing down their victims. 
The two Indians took to the woods, and the friend rescued the maiden 
dear to his heart. Wetzel pursued the savages, and to draw tliem 
from their hiding place, tired at random. With uplifted tomahawk 
tliey rushed from their concealment after him. Reloading as he ran, 
he suddenly turned and shot the foremost Indian. The remaining 
savage, thinking that his gun was now empty, rushed after him; but 
by dodging from tree to tree AVetzel foiled his antagonist till he had 
another charge in his gun, when the remaining foenian fell an easy 
prey to his trusty rifle. This incident has been made the subject of 
a thrilling romance entitled "Conrad Maer." 

In intelligence and sobriety the people of Aleppo Township hold 
a commendable rank. The school i-eport of 1855 credits it witli nine 
schools with 149 pupils, and the report of 1887 with ten schools and 
448 pupils. Superintendent McGlumpliy in his report of 1859 says 
" This district is poor, the land being but recently disposed of in par- 
cels and consequently not much improved. It is hoped that better 
times are coming." Twenty' years have wrought a marvelous change. 
The school directors for the present year are: Samuel Evans, Pres- 
ident; Frederick Wise, Secretary; George Murray, Blair Micliel, J. 
M. Houston and AYilliam B. Kin<j. 



482 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 



CHAPTER XXXIV. 

CENTRE TOWNSHIP. 

Location — How Watered — Productions — Osage Oeange Hedge — 

EOGEESTILLE BUSINESS^ ChURCHES ClINTON MaEKED FOR 

County Seat — Hunter's C aye — The Harveys — Daniel Throck- 
morton — South Ten-Mile Baptist Church — Butan — Oak For- 
est — Schools — Thomas Puesley — Molly Sellers — Attacked 
HY Indians — Thomas Hoge. 

CENTBE, the largest in territory of any township in the county, is 
situated in the western central part, and is almost exclusively de- 
voted to agricultural pursuits. It was organized in 1824. It is 
bounded on the north by Morris, on the east by Franklin, on the 
south by Wayne and Jackson, and on the west by Jackson and Rich- 
hill. The surface is very broken, or rather heavily rolling, but the 
soil is deep and very fertile. It is well watered by South Ten-Mile 
Creek, and Pursley, one of its tributaries. The waters are pure and 
sparkling, the springs everywhere copious, and the farms in a high 
state of cultivation. In no part of Pennsylvania is there seen greater 
evidence of thrift. Grain and hay are produced in great abundance, 
fine-wooled sheep are pastured on all the hillsides, the finest blooded 
horses are bred, and cattle and swine of the best stock are brought to 
perfection here. Sugar maples formerly grew luxuriously in all the 
valleys and up the deep ravines; but, influenced by a mistaken policy, 
the sugar orchards have nearly all been swept away. Along the high- 
ways in some parts are seen hedges of the Osage orange. This also 
is probably a mistaken policy. Of all the kinds of fences which the 
husbandman employs to hem in his fields, this is one of the most ex- 
pensive and nnphilosophic. It must be planted and fenced several 
years before it can be relied on to stop flocks and herds, and when 
grown the beast if determined to do so will find a place to break 
through. It must be annually pruned, Avhich is anything but an 
agreeable occupation, and hence is one of the most expensive fences 
to keep in repair that is in use. Besides, it is a nursing place for 
every foul weed, bush and bramble, sucks the fertility from the soil 
for a considerable distance into the field, and is an ugly barrier for a 
hnman being to cross, especially when chased by a mad bull, an in- 
furiated ram, or a cunning horse. 



IIISTOKY OK GHEENK COUNTY. 483 

Iloo-ersvillo is a thriving village situated at the conliiieiico of 
Lightiier's Eun with Teu-Mile Creek, un the great trail from Waynes- 
burg to Wheeling. Archer and Tinens originally owned the tract 
where the village is now located, but it was subsequently acquired l)y 
Henry Church. Fifty years ago he had a large distillery here. John 
lioo-ers, who died eight years ago, and for whom the place was named, 
onct owned most of the land. Mrs. Nancy Sellers, wife of George 
Sellers, a former justice of the peace, resides here and has a remark- 
ably retentive memory of everything pertaining to the history of the 
town for a long period. A Methodist Church was organized at an 
early day, but for several years had no house of worship, holding 
services in the school-house and in barns. Mr. Church once had a 
protracted meeting in his barn. Wilson Braddock was one of the 
early pastors. James Turner, who died at a great age dnring the 
year 1887, also ministered. In 1874 a new house of worship was 
built. The lirst store opened here was kept by Cephas Coe, an orphan 
boy who was in delicate health and unfit to endure the hardships of 
frontier life. It is now owned by Jesse Uhlom, the ]n-esent justice of 
the peace. A fort for protection against the Indians had an existence 
here at an early day. Clinton, a small place a short distance down 
the creek, was originally owned by the grandfather of Mrs. Jesse 
Uhlom, and here it was understood that the county seat was to have 
been located, quite as central and even more suitable than that chosen; 
but by some chance it missed that fortune. Hopewell, now known 
as Hunter's Cave, a small village in the northern part of the town- 
ship, also has a Methodist Church and a Christian Church. 

One of the early families in this township was that of Thomas 
Harvey. The head of the family originally emigrated from France 
to Ireland, thence to England, and finally to Philadelphia. On the 
1st of January, 1807. the family left Philadelphia for the Mononga- 
hela country, and were three months in getting through. William, 
an elder brother, had come on before, and had located in this valley, 
where he taught school and had pupils from a distance of six and 
seven miles around. There were three sons, Thomas, Joseph and 
Samuel. They built a camp or shed the first season, and made maple 
sugar, and here they lived until fall, when they built a log house. 
Afterwards they erected a more pretentious house, two st»ries in 
height, of hewed logs, where they kept a hotel. The mail carrier 
from Morgantown to Wheeling made this one of his points, and 
frequently had not a single letter in his pouch. The family was 
originally Presbyterian, but became Baptist. Daniel Throckmorton 
and wife were the first Baptists in that section. They were very 
devout, and were accustomed to go once a month to attend service at 
Goshen Baptist Church, the oldest in the county, twenty miles away. 
Tiring of these long journeys to worship, which he was accustomed 



484 HISTOKY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

to take with his wife on horseback, and moved with the desire to 
proselyte, he joined with his neighbors in organizing a church in 
that neighborhood, which was known as the South Ten-Mile Baptist 
Church. The church was organized and the first services were held 
in a barn. In 1841 a comfortable frame house was erected, and in 
1883 a line new edifice. Ilutan, a small village, named for State 
Senator and Congressman James S. Rutan, is located in the Ten-Mile 
Creek valley, and from its favorable location where leading thorough- 
fares meet, is likely to become a place of considerable business im- 
?ortance. In 1872 William Ilendershot opened a small store here, 
n the following year W. T. Hays bought the establishment and 
built up a prosperous trade. In 1887 he sold the store and good will 
to the Goodwin Brothers. On Pursley Creek, in the southeast corner 
of the township, there has sprung up a highly prosperous village 
known by the suggestive name of Oak Forest. It has a flouring 
mill provided with machinery for reducing the grain by the improved 
roller process, two stores, and the usual concomitants of a country 
town. By the official statement in 1855, Centre Township is reported 
to have fifteen schools and 576 pupils. Great improvement in the 
qualifications of teachers, grade of school-houses, and devotion of 
directors and parents to the best interests of the schools, is percepti- 
ble since that day. The board of directors is constituted as follows: 
William Arndoff", President; Jesse Patterson, Secretary, Joseph Mc- 
Neely, Thomas Scott, S. B. Huffman and Henry Church. 

About the year 1775, three German families emigrated and set- 
tled near the mouth of Pursley Creek. Two of these, 'by the name of 
Sellers, appropriated the lands since owned by John Buchanan and 
Fordyce Thomas. The other family bore the name of Povator, and 
improved the tract where Edward Wood and Doc. Huffman live. 
A year later came Benjamin Pursley, and located the land now 
owned by George Hoge, Jr., and from him Pursley Creek was named. 
The family of the elder Sellers consisted of himself, wife, and four 
sons, Leonard, Jacob, George and John, the latter being demented. 
They lived in a cabin built for defense, located near a spring below 
the house of Mr. Buchanan, still standing. Leonard Sellers married 
Mary, the only child of Gasper Povator, with whom the young couple 
lived. One afternoon in the fall of 1780, or thereabouts, Leonard 
shouldered his gun, and journeyed into the forest for game. Molly, 
the wife, with her twin children, and her sister-in-law, went out 
to gather grapes. Molly spread her apron upon the ground, and sat 
' the two children upon it, and while busily engaged gathering clusters, 
Indians, creeping stealthily, fired or rushed suddenly upon them. 
Molly instinctively and instantly bounded away, oblivious to every- 
thing except the terrible vision of the inhuman savages rushing upon 
her, and firing after her. Having escaped their deadly clutch, she 



HISTORY OF GUKENE COUNTY. 485 

rail at her utmost speed, not halting till she had reached her own 
cabin, when some one exclaimed, " Why, Molly, where are your 
children?" This was the first thought that the terror-stricken 
mother had, that her babes had been with her in the woods. With 
a shriek and a bound she flew back over the ground by which she 
had come, to meet death if she must, only intent on rescuino- her 
little ones. AYhen she reached the spot, she found the children sit- 
ting upon the apron as she had left them, but horrible to behold, 
both scalped. Fearing pursuit the Indians had fled. On approach- 
ing the children, one of them looked up and smiled, when it reco<^- 
nized its mother. Folding them to her bosom in the apron as they 
sat, she hurried home, and upon her arrival, found a huge butcher 
knife in the folds of the apron, that the savage had dropped. One 
of the children died, and the other lived to become the wife of Joseph 
Aukram, and the mother of a family. The sister-in-law, who was 
with her, was carried away, and was never heard of more. 

During the first run home the mother saw the bark knocked off 
a sapling before her by the ball from the Indian's gun, which passed 
between her body and her arm, but fortunately did not harm her, 
and when she jumped off" the creek bank into the sand she made a 
greater leap than any man in the settlement was able to do. Eut the 
powerful exertion required for the leap, and the running back and 
forth, together with the shock produced by seeing her poor scalped 
babes, proved nearly fatal. She was completely broken down, and 
for over a year was in a very feeble and critical condition, never re- 
gaining her natural vigor. So violent was her hatred of the savages 
ever after, that she not only became much excited whenever she 
related these incidents, but usually added, " If ever I should see an 
Indian, no difterence where he was, or who, or how friendly he pre- 
tended to be, I know I should try to kill him — I know I could not 
help it." The husband returned at evening, but so horror and grief 
stricken that he soon sickened and died. Thomas Hoge, who fur- 
nishes many of the particulars related above, says: " My parents 
when first married, sixty years ago, settled on Pursley, where John 
Hoge now lives, on the improvement made by Ben Pursley, from 
whom both the creek and Een's Run took their names. Old Molly 
was a practicing midwife, and my mother thinks she was a daughter 
of old Molly Iloft'man who lived about the mouth of Pursley Creek, 
and was also a midwife. She also adds that when they settled on 
Pursley there were but two or three families above them on all the 
waters of that stream. There were in places two miles or more 
together of solid woods, without a stick amiss, where deer, wolves 
and wild turkeys were very plenty, with a sprinkling of bears and 
rattle-snakes. The deer were very troublesome in pasturing off" the 
young wheat in winter and early spring, and wolves were so bold that 
it was difficult to raise poultry, lambs, or pigs." 



486 HISTORY OF GKEENE COUNTY. 



CHAPTER XXXV. 
CUMBERLAND TOWNSHIP. 

BOUNDAEIES FOET SwAN AITD VaITMETEE RaTTLE SnAKE MeAT 

John Swan — "Wateeed — Wife Loads Guns — Caemichaels — 
John McMillan — Schools. 

CUMBERLAND TOWNSHIP was probably one of the first settled 
townships in Greene County. John Swan, as early as 1767, looked 
upon the stately forests that encumbered all the valley of Piimpkin 
Run with an eye of satisfaction, and to give notice that he had chosen 
this location for himself proceeded to put his mai-k upon it by blaz- 
ing the trees around a goodly circuit, a warning to all intruders to 
stand clear of this tract. This method of marking a tract was called 
a tomahawk improvement, and though it secured no legal right 
either from the State or the Indians, yet it gave title which it was 
not safe for a rival settler to disturb, and many a bloody fight was the 
result when a dai'ing pioneer was bold enough to intrude upon se- 
lected lands thus blazed. In 1768-'69 he retiirned and made here a 
fixed habitation. He was accompanied by Thomas Hughes and Jesse 
Vanmeter, who united their strengths for mutual protection. As the 
treacherous savages were stealing upon their victims by night and by 
day, and murdering and scalping those whom they had perhaps never 
seen before, sparing neither age, sex, nor condition, these early pio- 
neers determined to provide for the safety of their families, and ac- 
cordingly built a strong stockade, which has ever since been known 
as old Fort Swan and Vanmeter. It was situated near the border of 
Cumberland Township, on the spot where the house of Andrew J. 
Young stands, and was a noted rallying point in its day for the ven- 
turesome pioneers and their families. This fort was erected in the 
years 1770-'71. John Swan was the great-grandfather of Mrs. 
Young, whose home is on this ground, originally inclosed by the 
strong stockade, and which was hallowed by many sighs and tears of 
the early pioneers. These were the very earliest permanent settle- 
ments within the limits of Greene County. 

This was one of the original townships and embraced all the 
southwestern portion of the county. It possessed the most fertile 
soil and most attractive natural scenery of any part of this beautiful 
stretch of country bordering on the Ohio and its tributaries. The 





C^.'^^A,^^^ 



IIISTOllY OF GKEENE COUNTY. 489 

farms liere are under a liigli state of cultivation, tlie residences and 
out-buildings are coinmudious and in good repair, and the whole 
section breathes an air of prosperity, contentment and happiness. 
This imperial townshiji has been despoiled, as slice after slice has been 
taken trom it to form other townships, until it is now reduced to 
little more than the valley of Muddy Creek, wiiich is among the best 
improved parts of the county. Pumpkin liun drains a portion of it 
on the north, and little Whiteley on the south. It has a goodly 
frontage upon the Monongahela River, and is crossed by live ferries, 
Davidson's lower ferry, Flenuiken's, near the mouth of Muddy 
Creek, Brown's, which meets the road from Carmichaels and the 
Green woolen mills, Parker's Landing and McCann's ferry, a little 
below the mouth of the Little Whiteley Creek. Its present limits 
are formed by the Monongahela on the east, Jefferson Township on 
the north and west, and Greene and Monongahela townships on the 
south. 

In the year 1768 John Swan, Jacob Vaumeter, Thomas Hughes 
and Thomas Guesse, came from the neighborhood of Redstone Pork, 
which seems to have been the first stopping place of the immigrants 
to this new country, and charmed by the rich bottom lands along 
Muddy Creek settled in the neighborhood of Carmichaels, in Cum- 
berland Township, and opened the forest and let in the sunligiit for 
the lirst time in the vicinity of this ancient village, destined to be 
the seat of the oldest institution of learning in Greene County. 

Mr. Evans in his thirty-first article gives an amusing account of 
the origin of the name of Muddy Creek. On one occasion when 
Swan and IIughes,who were among the iirst settlers,were crossing this 
stream, Swan's horse stumbled and threw its rider into the water. 
Gathering himself up and shaking the turbid water from his gar- 
ments, he remarked in some temper, " its a muddy little brook any- 
how." He was often rallied upon this adventure, and the name 
Muddy Creek has stuck to this stream ever since and is likely to as 
long as it continues to flow. In 1768 these two men brought their 
families. Swan taking his negro slaves, a goodly number, which were 
probably the first human chattels brought into the county. Subse- 
quently a number of families from Maryland and Virginia brought 
thither slaves. Along with these two came also Henry and Jacob 
Vanmeter, with wagons and pack-horses, altogether a train of over 
flfty persons. They followed Braddock's road in the main. Henry 
Vanmeter occupied the tract now known as the Randolph settle- 
ment. Old trees near the house of Michael Price mark the spot 
where his first cabin stood. An Indian burying ground was on the 
crest of the high bluff overlooking Pumpkin Run upon the south. 
Until the massacre by Logan and his band, in 1774, there was no 
trouble with the Indians. Though for safety it had become necessary to 



490 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

have a place of refuge, and a fort was built on John Swan's farm, 
known as Swau and Vanmeter's fort. 

" My informant," says Evans, " spent much of her time in the 
family of her grandfather, with whom her great-grandmother, Mar- 
tha Yanmeter, lived. Being twelve years old when the great-grand- 
mother died, she has a very distinct recollection of many incidents 
related to her of the early settlers. Their flour, salt, and ammuni- 
tion, and all farming and household utensils were transported on 
pack-horses from Cumberland, Md. Their corn was groxind on hand 
mills. Granny Vanmeter told of a young girl, her niece, who was 
captured by the Indians, and who, after being carried many miles 
away managed to make her escape; that while wandering in the 
woods alone she subsisted on roots and wild berries; how when she 
had found a dead rattlesnake, she cooked and ate it, and ever after- 
wards persisted in pronouncing it the sweetest bit she ever tasted; 
and how she finally made her way home and made glad the hearts of 
her friends." 

An oath of allegiance to the State by Henry Vanmeter, a war-, 
rant to Charles Swan for a thousand acres of land on the payment of 
£400, a receipt for $1 subscription to the Pittsburg Gazette, dated 
July 15, 1795, to Charles Swan, notification to Col. Charles Swan, 
dated 1810, of the ^passage of an act granting |2,000 for Greens- 
burg Academy, at Carmicliaels, provided that the Episcopal Chnrch, 
of which Swan was an active member, would allow the use of its 
church edifice, are all given by Evans entire, copied from the origi- 
nal papers. The son of John Swan emigrated to Kentucky with his 
family, and while lying asleep on the craft that was taking him down 
the Ohio, with his little daughter in his arms, was shot and instantly 
. killed by the Indians. " So fatal was the shot that those on the boat 
were not aware that anything serious had happened till the little girl 
exclaimed, ' Oh, papa is shot, for I feel his warm blood running down 
over me!' There was now but one man, Hughes, left on the boat, 
whilst the Indians, several in number, kept np a continuous fire. 
The dead man's wife bravely aided in the defense of the craft by 
loading the guns and handing them to Hughes." 

Colonel Charles Swan married Sarah, daughter of Henry Van- 
meter, who, as a girl of ten, had i-idden all the way from Maryland, 
on horseback, with Swan. He built a cabin in 1772 near the ci-eek 
in the Carmichaels Valley, now owned by John Hathaway. 

Carmichaels, a village of some thousand inhabitants, is situated 
on Muddy Creek, at nearly the centre of the township. At an early 
day it became the favored location of the County Academy, which 
attained a well merited reputation for excellence. An Episcopal 
church was early establislied here, and in its place of worship the 
County Academy for many years held its sessions. The New Provi- 



1II.STORY OF GKEENE COUNTY. 491 

dence Presbyterian Church is located near the vilhu^e. The llev. 
John McMillan preached here as early as August, 1775. The Rev. 
John McClintock commenced his ministry here in 1838, and for a 
period of full fifty years he has been pastor of this flock, — the semi- 
centennial of his settlement having recently been celebrated, — a 
venerable service scarcely matched in the history of churches. The 
usual business and manufacturing establishments are found here, 
and from its favored location in the midst of a rich farming country 
it is destined to hold an important place as the second town in the 
county. It is about thirteen miles east of AVaynesburg, and four 
from the Monongahela River. The ferries of Davidson, Fleniken, 
Brown, Parker and McCann connect the township with Fayette 
County. Ry the earliest records under the revised school law Cum- 
berland is shown to have twelve schools and 581 pupils. A good 
graded school has taken the place of the Academy in Carmichaels, 
which, as an incorporated borough, is independent of the township, 
having three schools with 120 pupils. The rejjort of 1859 credits 
this township with " quite a number of right minded school men." 
The progress in common school education for the past few years has 
been commendable. The board of directors for Carmichaels for the 
current year is J. A. Gilbert, President; L. B. Laidley, Secretary; 
F. "W. Rodgers. J. F. Gwynn, Jame& Clawson and Ed. Stillwell, 
and for the township A. J. Young, President; T. II. Hawkins, 
Secretary; G. W. Daugherty, W. li. Barclay, Arch Grooms, and 
George Kerr. 



492 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 



CHAPTEE XXXVI. 

DUNKARD TOWNSHIP. 

Eaelt Visitants — DunivAed Keliuion — Eokeelin Beothees — 
Fate of Cheistina Sycks — Enix — Dogs Excited — Twenty- 
two AND A Half Yeaes a Captivj: — Satisfied with the Red 
Men — De. "W. Geeene — Maetin's Fort — Attack on Haeei 
son's Foet — Massacee — Schools. 

rpHE valley of Dunkard Creek, embracing the townships of Dim- 
JL kard, Monongahela and Perry, was tlie earliest occupied of any 
part of Greene County, and was the scene of some of the most excit- 
ing events in its history. As early as 1754: Wendell Brown and his 
two sons and Frederick Waltzer took up their abode in this neigh- 
borhood. At about the same time David Tygart and one Files got 
a foothold in Tygart's Valley; but the Files family having fallen a 
prey to Indian savagery, Files himself and the Tygarts left the 
country. At about this time Dr. Thomas Eckerlin and two brothers 
made a lodgment near the mouth of Dnnkard Creek, which took its 
name from the designation of the religion they professed. Whether 
from a desire to insure themselves greater safety, or a wish to obtaiji^ 
better lands, they removed to what have been known as the Da-nkard 
Bottoms, on Cheat River, West Virginia. Tiiey are,- reported to 
have applied to the chiefs of the Sis JS'ations in May,vl771yat Logs- 
town, for permission to settle on the Youghiogheny, but were 
refused. Their supply of ammunition, and other necessaries, hav- 
ing become exhausted. Dr. Eckerlin, witli a stock of rich furs, went 
to Winchester to barter them for the articles which they most needed. 
On his way back he stopped over night at Fort Pleasant, where he 
was detained on suspicion of being a spy in collusion with the 
savages. Asserting his innocence so strongly, he was permitted to 
go under guard to his home, on condition that he would return with 
them if his assertions should prove untrue. To his grief and 
amazement, on arriving at his home he found his cabin burned, and 
his two brothers inhumanly murdered and scalped. His truthful- 
ness was acknowledged by his captors, and, touched with pity, they 
assisted at the burial. Thus ended, in sadness, the first attempt at 
permanent settlonent in this valley. 

In the year 1760 Courad Sycks emigrated from Germany, and 



HISTORY OP GREENE COUNTY. 493 

in process of time made his way to what is now Monongahela 
Township, Greene County, and built a cabin on Eocky flun, some 
two miles from the mouth of Dunkard Creek, on land now owned 
by Mathew Green and Daniel Sycks. Here he took to wife iliss 
Bonnet, a niece of the famous Indian tighter, Lewis Wetzel, and 
were blessed with a family of ten children, among them Henry and 
Christina. When Henry had grown to man's estate, Enoch Eni.x 
lived a mile north of the Syckses. A half mile westward was Leonard 
Garrison. Lane Kobinson lived to the south of Dnnkard Creek, 
and the Selsors, at Selsor Fort. Swearengen's Fort across the 
Monongahela was the only real stronghold in the neighborhood. 
Rumors of hostile savages in the vicinity induced Garrison 
to move liis family to a place of security; but as the Sj'ckses were 
to remain, Garrison engaged Christina Sycks, then a maiden of 
ten, to milk his cows. One evening she was reluctant to go to her 
task, manifesting a presentiment of impending evil; but at the 
prompting of her mother, bravely went. While driving the cows 
homeward through the sugar grove she was suddenly overtaken by 
two stalwart savages, the one hideous in black paint, the other red. 
The one in black hurled his tomahawk at the innocent girl with 
deadly aim; but something in the countenance of the maiden touched 
the heart of the other, and at tlie opportune instant he dashed the 
weapon aside, only cutting her tresses, and seizing her in his arms 
bore her away into captivity. 

Not returning, the household was disturbed, and whezi darkness 
began to deepen and still she did not come, grasping his rifle the 
father started for the cabin of Enix for assistance; but the Latter 
seemed unwilling to go until morning. The father, now with dis- 
tracted mind, started alone, when the neighbor relented, and mount- 
ing his horse, joined in the search. As they approached the cabin 
of Sycks two shots were tired by the lurking foe, and Enix tumbled 
from his horse mortally wounded. Aroused by the shots, the son, 
Henry, and a companion, George Selsor, who were in the cabin, were 
eager to rush out, Init were held back by the mother, and the father 
returning, on the following morning the entire family set out for 
tlie strong fort across the Monongahela. In their consternation a 
sleeping infant was forgotten; but the boys turning back soon 
brought oft' the treasure. Again these boys returned to reconnoitre 
and warn the settlers. At llobinson's the wife with an infant was 
prevailed on to escape to the fort, which she did, and was saved. 
But Robinson could not be persuaded to abandon his home. At 
Fort Selsor, where a number of the settlers had gathered, it was 
determined to leave all and escape across the river to Fort Swear- 
ingen. On tlie way the dogs became terribly excited, and soon 
started an Indian from his covert, who dashed away; but tripping, 



494 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

fell. The dogs were upon him, bnt could not be induced to grapple 
him, and he finally made his escape, the party reaching the fort with- 
out casuality. On returning to the scene of the massacre Enix was 
found, scalped, and in a dying condition. Robinson was found mur- 
dered and scalped, and his body stripped naked. Even the hoop 
was picked upon which the scalp of Enix had been stretched to dry. 

The captive maiden, Christina, was hurried onward, and when 
tired out her captor would carry her on his shoulders. A piece of a 
gray colt's leg was given her to eat, which she pretended to do; but 
she could not bring herself to swallow the unsavory dish. For their 
next meal a lusty warrior brought in a large fat hog, which he had 
slit open, and placing himself within the beast, marched in, with its 
head surmounting his own, and the sides of the hog completely 
enveloping him. The style of butchering and cooking was still not 
siTfficiently appetizing to tempt her to partake. But on the third 
day they brought her a nice piece of well cooked wild turkey, and 
this she devoured with a relish. For twenty-two years and six 
months she was a captive, when, in obedience to treaty engagements, 
she was released at Detroit and returned. Having lived so long 
with the savages, she could with difficulty be brought back to 
civilized customs, being satisfied with her life with the red men, and 
ever ready to defend them when abused. She lived to a good old 
age, and was buried near Clarksburg, West Yirginia. Captain 
Enoch Enix, who died a few years since, near Mount Morris, was 
the babe of four weeks left with tlie mother on the fatal night when 
the father was murdered. The only son of Leonard Garrison mar- 
ried Mary Sycks, the babe which was left sleeping in the cradle at 
the time of the flight of the family, but was rescued by its bi'other 
Henry, who subsequently married Barbary Selser, who had been one 
of the escaping party when the dogs started the lone Indian. She 
bore him twelve children, and by a second wife he had twelve more. 
Daniel Sycks, the latest surviving child, through a nephew. Dr. W. 
Green, of New Geneva, has detailed the above facts which Mr. L. 
K. Evans has recorded with particularity in his fourth Centennial 
article. 

Near the intersection of the Morgantown State road and Crooked 
Kun, just across the Yirginia line, Martin's Fort was located in the 
immediate vicinity ot the present site of Martin's Church. It was 
in the midst of a table land of several thousand acres. This is prob- 
ably one of the earliest tracts settled in this part of the Mononga- 
hela country. Being in the midst of a considerable population, when 
the Indians became troublesome, it was probably thought necessary 
to build this fort for mutual protection. Lying near one of the great 
Indian war-paths, the settlement was particularly exposed to savage 
depredations. One morning in June, 1779, wliilst the women were 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 495 

engaged in milking the cows, and the men were weeding the garden 
patch, and preparing to go to tlieir days work, all unsuspicious of 
danger, thirteen burly Indians, who had been lying in ambush, 
suddenly burst upon the settlers, bewildered and helpless, and merciless- 
1}- slaughtering James Stuart, James Smalley and Peter Ci'ouse, and 
took captive John Shriver and his wife, two sons of Stuart, two sons of 
Smalley and a sou of Grouse. 

Lurking about the fort till night-fall, they shut up their captives 
in a neighboring cabin, and placing two of their number on guard, 
the remainder returned for the purpose of eft'ecting a lodgment in the 
fort. But the settlers had now strengthened their defences, and the 
savages despairing of making further captures, disappeared with 
their victims. It is reported that the tirst grave ever made in 
JVlartin's graveyard was for the body of an Indian, killed in the 
neighborhood of the fort. There is a tradition that the Indians were 
accustomed to torture their captives, and the stump of a hickory 
tree is still visible here to which they lashed their victims in order to 
practice upon them their devilish arts. 

Harrison's Fort was also located on Crooked Run on land now 
owned by Josiali Iloss, in this general neighborhood. This was 
probably a minor stockade for a single family, or a few neighbors, 
and was not a common rendezvous, as was Martin's Fort. At the 
time of a general alarm, in 1782, when the neighbors had gathered at 
the fort, Thomas Pindall came in, and induced three young men, 
Harrison, Crawford and Wright to accompany him to his cabin, 
alleging that there was no danger. In the night the females in the 
family awakened Mr. Pindall, saying that they were sure they heard 
a whistle, as of an Indian upon a charger. Pindall endeavored to 
allay their excitement, and all remained quiet until morning. In 
tlie morning while Pindall had gone out to catch his horse, and the 
three young men were at the spring, a volley was fired by lurking 
sav^ages, and two of the young men, Crawford and Wright, fell dead. 
The women, terrified by the report of fire-arms, sprang out of bed 
and ran wildly for the fort, but Mrs. Pindall was overtaken, slain and 
scalped. The others, Mrs. liachael Pindall and the young man Har- 
rison, made good their escape to the fort. 

Dunkard Township in its present reduced territory, is situated in 
the southeast corner of the county, and is bounded on the north by 
Greene and Monongahela Townships; on the east by Monongahela 
Township, and the Monongahela River, which separates it from Fay- 
ette County; on the south by Mason and Dixon's line, which sepa- 
rates it from West Virginia, and on the west by Perry and Whiteley 
Townships. The surface is greatly rolling, the soil fertile, and under 
a good state of cultivation. Dunkard Creek and its tributaries, and 
the Monongahela River drain its surface and furnish ample means 



496 HISTORY OF GEEEKE COUNTY. 

of waterpower and navigation. From its being early settled the 
country presents the appearance of greater cultivation than many 
other parts of the county, the meadov^s are smooth and carefully 
seeded, the houses and outbuildings in good state of repair, and the 
highways kept in excellent condition. The best breeds of cattle, 
horses, sheep and swine, are reared in gi-eat numbers, and abundant 
crops of corn, wheat rye and oats reward the hand of the diligent. 
Davistown, in the north central portion of the township, is a thriving 
village, and being located in the midst of a rich farming population 
is likely to become a place of considerable importance. Taylortown, 
or Fairview, situated on Dunkard Creek in the southwestern part of 
the township, is likewise in the midst of an excellent farming country 
and bids fair to make substantial growth. The post-office here is 
known as Dunkard. It has intercourse with Fayette County by Dil- 
liner's upper and lower ferries. The township is credited in the 
earliest report under the revised school law with eight schools and 
360 pupils. The school directors for the current year are: Isaac 
Yanvoorhis, President; E. S. Taylor, Secretary; W. Knotts, John 
Caigy, David Donley, Eli Eussell. 



CPIAPTEE XXXVII. 

FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP. 



Central Location — Surface — Sugar Maple — Drainage — Watnes- 
BURG — Cemetery — Kobert Whitehill — Court PIouse — Site 
Purchased — Original Settlers — Jackson's Fort — How Ar- 
ranged — Story of Jackson — Slater Friendly with Indians — 
Fate of Mathew Grait — Notes of Robert Morris — -Three 
Brothers Rinehart — Brown Massacre — Schools — Directors. 

FRAN KLIN TOWNSHIP, from the fact that the county seat is 
comprised within its limits, and that it holds a central location in 
the county, possesses an importance beyond that of any of the others. 
Franklin was organized as a township in 1787, by act of the Supreme 
Executive council with less circumscribed boundaries than at present. 
It is now limited as follows: on the north by Washington, on the east 
by Morgan Jefferson and Wliiteley, on the south by Whiteley and 
Wayne, and on the west by Centre. It bears the name of one of tlie 



History of greene county. 497 

early patriots, more honored in foreign lands than any other Amer- 
ican citizen. Its surface is diversified by hill and dale, and, though 
the hills rise to an elevation which may with some propriety be 
termed mountains, the soil is everywhere productive, copious foun- 
tains bursting forth on every hand, even to the loftiest summits. 
Originally the sugar maple made luxurious growth here, but, as in 
nearly every other part of the county, tlie groves of these trees iiave 
been swept away, and thus a source of great protit to the husbandman 
has been cut off. The hay crop in this township is very abundant. 

Franklin is principally drained by South Ten Mile Creek and its 
tributaries. Smith creek drains all the south western section even 
to its farthest limits. A marked peculiarity of the highways is that 
they almost exclusively run from north to south, following the val- 
leys, the few connecting roads from east to west forming the ex- 
ception. The farms in this township are in a high state of culti- 
vation, and exhibit evidences of careful and intelligent tillage. Tlie 
farm houses are commodious, and those recently built, exhibit evi- 
dences of tasteful architecture. Many of the barns are models, and 
admirably planned to meet the requirements of the husbandman. 
Waynesburg, the county seat, a place of some 3,400 inhabitants, with 
Perry ville and Morris ville a little to the east and lower down the 
stream, are the only places of importance. The Washington and 
Waynesburg railroad enters tiie townshijj by the Ten Mile Creek 
valley. On a commanding eminence to the north of the town a 
beautiful cemetery has been laid out and planted with evergreens 
and shrubs, and to it many who had been buried in the old bury- 
ground to the east of the town, and from a burying place on the 
public common, have been removed. In the latter place Ilobert 
Whitehill, one of the earliest lawyers in the county, and his son 
were buried. Their graves were not marked, and in time all recol- 
lection of the place where they were interred was lost, so that the 
grave of him who in life was one of the profoundest lawyers, and 
brightest ornaments of the Waynesburg bar, is unknown. Further 
to the west upon a more commanding elevation is the reservoir of 
the water works, whicli supplies the town with M'atei', which is 
pumped from the creek. The original court house was of logs, and 
was occupied for four years. The brick structure was built in 1800 
and stood just fifty years. The present structure was built in 1850, 
and the addition, of a more modern style of architecture, has but 
recently been made. 

Thomas Slater, from whom, as we have seen, the present site of 
Waynesburg was purchased, got the land, a 400 acre tract, origin- 
ally from a party who had made some " tomahawk improvement " 
on it, by the payment of " one 2-year old heifer calf, one flint-lock 
rifle, and some other trifling articles, which the fellow carried away 



498 HISTORY OF GREENE COtTNTY. 

with him." On this tract Slater proceeded to bnild his cabin, 
" on a knoll just above the Smith Creek road, and a little southeast 
of Tliomas W. Sayers old barn, which stands di recti}' east of William 
J ohnson's new brick residence in the Sayers' addition to the borough." 
One Jones occupied the Jesse Hook property, just east of town, and 
Jlathway's mill stood near the site of Hook's distillery. William 
Brown owned the tract familiarly known as the Jenning's property, 
since owned by J. A. J. Buchanan, and on which was a mill in the 
early days. "An ill-fated family by the name of McClelland lived 
at the mouth of the ravine just below the double bridge. The 
Archer family resided in the vicinity of Dotysburg. Uriah White 
first settled somewhere between the mouths of the two Whiteley 
creeks to which he gave his name and after\vards occupied the Gor- 
don Kich Hills, on the divide between the Ten Mile slope and the 
head waters of Big Whiteley creek. In like manner, Thomas Smith 
perpetuated his name to all succeeding generations by lending it to 
the then poverty stricken stream which now bears it. William 
Inghram possessed himself of Laurel E-un from the camp ground to 
the Rich Hills, and erected his cabin on the Hiram Kent farm. 
Simon Thomas and Samuel Rinehart acquired lands on Coal Lick 
Run, including the Poor House farm. Thomas Smith, Thomas Kent, 
Arthur Lighram, James Porter, and Billy Latferty raised a crop of 
corn on the farms owned by Uriah and Josiah Inghram, on Smith 
Creek, before the outbreak of the Revolutionary war." 

As we have previously seen the massacre of the Spicer family by 
the band led by the infuriated Logan, brought to the relief of the 
settlers, the company of Captain McClure, and his forty men, said 
to be on their way to join Connoly in 1774:, and who came up with 
the Indians on the Reese farm, about one mile and a quarter west 
of Waynesburg, when a sanguinary skirmish ensued, known as the 
battle of Ten Mile Creek, in which the leader. Captain Francis 
McClure, and James Flenniken, a brother of Judge John Flenniken, 
were killed, and Lieutenant Samuel Kincaid was severely wounded. 
The Indians were but few in number, variously reported from four 
to eight; but, by the cunning so common to their sai'age instincts, 
they hired the soldiers to their destruction, and then skulked and 
escaped though the thickets of the forest, which were familiar 
to them as the streets of a city to men who inhabit it. "After 
crossing the creek at the site of the Ely bridge," says Evans, " the 
trail passed up the deep gulch past where W. P. Reese now resides, 
and about the route of the old road, and whilst toiling up the steep 
ascent to the table land beyond, I imagine the Indians who were 
concealed on the top of the hill, amid the thick forest and foliage 
that then prevailed, attacked them with the result already set 
forth." 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 499 

Admonished, by this saiigiiiaary affray, precautions were taken 
to prepare a place of safety to which the scattered settlers could 
betake themselves on the intimations of danger. Jackson's fort was 
commenced in the same year, 1774, on the Jesse Hook property, 
then owned by a man by the name of Jackson. His cabin, which 
was the nucleous of the fort, stood near the bluff of the creek, 
directly south of Hook's town. Kemains of the structure are still 
visible. At first it was but a single cabin, but subsequently con- 
sisted of a regular system of cabins, arranged in the form of a 
hollow square, and enclosed an acre or more of ground. Between 
the cabins were palisades ten or twelve feet high, supplied with 
port holes. Each of the neighboring settlers owned one of these 
cabins, to which he could liee for refuge in times of danger, in ad- 
dition to the home on his own tract of land. The doors of these 
cabins opened within the inclosure, the outside having neither 
windows nor doors, except some look-out in the upper part of 
each. There was but one entrance, and when once within, each 
family controlled its own cabin, the inclosed square being common to 
all. " Such is a very brief description " says Evans, "of an institu- 
tion once regarded the hope and salvation of its people. Around 
this devoted spot cluster a myriad of reminiscences, which, if they 
could be intelligently unravelled, and woven into narrative, would 
make volumes of interesthig matter. The traditions of Jackson's 
Fort are exceedingly numerous, but are very vague, contradictory, 
and unsatisfactory." As an example, the story runs that Jackson 
was once out beyond the site of Jonas Ely's stone house, (Euchanan) 
when he discovered a party of Indians coming down the Indian trail. 
They were almost upon him before he saw them. Being unarmed, 
and seeing no possibility of escape, he seized a club and brandish- 
ing it above his head, cried out, "Hurry up boys! Here they are! 
Come quick and we'll have them!"' when the savages thinking they 
were about to be attacked, took to their heels and soon disappeared 
in the ample folds of the forest. 

Thomas Slater, in the early years of his settlement here, was on 
terms of intimacy with the Indians, and was accustomed to re- 
ceive and entertain them in the most friendly manner, pitching 
quoits, running, leaping, shooting at mark with them. But when 
the massacres became fre(|uent, he in common with his neighbors, 
was accustomed to fiee, on the approach of savages, to the friendly 
folds of the fort. On one occasion when the intimation of lurking 
savages was received he fied hastily for the fort; but recollecting 
when near the spring on Mrs. D. Owens' lot that he had left his 
gun, he called to his girls Sallie and Nellie, from ten to fifteen years 
old, to run back for it. The gun was secured and brought off with 
the fleetness of the wind, and one tradition says they were greeted 



500 HISTORY OF GEEENE COUNTY. 

with a fligbt of arrows from the heights of Duvall's Hill. One of 
those girls has been known to say that it seemed to her that she 
not only ran but that she flew. Sarah Slater married Israel White, 
on the occasion of one of these Indian scares, when the families of 
all the surrounding counti-y were assembled, who seized the occasion 
of fright for a genuine merry-making. The Eev. David White 
of Oak Forest, was one of the numerous issue of this marriage. 
Nellie Slater, the other daughter, mentioned above, married a Mr. 
PiDes, and was the mother of James Pipes, a former justice of 
the peace of Franklin Township. Isaac Slater inherited his father's 
estate and married Mary Workman, who survived her husband and 
lived to an advanced age in Waynesburg. 

On the occasion of one of these general alarms, when the families 
for a long circuit had gathered in, Matthew Gray, brother of Judge 
David Gray, who lived on the creek some three miles west of the 
fort, determined to venture out to see if his house still stood, and to 
feed and water his stock. Having gone early in the morning, and 
not returning at night, his brother David leaped upon a colt and 
started in search of him. On arriving upon the rising ground 
beyond the creek, above William Keese's residence, he was horrified 
to behold the body of his brother lying dead in the path, stripped of 
his clothing, scalped and mutilated, and stifl' with cold, it being 
winter time and the earth covered with snow. Lifting the body upon 
the colt, he mounted, and tbus carried it back to the fort, where it 
was given decent burial. 

Robert Morris says, that Mr. J. A. Gray, of Ten-Mile, Washing- 
ton County, who is a grandson of Matthew Gray, writes him that his 
grandmother told him that Matthew had been to his farm at the 
brick tavern in 1780, or early in 1781, and while returning to the 
fort he was shot through the knee and his horse killed, that he 
hobbled on one leg forty or fifty yards west of 11. Seales', where he 
was overtaken, killed, and his body was terribly mutilated. His wife 
and two sons — William, four years old, and another ten months old 
— were in the fort. ■ William could remember seeing his father 
brought in, dead. He was born in the fort on the 20th of September, 
1776. His mother lived with him in Richhill Township, and died 
on the 20th of September, 1837, in her eighty-first year. She gave 
her grandson a small iron pot, which she used in the fort, which he 
still keeps and prizes. William died in 1854, and was about seventy- 
eight years old. Matthew Gray, Jr., died in Ohio. 

Cotemporary with the Grays were Joseph and James Seals. Tlie 
latter lived near the site of the toll-gate, west of the town, and built 
the old stone house still standing. He was one of the commissioners 
for locating the county seat, was appointed "wood ranger," served 
as Captain of volunteei-s, and was for a time stationed at Ryerson's 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 501 

fort. lie served witli AV'^ayiie ia liis lieroic cainpiiigti against the 
Indians. 

" Three brothers, Simon, Thomas and John Ilinehart, Germans, 
fresh from the Rhine Valley of Faderland, occupied the Coal Lick 
Rnn region, and lield it by priority of right. They seemed to be on 
the very verge of tlie settlement, Jackson fort being the grand center. 
John, who was the father of the well-known John T. Rinehart, now 
deceased, occupied the farm above the Poor-IIouse farm, now owned 
by J. A. J. Buchanan, Esq. At a time when John T. was T)ut a little 
babe, his father was lured away from his cabin by what he took to be 
the bawl of a calf, and was killed and scalped by prowling savages. 
At a time when an alarm of Indians sent the Rineharts with hurried 
feet flying towards the fort, one of them, a young man who lived on 
the Jenny Rinehart property, a little way above Mr. Buchanan's, 
after proceeding some distance, remembered tliat his cattle were 
penned up in the cow-yard. Reflecting that it might be some days 
before they could venture back to their homes, and considering that 
if the cattle should be fortunate enough to escape the rapine of the 
savages they would perish for lack of sustenance, he determined to 
return and let them out. He did so, but that young man never again 
was heard of by his friends. Blood-stains and some locks of auburn 
liair corresponding to his, and other evidences of a death struggle 
were discovered near the site of the cattle-pen, but no other vestiges 
of his remains could ever be found, though the most thorough searcli 
was instituted. The theory was that he was murdei'ed and his body 
so effectually disposed of as to baffle all efforts to reclaim it. 

"Simon Rineiiart owned the lands well known as the 'Peggy Por- 
ter' and the 'Whitlatch' farms, and William Brown owned the 
Jennings, more recently known as the Ely farm, west of town, now- 
owned by Mr. Buchanan. In the spring of 1779 these two men 
traded situations, and in the month of April were actually engaged 
in moving, when they were attacked by Indians and both killed. 
After this the contract was annulled, so that none of the older Rine- 
harts ever acquired any possessions west of the fort. 

" William Brown and his son Vincent, then an athletic young man, 
had proceeded with a sled-load of their household goods as far down 
as the site of the old graveyard at the new brick church in Morris- 
ville, where, meeting some friends, they stopped to chat. Whilst 
thus engaged they were flred upon by Indians who were lying in am- 
bush hard by. William Brown and two others fell dead on the spot, 
but Vincent, not being hurt, ran like a deer, hotly pursued by one or 
more of the fleetest savages. He was so hemmed in by the assail- 
ants as to be compelled to shape his course in the direction of a per- 
pendicular precipice of about twenty feet on the brink of Ten-JVlile 
(^reek, just in the rear of this village. There was no alternative but 



502 HISTORY OP GREENE COUNTY. 

to fall into the hands of the iiifni-iated savages or naake the fearful 
plunge over the cliff into the waters below. It was no time for in- 
decision, and without hesitation he took the flying leap and lit in the 
middle of the stream, many feet from the base of the cliff. The In- 
dians paused, awe-stricken and overwhelmed with astonishment; and 
while they gazed with bewilderment and contemplated the wonder- 
ful feat, lirown emerged from the water unhurt and undaunted, and 
continued his flight across the bottom land beyond. Ere his pur- 
suers recovered from their amazement he had so lengthened the 
distance between him and them that tliey gave up the chase. 

" A short distance below the old saw-mill on Lanrel Run, between 
Morrisville and the Camp Ground, still stands a tree with its trunk 
inclined and peculiarly curved across tlie stream. By this the original 
pathway led. On this an Indian lay concealed, waiting for the ap- 
proach of Simon Kinehart, who was known to be coming with some 
of his household effects, transferring them to his newly acquired 
home. The skulking assassin had not long to wait till his victim 
appeared, and taking deliberate aim he shattered his arm. Rinehart 
beat a hasty retreat and endeavored thus to escape; but becoming 
faint from loss of blood, was overtaken near his home, and toma- 
hawked and scalped. In the meantime Matthew Brown, a lad of 
about seventeen years, who was riding along on horseback, carrying 
a load of stufl:', and had fortunately loitered some distance behind his 
father's sled, upon seeing the Indians attack the movers, dashed down 
his load and rode at the top of his speed to the fort; but was so over- 
come witli fright and horror that he could give no intelligible in- 
formation, and his mother. Molly Brown, bled him in the arm with 
a penknife, 'to bring him to,' as she said. It seems that all the 
women and children had been gathered into the fort, but most of the 
men were at their farms, preparing ground for corn and potatoes. 
All the men in the fort, except two old men, immediately armed and 
started for the scene of conflict ; but when they arrived the Indians 
had departed with their scalps and plunder. The scene at the fort 
had noM^ assumed a comical as well as tragical aspect. The two old 
rnen left in charge of the women and children were Thomas Slater 
and a man named Clifi'ord. Thej^ had but one gun. Ciiflbrd shoul- 
dered the gun, and Slater secured the wiping-sti'ck. The women be- 
came terribly excited, and cried and screamed at a fearful rate. Grow- 
ing desperate and impatient, they would unbar the gate and rush 
out, whilst Slater, wlio was a very hasty man, would run after them, 
and, brandishing his wiping-stick, would command them to return, 
and remonstrate with them that the Indians would pounce upon them 
and murder the whole batch of them. Thus by dint of almost super- 
human effort he would prevail on them to return; but no sooner 
would he turn his back upon the gate till it would be again thrown 



HISTOKY OF GUEENE COUNTY. 503 

open, and the distracted crowd rush recklessly out; and thus the ex- 
citement continued till the scouting party came in with the four dead 
men, when the scene became frantic, beggaring all attempts at de- 
scription. We can but faintly imagine huw frightfully heart-rending 
must have been the spectacle. Barnet llinehart, who was tather of 
our fellow-townsman, Simon Rinehart, Sr.. and of Judge James 
llinehart, of Oscaloosa, Iowa, and who was one of Greene County's 
early sheriti's, was then a little boy, liut he maintained a very vivid 
recollection of seeing his dead father brought into the fort, dangling 
across the bare back of a horse."' 

As a quite extensive notice of the town of Waynesburg was given 
in connection with the organization of the county, it is unnecessary 
to give a more extended notice here. The schools of Franklin Town- 
ship have always maintained a high standard. By the earliest report 
the township is credited with eleven schools, with 452 pupils. In 
the report of 1859 it is i-eported as having '•consideral)le wealth and 
some enterprising citizens; one very good school, one good school, 
the rest of the third class.'' Great improvement has been made in 
the thirty years that have elapsed, and it now holds a highly credit- 
able rank. The present board of school directors is as follows: John 
Lapping, President; Jonas Ely, Secretary; T. J. Morris, George Tay- 
lor, Daniel Pratt and Inghram Cummins. The board of Waynes- 
burg is constituted as follows: 11. A. Rinehart, J. E. Sayers, W. W. 
Patterson, A. C. Smalley, P. A. Knox and W. II. Barb. 



CHAPTER XXXVIII. 
GILMORE TOWNSHIP. 



Titles to Land — Boundaries — Well Watered — Fertile — Jolley- 
TOWN — Conditions of Sale — Mason and Dixon Monument 
Schools — Dr. Smith's Building the Cabin. 

THIS township, like all the southeastern section of the county, was 
largely settled by pioneers from Maryland and Virginia, with the 
belief that all the territory west of the Alleghany Mountains was 
under the jurisdiction of the latter State. It was a claim with a very 
indetinite boundary, stretching away to the northwest, even to the 
frozen ocean. As the limits of Pennsylvania were for a long time 



504 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

undefined, most of the territory embraced in this township was ac- 
quired and titles perfected nnder Virginia courts as it was held under 
jurisdiction of Ohio County — one of the counties of Virginia from 
1768 till the boundary line known as Mason and. Dixon's line was 
finally settled in 1785. It was natural, therefore, that the inhabi- 
tants sliould cling to the State authority which had been regarded in 
the early days as possessing rightful authority. 

The territory embraced in the limits of Gilmore Township is 
bounded on the north by Jackson Township, on the east by Wayne, 
on the south by Mason and Dixon's line which separates it from 
"West Virginia, and on the west by Springhill. Dunkard Creek, 
celebrated in the history of the border controversy and in the early 
Indian warfare, has its sources in the highlands to tlie north and 
west of this township, and hei'e too, across the watershed, several of 
the tributaries of Wlieeling Creek rise. Tom's Eun and its numei'- 
ous tributaries drain the north and eastern portions, and Fordyce 
E,un, Block-house liun, Wildman's Run, and Fish Creek water all 
parts of its broad territory. The surface being in every part heavily 
rolling, the waters are pui'e and sparkling, copious spi'ings gusliing' 
forth on every hilltop and along every valley. The soil is fertile even 
to the summits of the highest liills, and heavy crops of corn and the 
smaller grains reward the toil of tlie husbandman. It is well adapted 
to sheep culture, and flocks of the finest breeds gladden all the hills. 
Many herds of fine dairy cows are also kept, and blooded stock for 
beef, the short-horn Durham seemingly the favorite. In many parts 
of the township special attention is given to the raising of swine, a 
cross between the Berkshire and Poland China being the favorite. 
It is not uncommon to see as many as fifty hogs in a single field. In 
no part of the county are the inhabitants more sober and indus- 
trious than in Gilmore. 

Among the earliest inhabitants we notice the names of the Koberts, 
the Fordyces, the Dyes, the Whites and Hannans. The only village of 
importance is Jolleytown. At an early day Titus Jolley acquired the 
tract where the village is now located. Perceiving that this seemed 
to be a suitable point for business on account of the water power and 
the centering of roads here, in 18.35 having surveyed and staked oft' 
the plot of the town he issued the following conditions of sale: " The 
conditions of this present sale are as follows: the highest bidder is to 
be the buyer. Any person buying a lot shall have a credit of six 
months by giving his note with approved security. Any person 
buying and not complying shall forfeit and pay twenty-five cents on 
each dollar to the amount of what he buys, and the subscriber reserves 
the right to one bid on each lot if necessary, and further the sub- 
scriber doth agree to make a good and lawful deed at the expiration 



/*««^'.; , 




fY 



b 





niSTOKY OF OUEENK COUNTY. 507 

of six inoiitlis, or whenever said money is paid. Due attendance by 
me. Sept. 9, 1835. Titus Jolley. 

" N. 13. All rails and buildings excepted." 

In close j^roximity to Jolleytowii is one of the stone monuments 
which mark Mason and Dixon's line. Giltnore has six schools and 
an average attendance of 191 pupils. The following are the names 
of the present l)oard of School Directors: E. L. Wade, President; 
T. M. Hennen, Secretary; J. O. Kennedy, Joseph Roberts, G. W. 
Shough, M. J. Clovis. 

In our time, when curiously invented machinery turns out every- 
thing that a human being can crave for his comfort, or that can 
gratify his desires, it is interesting to turn back and regard the man- 
ner in which the early settlers supplied their wants. Dr. Smith, in 
his secular history of this section, gives us a vivid picture of the 
building the cabin and supplying it with furniture. 

"On an appointed day," he says, " a company of choppers met, 
felled trees, .cut them off at proper lengths; a man with a team hauled 
them to the place; this, while a carpenter was in search of a straight- 
grained tree, for making clapboards for the roof. The boards were 
split four feet long, with a large prow, and as wide as the timber 
would allow; they were used witliout shaving. Some were employed 
in getting puncheons for the lloor of tlie cabin. This was done by 
splitting trees about eighteen inches in diameter, and hewing the 
faces of them with a broad-axe. They were half the length of the 
floor they were intended to make. These were the usual preparations 
for the first day. The second day the neighbors collected around 
and finished the liouse. The third day's work generally consisted in 
' furnituring' the house — supplying it with a clapboard table, made of 
a split slab, and supported by four round legs, set in augur holes. 
Some three-legged stools were made in the same manner. Some pins 
stuck in the logs at the back of the house, supported some clapboards 
which served for shelves for the table furniture, consisting of a few 
pewter dishes, plates and spoons; but mostly of wooden bowls, trench- 
ers and noggins. If these last were scarce, gourds and hai-d-^helled 
squashes made up the deficiency. The iron jiots, knives and forks, 
were brought from the east side of the mountains, along with salt and 
iron, on pack-horses.'' 



508 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 



CHAPTER XXXIX. 

GREENE TOWNSHIP. 

Oeiginal Extent — Peesent — Gaeakd's Poet — Goshen Baptist 
CiiuECH — John Coebly — Coebly Massacee — Minutes of Eed- 
STONE Baptist Association — Curious Questions — Spicee Mas- 
sacee — Logan 'sRevenci-e — Captivity — Boy Nevee Retuened — 
Schools — Dieectoes. 

GREENE TOWNSHIP, originally one of the six townships of the 
county, embraced all the southwestern portion of its territory, 
stretching from Little Whiteley Creek to Mason and Dixon's line, and 
from the Monongahela River to the dividing ridge between Big White- 
ley Creek and Muddy Creek. It was organized in 1782. But it has 
been shorn of its ample proportions for the making of other town- 
ships nntil it is now one of the smallest in the county, appearing 
quite diminutive beside several of its grown np danghters. It is 
bounded on the north by Jefferson and Cumberland, on the east hy 
Monongahela, on the south by Dunkard, and on the west by White- 
ley. The fertility of its soil was such as to attract the eye of the 
early explorer and here were the first lodgments. It is well watered 
by Whiteley Creek which carries a large volume of water and is 
ample for mill purposes. Few sections of the county present a more 
inviting appearance than the valley of this stream. In the central 
portion of this township on the left bank of the creek was located 
Garard's Fort, a place of great importance at that period when Indian 
massaci'es were frequent, as a place of refuge and safety for the 
settlers, and around it has grown the principal village in the township. 
Our ancestors who came by single families and settled far fi-om 
each other with no convenient roads for communication, were not so 
circumstanced as to favor assembling themselves together for re- 
ligious worship. Yet they did not neglect this pious duty, and it 
was not uncommon for worshipers to travel from twelve to fifteen 
miles with this reverent intent. It was in the neighborhood of this 
fort that tlie first religious worship was held, and here was organized 
in 1776, on the 7tli day of October, the first church in the county. It 
has subsequently been known as Goslien Baptist Church. It was 
ministered to by the Sutton brotliers, and it is probable that it had 
no settled pastors during the early part of its existence. Tiie Rev. 
John Corbly was at an early day installed pastor, and ministered to 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 509 

the congregation at the time when the savages were reeking their 
vengeance upon the helpless and defenceless settlers. In May, 1782, 
his family was attacked on Snndaj' morning while on the way to 
church. In a letter written by Mr. Corbly dated 1785, to Eev. Will- 
iam liogers, of Philadelphia, he gives the following graphic account 
of the heart-rendering circumstance: 

" On the second Sabbath in May, in the year 1782, being my ap- 
pointment at one of my meeting-houses, about a mile from my dwell- 
ing-house, I set out with my dear wife and five children for public 
worship. ^ot suspecting any danger, I walked behind 200 yards, 
with my bible in my hand, meditating. As I was thus employed, 
all on a sudden, I was greatly alarmed with the frightful shrieks of 
my dear family before me. I immediately ran with all the speed I 
could, vainly hunting a club as I ran, till I got within 40 yards of 
them; my poor wife seeing me, cried to me to make my escape; an 
Indian ran up to shoot me; I then Hed, and by so doing out-i'an him. 
My wife had a suckling child in her arms; this little infant they 
killed and scalped. They then struck my wife several times, but not 
getting her down, the Indian who aimed to shoot me, ran to her, shot 
iier throTigh the body, and scalped her; my little boy, an only son, 
about six years old, they sunk the hatchet into his brain, and thus 
dispatched him. A daughter, besides the infant, they also killed and 
scalped. My eldest daughter, who is yet alive, was hid in a tree, 
about 20 yards from tlie place where the rest were killed, and saw the 
whole proceedings. She, seeing the Indians all go off, as she thought, 
got up, and deliberately crept out from the hollow trunk; but one of 
them espying her, ran hastily up, knocked her down and scalped her; 
also her only surviving sister, on whose head they did not leave more 
than an inch round, either of tlesh or skin, besides taking a piece of 
her skull. She, and the before-mentioned one, are still miraculously 
preserved, though, as you must think, I have had, and still have, a 
great deal of trouble and expense with them, besides anxiety about 
them, insomuch that I am, as to worldly circumstances, almost ruined. 
I am yet in hopes of seeing them cured; they still, blessed be God, 
retain their senses, notwithstanding the painful operations they have 
already and must yet pass throigh." 

As a degree of interest gathers about the church that w'as first 
established in this section, the minutes are given below of the Red- 
stone Baptist Association for 1800: 

Minutes of Redstone Baptist Association, held at Simpson's 
Creek, September 26,7,8, 1800: 

1. Introductory Sermon by Benjamin Stone, from 2d Corinth- 
ians, v. 20. 

John Coebly, Moderator, 
Benjamin Jones, Clerk. 



510 



HISTORY OF GKEENE COUNTY. 



MINISTERS AND MESSENGBKS. 



Great Bethel, 
Goshen, 

Turkey Toot, , 

Forks of Cheat, 

Mount Moriah, 
Mount Pleasant, 

Simpson's Creek, 

Clarksburgh, 

Pricket's Creek, 
Indian Creek, 

Buchanan, 

Enon, 

Philadelphia, 
Bethlehem, 
Connellsville, 
Eoating Creek, 

Glady Creek, 
Sandy Creek, 



j Benjamin Stone, 
I Simeon Gard. 
rJohn Corbly, 

Benjamin Jones, 
! Robert Jones, 
] Levi Harrad, 
I George Morris, 
[^Jonathan Morris. 

Robert Cobcorn, 

Jacob Rush. 

William John, 
-/ Samuel Bowan, 
( John Patterson. 

Joseph Thomas. 

No Report. 

iEphraim Smith, 
Moses Husted, 
John Thomas. 
[^ John Loofborrow, 
I Moses Sutton, 
-| John Gifford, 
I John Kelly, 
I^John Pharis. 
j William Wood, 
I Joshua Hickman. 
["John Baiker, 
J John Smith, 
[ Thomas Dewees, 
[Gilbert Butler. 
I John Cozard, 

John Hiars, 

David Smith, 
[^ Jacob Cozard. 

No Representative. 

No Representative. 

Letter, but no messenger. 

Letter, but no messenger. 

No Representative. 
r Phineas Wells, 
J John Carney, 
1 Abraham Wells, 
[John Phillips. 

Samnel Dewees, 

John Jenkins. 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 511 

3. Querj' from Glady Creek. Whether washing of the saints 

be an ordinance of the New Testament? IJecided in the 
negative. 

4. Query from Indian Creek. Whether it be legal to receive 

a IJaptist minister who observes the seventh day Sabbath 

as a member of the First day Baptist Church, and to take 

the pastoral care of said church? Decision reserved until 

next association. 
7. Next association to be held at Great Wliiteley, Greene County, 

on first Friday in September. Brother Corbly to preach 

the sermon. Brother Stone alternate. 
9. Brother Isaac Edwards from Kentucky preached out of doors 

to the people. 
The interest that centers about the Spicer massacre, the result of 
the cruel revenge of the celebrated Indian Chieftain Logan, will 
never cease to be felt. The location of Spicer's cabin is not exactly 
known, though it was somewhere upon the heights separating the 
waters of Dunkard from Big Wliiteley Creek. " Some jtraditions," 
says Evans, " locate it in the head of Deep Run, which flows into 
Dunkard Creek a short distance above Bob Town. Some would have 
it on the old Dave Keener farm, on the head waters of a branch of 
Meadow Run. Others place it on the old Eberhart farm, now be- 
longing to Stephenson Garard, I believe, which lies in a cove at the 
head of a considerable run which flows into l>ig Whiteley on Sebas- 
tian Keener's farm, nearly a mile below the Willow Tree postoffice. 
However these three streams have their source so very close together 
that the locality is defined with sufficient accuracy by either or all 
of them. Indeed it is said that there were two cabins, which was 
probably the fact, one at the source of Deep Run, and the other on 
the Eberhart farm." 

Spicer was living with a wife and seven children, in June, 1774, 
when Logan, who had been despoiled of eight members of his family 
in cold blood, and was out npon his hunt for an equal number of 
white scalps, which, according to Indian theology must be had to 
satisfy his pious revenge, approached, with his accomplices, the lone 
cabin of the Spicers. It was in the very midst of the primeval 
forest. Not another white inhabitant was living in a circuit of miles 
in extent. Spicer himself was engaged in chopping, all unsuspecting 
of danger, and not conscious of an enemy among all the sons of the 
forest. Logan had no cause of quarrel with him. But the savage 
must have the scalps of a certain niimber of the pale faces. It was 
immaterial to him who they were. When Spicer discovered the red 
men approaching, thinking they were on a friendly errand, and de- 
siring to suitably entertain them, he stuck his axe into the log and 
went into his cabin. Scarcely had he entered when one of the sav- 



512 History of greene county. 

ages, having seized the axe, came stealthily behind, and with one 
blow struck him dead. His wife and two children shared a like 
fate. Three other children were found and speedily dispatched. 
Elizabeth, who was engaged in ironing, seeing the bloody work, ran 
for her life with her smoothing iron still grasped in her hand, being 
too excited to think of dropping it. In her attempt to clear the 
fence, with her brother William, whom she was assisting to escape, 
they were overtaken and carried away into captivity. The murdered 
were scalped and horribly mutilated, so much so that one'of the party 
under Capt. Crawford who went to bury the bodies, was so horriiied 
by the awful spectacle that he could not endure the sight, and begged 
to be led away. Logan, with a war chief. Snake, proceeded over to 
Big Whiteley Creek, where they murdered and scalped an old man 
by the name of Keener, whose body was undiscovered until the cir- 
cling of the buzzards above his decomjDosiug corpse disclosed its loca- 
tion. It was buried in the famous meadow of John Lantz. The 
captives, Betty and William, were hurried away beyond the Ohio, 
and separated, the boy being placed in a more distant tribe than the 
girl, that they might not be plotting to escape. Subsequently these 
tribes were compelled by treaty to give up their captives, and the 
girl was returned in the holidays of the same year of her abduction. 
Though but a few months in captivity she learned the Indian lan- 
guage, and the medicinal properties of many roots and herbs as 
practiced in Indian pharmacy, so that her services were much in de- 
mand during all her life in cases of sickness peculiar to the climate. 
She married a man by the name of Bowen, and lived to the ad- 
vanced age of eighty-four, many of the earlier settlers having cause 
to remember with gratitude the kind attentions of " Granny Bowen." 

" After Betsy returned," says Evans, " to her friends, she visited 
the sight of the awful tragedy where she was rendered an orphan 
child, and remembering that one of the Indians finding himself 
overloaded with plunder, had concealed some things under a log, she 
repaired to the spot and among other articles found her father's 
scalp, which she religiously preserved all her life, with the intention 
of having it enclosed in her own coffin, when she should be called 
away. She also remembered where she had thrown her smoothing 
iron and found it, and it is yet preserved by her descendants. Mrs. 
Bowen was the mother of a large family of children, one of whom, 
Mrs. Nancy Steel, is still living at the age of seventy-four. A daugh- 
ter of Mrs. Steel, Mrs. Azariah Stephens, living near Garard's Fort 
has furnished the particulars of this narrative." 

The boy William became unalterably attached to Indian life, 
married an Indian squaw and was made a chief. He was induced to 
return on one occasion to give testimony in the disposition of some 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 513 

property in favor of his sister; but could not be prevailed upon to 
quit his wild life in the woods. 

Greene Township, by the report of Mr. Black, 1854, is credited 
with live schools and 177 pupils. By the report of Mr. McGluinphy 
it is shown "that the houses in this district are all good, and well 
furnished. In the latter respect they surpass any in the county." 
The following is a list of the present board of directors: J. M. Mor- 
ris, President; P. A. Myers, Secretary; J. B. Roberts, Stephen Gar- 
ard, Isaac Barclay, George Russell. 



CHAPTER XL. 

JACKSON TOWNSHIP. 



AuRicui.TUEE — I'altimoke AND Onio RoAP — Timber — AViiite Cot- 
tage — SciiooLs — Directors — llAiiiTs of Settlers — Dr. Dodd- 
ridge's Reminiscenses — Dress — Moccasins — Clothing Hung 
on Pegs — Occupations of the Women — Of the Boys — Throw- 
ing the Tomahawk. 

THIS township was one of the later settled, but is at present under 
a good state of cultivation. The surface is broken and highly 
picturesque, but the soil is deep and very fertile. Large tlocks of 
sheep are kept in the upper end of the township, nearly all of iine 
wool. Some years ago a few sheep died from some disease peculiar 
to the flock, since wliich more attention has been given to the culti- 
vation of cattle. The short-horn Durham breed is most in demand 
though some Ilolsteins are kept. The forests of this township were 
the favorite gathering place of wild turkeys, and the inhabitants 
raise large flocks of these birds. A few years ago a disease seized 
upon the flocks of turkeys and many died, which has had the effect 
to greatly decrease the interest felt in breeding them. AVinter M'lieat 
is largely cultivated, rarely or never spring wheat. Dent corn is cul- 
tivated, yellow, rarely white. Lime is found in alnmdance, and is 
used for fertilizing. Formerly large quantities of poultry, eggs, beef, 
pork and grain were shipped by the Baltimore and Ohio railroad; 
but latterly by Washington and AVaynesburg road, which is more 
convenient for the Pittsburg market. Hay is also an important ar- 
ticle and is sold in large quantities, movable hay-presses being em- 



gl4 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

ployed to prepare it for transportation. Oak, chestnut, poplafj 
sugar maple, locust, are the home product used in building and 
fencing, the coarse lumber for timber, joists, studding and roof is 
commonly of the different oaks. The red oak, which is now coming 
into use for fine work for expensive finishing, and takes a polish in 
carved work that rivals mahogany and satin wood, is common here. 
Timothj^, blue grass and clover are abundant on hill and valley, and 
thouo-h the hills are everywhere and of enormous proportions, the 
mower and reaper is almost exclusively used, and the strain of hu- 
man muscle avoided. There is in every part a clay and lime subsoil 
and springs of pure water are copious and abundant. Swine are 
largely bred, Chester white, Poland-China, and Berkshire being the 
most numerously kept, though a cross between the Poland and 
Chester is considered in all respects the best. 

There are no considerable villages, though White Cottage, near 
the center of the township, is the location of the principal postofRce, 
and will probably in time develop into a thriving place of business. 
The intelligence and morality of the people are conspicuous, and an 
air of thritt and contentment is everywhere observable. The dwell- 
ings are commodious and kept in a good state of repair, and the 
highways in most parts well wrought. A road machine, very simple 
of construction, is used to great advantage. JStine schools are 
reported in 1854 by Mr. Black, who was then Secretary of State, 
with 4:04 pupils. In 1850 the Superintendent says: " This district 
is much behind the times in point of education." But a quarter of 
a century has wrought great changes here. The present board of 
directors is thus constituted: J. F. Morris, President; M. C. Hull, 
Secretary; James Meeks, R. Hughes, A. J. Mitchell, Homer Fordyce. 

Of the condition and habits of the people among the earliest set- 
tlers little can now be recalled. It would be interesting, if any were 
now living whose mature lives reached back to those early times, to 
listen to their recital. As a matter of historical record, in these days 
when the whirl and excitement of life is so rapidly obliterating every 
trace of tlie old time, nothing could be more important. Dr. Dodd- 
ridge, who has left many interesting details of the early settlers in 
this section, gives the following graphic account of the habits and 
peculiarities of our ancestors: 

"A pair of moccasins answered much better for the feet than 
shoes. These were made of dressed deerskins. They were mostly 
made of a single piece, with gathered seams along the top of the 
foot, and another from the bottom of the heel, without gathers, as 
high as tlie ankle joint, or a little higher. Flaps were left on each 
side, to reach some distance up the legs. These were nicely adapted 
to the ankles, and lower part of the leg by thongs of deerskin, so 
that no dust, gravel nor snow could get within the moccasin. The 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 515 

moccasins in ordinary use cost but a few liours lal)or to make them. 
In cold weather tlie nioccasinrf were stuifed with deer's hair, or dry 
leaves, so as to keep the feet comfortably warm. * .* * The 
linsey-woolsey petticoat and bedgown, which were tlie universal 
dress of the women in early times, would make a very singular 
ligiire in our days. They went barefooted in warm weather, and in 
cold, their feet were covered with moccasins, overshoes or shoe-packs. 
* * * The coats and bedgowns of the women, as well as the 
hunting-shirts of the men, were hung in full disjjlay on wooden pegs 
round the walls of their cabins; so that while they answered, in some 
degree, the place of paper hangings or tapestry, they announced to 
the stranger, as well as neighbor, the wealtli or poverty of the family 
in the articles of clothing. This practice prevailed for a long time. 
"The ladies handled the distaff, shuttle, sickle, weeding-hoe, 
scutching-knife, hackle, and were contented if they could obtain their 
linsey-woolsey clothing, and covered their heads with sunbonnets 
made of GOO or 700 linen. * * * Flax was universally culti- 
vated. When ripe, it was usually pulled by the women and boys, as 
this operation always occurred in harvest, when the men were occu- 
pied with their grain or hay. And those who ' pulled ' it, after the 
seed was threshed out of it, perhaps towards the heels of harvest, by 
the men, then spread it out ' to rot ' for some weeks, on some green 
pasture tields; and after a number of weeks it was taken up, ready 
for the application of the 'brake' and ' swingling-knife.' The for- 
mer instrument required the muscular arms of stout men. The 
latter was often, perhaps most generally, wielded by the womtn. 
' Scutching frolics,' or gatherings of neighbors to scutch or swingle 
Uax, were very common, and afforded much innocent amusement and 
recreation to the young people, blended with pretty hard work. The 
old ladies generally took charge of the ' hackling ' of the flax. Hack- 
ling and goose-picking days required much patient toil. * * * 
One important pastime of our boys was that of imitating the notes 
or noise of every bird and beast in the woods. This faculty was not 
merely a pastime, but a vei'y necessary part of education, on account 
of its utility in certain circumstances. The imitations of the gob- 
lers, and other sounds of wild turkeys, often brought the keen-eyed 
and ever-watchful tenants of the forest within the reach of the rifle. 
The bleating of the fawn brought its dam to her death in the same 
way. The hunter often collected a company of mofjish owls on the 
trees about his camp, and amused himself with their hoarse scream- 
ing; his howl would raise and obtain responses from a pack of 
wolves, so as to inform him of their neighborhood, as well as guard 
him against their depredations. This imitative faculty was some- 
times requisite as a measure of precaution in war. The Indians, 
when scattered about in a neighborhood, often collected together by 



516 msTORY OP GREENE COUNTT. 

imitating turkeys by day, and wolves or owls by night. In similar 
situations, our people did the same. I have often witnessed the con- 
sternation of a whole neighborhood in consequence of a few screeches 
of owls. 

"Throwing the tomahawk was another boyish sport, in which 
many acquired considerable skill. The tomahawk, with its handle of 
a certain length, will make a given number of turns in a given dis- 
tance. Say in five steps, it will strike with tlie edge, with the han- 
dle downward; at the distance of seven and a half, it will strike with 
the edge, the handle upwards, and so on. A little experience en- 
abled the boy to measure the distance with his eye, when walking 
through the woods, and strike a tree with his tomahawk in any way 
he chose." 



CHAPTEE XLI. 
JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP. 



Swan and Hughes — Lindset Family — Heaton's Mill — Jeffeeson 
AND Hamilton — College — Pice's Landing — Boundaeies — 
Schools — Dieectoes — Teagaeden Fights foe His Claim — 
Manumission. 

THOMAS HUGHES, Je., son of the original settler Thomas, 
married a daughter of John Swan in 1771 and settled in the 
Carmichaels Valley on the site of the present brick residence of John 
Hathaway,' and was a neighbor of Colonel Charles Swan. He was a 
man of undaunted courage, and when all his neighbors would flee to 
the forts for safety he would stand by his cabin and defend his family 
there. On one occasion his wife dreamed of Indian massacres, and 
so vivid was her dream that she prevailed on her hnsband to escape 
into the rjefield, where they laid down and slept beneath the shelter 
of the tall grain. In the morning she crept steathily from her 
hiding place to the summit of the field, and was horrified to behold 
their cabin in flames and the Indians dancing around a feather bed 
which they had ripped open, and amusing themselves by tossing 
the feathers into the air, tickled beyond measure to see them 
carried upwards by the currents engendered by the ascending flames. 
In 1776 he moved to where the town of Jefi"erson now stands 
and built a home near the old stone house of the widow Stephens. 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 517 

All tliis stretch of counti-}' was then a dense pine forest, the lurking 
place of bears and wolves and deer. In December of this year his 
third child, Mary, was born, who became the mother progenitor of 
the Lindsey family of this county. \'^'-'^ ■>■•'' V 

A little to the west of Hughes came Colonel Ileaton and built a 
cabin on the site of the present village of Jefferson. He built a mill, 
soon after coming, near the site of that now known as Horn's Mill. 
Hughes is said to have been implicated as being one 6f the blackened 
party which attacked the house of Captain Faulkner, in consequence 
of which he was required to give bail in the sum of .$3,000 for his 
appearance to answer. Faulkner was an officer of the government, 
and the opposition to him was his disposition to collect the excise 
tax on distilled spirits. The county at this early day was so uni- 
versally devoted to distilling that the county records for 1788 show 
seventy registered distilleries. So enormous was the cost of trans- 
porting the grain, the products of their fields to a market, that the 
income from produce was all eaten up. Hence the husbandmen 
resorted to distillation, as a horse could barely carry six busiiels of 
rye to market; whereas after it had been converted into whisky the 
same beast could transport twenty-four bushels. 

Up to the year 1795 the village was known as Jefferson, thougii 
there were but two or three cabins on its whole domain. At about 
this time a violent contention arose about the name which the new 
town should bear; for already streets had been opened and town lots 
sold. The point of demarkation on either side was Colonel Joseph 
Parkinson's store, Hughes owning all to" the east, and Heaton all to 
the west. Heaton being a bold Federalist insisted that the town 
should be called Hamilton. But the Hughes party claimed just as 
pertenaciously that it should be called Jefferson. For' some time 
the controversy waxed hot. It was finally agreed about the year 
1800 that the eastern half shonld be called Hamilton and the western 
half Jefferson. In 1827 the town was incorporated as a borough by 
an act of the Legislature under the name of Jefferson. It has a 
population of some 700, and is a place of considerable activity. The 
buildings of Moriongahela College stand on a well selected site just 
outside the borough limits. It has four churches — Baptist, Presby- 
terian, Methodist and Cumberland Presbyterian. Few towns in the 
county ,are more pleasantly located than this. Rice's Landing, a 
village of some 350 inhabitants, is situated at Lock No. 6 of the 
Monongahela slackwater. Previous to the construction of the Wash- 
ington & Waynesburg Railroad this was of considerable importance, 
being the shipping point for a large portion of the county. It still 
distributes many goods to villages in the immediate neighborhood. 
The part of the town below the run was laid out by Abijah McLean, 
and was called Newport, and the part above the run was originally 



518 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

owned by John Kice, from whom the place takes its name. Rice's 
patent bears date of 1786. 

Jefferson is the most irregular in form of any of the townships 
of the county, being a long narrow strip of land, hemmed in be- 
tween South Ten Mile Creek and Pumpkin Kun, scarcely more 
than two miles in width and fifteen in length. It is bounded on 
the north by Morgan, on the east by Cumberland, on the south 
by Cumberland, Greene and Whiteley, and on the west by Frank- 
lin and Morgan. By the report of 1855 Jefferson is given eight 
schools with 391 pupils. The report of 1859 says of this district: 
" The houses are neat, comfortable, well arranged and admirably 
fitted to be the training places of youth. The i-equirements of the 
law are well enforced by the directors. The schools are visited, but 
not as frequently as would be advantageous by parents and di- 
rectors." The present board of directors of the township is con- 
stituted as follows: J. C. Burson, President; H. Waychoff, Sec- 
retary; John Dulancy, A. W. Greenlee, Jacob Crayne and J. Kan- 
dolph Bayard. That of the borough as follows: P. H. Jordon, 
President; S. P. Hill, Secretary; T. II. Sharpneck, John Cottorell, 
John Sloneker and Frank Bradley. 

Abraham Teagarden, who had settled at Redstone, had a con- 
siderable family, which he had transferred to this new land. In- 
deed Abraham, father of Isaac, was born in Redstone Fort. His 
sons, as they had come to marriageable age, had taken themselves 
wives. David married Miss Treble, by whom he reared a family 
of ten children; William married Miss Craig, by whom he had 
twelve children. About the year 1770 these two, David and 
"William, anxious to secure a homestead while it could be got for 
the taking, crossed over into what is n'ow Greene County. 

The manner in which George Teagarden, who had married a 
young and blooming maiden, and was ambitious of securing a 
comfortable habitation for her, maintained his claim to the tract of 
land he had chosen, is romantic, and illustrates the customs which 
prevailed among the early settlers. Along the valley of Ten 
Mile Creek were many excellent and valuable tracts. One of these 
George had appropi-iated by making the usual tomahawk improve- 
ment. He had selected the site for his house and had called in 
his neighbors to assist in rearing it. "When the work was about to 
begin, a raw-boned denizen of the forest made his appearance and 
claimed the ground which Teagarden had selected as his own, and 
no further progress could be made in building until the question of 
ownership was settled. As no legal tribunal had yet been established 
over this territory, the only method of deciding was by personal 
combat, and it was accordingly agreed that who ever proved himself 
the better man should be entitled to his claim. The contest was 



HISTORY OF GKEENE COUNTY. 519 

long and bloody, but the youthful vigor of Teagarden was iu the 
end triumphant, and he was acknowledged the rightful claimant. 
His antagonist, after having washed and dressed his wounds, in 
which the young wife of Teagarden is said to have assisted, re- 
mained and helped build the cabin, subsequently acquired a tract 
adjoining, and ever after the families were on friendly terms. Such 
were the ideas of justice and government whicli prevailed among 
our hardy ancestors. 

Many of the early settlers brought with them from Virginia and 
Maryland their house servants. In the records of the Ilecorder's 
office are several manumission papers, i'elow is one executed by 
a citizen of Jefferson: 

M.VN OMISSION. 

Jefferson, May 20, 1823. — Know all men by these presents: 
That I, William Fletcher, of the town of Jeflerson, Greene County, 
Penn., from motives of humanit}^ and benevolence, have this day 
manumitted, and do liereby manumit and set free from slavery dur- 
ing his natural life my negro boy, Jarrot llhoads, he being now of 
the age of twenty-one years and over, and I do hereby relinquish 
forever all my right, claim, title and interest in the aforesaid Jarrot 
Rhoads, and any claim that I ever had or could have had to his 
labor or services in any wise whatever. In testimony whereof I 
have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal, the day and year 
first above written. 

William Fletchkk. 

Edwaed Fletchee. 

Thomas Fletchee. 

Greene County, ss. Personally came William Fletcher be*' e 
me, a justice of the peace in and for said county, and acknow'jdged 
the above manumission to Jarrot Rhoads to be his act, deed, and 
desired the same might ever^'where be received as such, and that 
the said Jarrott may pass and repass as a free man of color should 
he demean himself well. Acknowledged by me the 20th day of 
June, 1823. Witness my hand and seal. 

William Kincaid, Jk. 
Kexnoe S. Bokeman, Rec. 

Deed Eook E, page 371. 



520 HISTORY OP GREENE COUNTY, 



CHAPTEE XLII. 

MONONGAHELA TOWNSHIP. 

John Minopw — Mapletown — Fiest Flotjeing-Mill — Moegan Built 
FoETS — Claek's Flotilla — Geebnsboro — New Geneva — 
Gallatin — Glass Woeks — Stonecastle — Schools — Dieectoes 
— White Savages. 

AS early as 1764, John Minor, a native of London Connty, Vir- 
ginia, came to the neighborhood of where is now Mapletown, on 
Wliiteley Creek, JVlonongahela Township, where he acquired, by 
tomahawlv improvement, a tract for himself, and likewise one adjoin- 
ing, now owned by the heirs of Moak Minor, for his brother Will- 
iam, and another contiguous for his friend, Zachary Gapen. Mr. 
Evans, in his Tenth Centennial article, says, Minor "having built for 
himself a snug and cosy cabin and made other necessary improve- 
ments, went back to the land of Conococheaqne the next year, and 
having married the sister of General Otho Williams, of Kevolntionary 
renown, returned with his bride on horse-back to the land of his 
adoption. Perched up behind her all that long and rugged way sat 
George, the little negro servant lad. Otho, his first born babe, was 
ocked by George in a sugar trough, the rude cradle of the primitive 
lii. ," 

Minor was a man of thrift, and soon had the largest estate of any 
one along the river, and built the first flouring-mill west of the 
Monongahela. It was located about one-hundred yards above the 
present mill and was driven by the waters of the creek. He held a 
commission as Colonel from the Governor of Virginia, and under the 
direction of General Morgan superintended the erection of forts at 
various points whei-e rangers were stationed to watch the movements 
of hostile parties and apprise the settlers. The boats which ti-ans- 
ported the expedition of Colonel George Rogers Clarke against the 
Indians in 1778 were built by Colonel Minor near the mouth of 
Dimkard Creek on the Monongahela. Whenever the Indians would 
make a raid, Minor would organize a force of daring militia and hotly 
pursue the savages, an enterprise requiring the greatest vigilance to 
prevent ambuscade by day and surprise by night. The cabins of 
both William and John were fortified, and in John's was kept the 
huge conch shell, still preserved, from which a furious blast was 



HISTOUY OF GREENE COUNTY. 521 

blown as a note of alarm in times of danger. John Minor was elected 
to the Legislature in 1791 and iininediately commenced to agitate the 
forming of a new connty. His bill was twice defeated and he him- 
self lost liis election once; but in 1796, having been triumphantly 
elected, his bill for the erection of Greene County was passed and 
became a law. Colonel Minor died in 1833 in his ninetieth year. 

Monongahela is one of the two smallest townships in the county, 
but from the fact that it has a loiig stretch of frontage on the Monon- 
gahela River, it has a special importance. It is bounded on the 
north by Cumberland, on the east a distance of fifteen or more miles 
by the Monongahela Itiver, on the south by Dunkard, and on the west 
liy Dunkai'd, Greene and Cumberland. Dunkard Creek flows along 
its southern border, AVhiteley Creek flows by a tortuous course through 
its central part, bending northward in its lower part, and emptying 
into the Monongahela within two or three miles of its northern 
boundary, and the Little AVhiteley Creek forms its northern boundary. 
This township has, therefore, the best water facilities of any in the 
county, and is connected to Fayette County by the ferries of McKann, 
Matfield, Iloss and Greensboro. 

The village of Greensboro, the rival of Carmichaels in population 
and commercial importance, is situated on the Monongahela River 
at the head of slackwater No. 6. It is opposite New Geneva in Fay- 
ette County, the home of Albert Gallatin, and was laid out in 1781 
by Elias Stone on a tract which had received the suggestive and ap- 
propriate title of " Delight.'' The original plat contained eighty- 
six lots of half an acre each. The one-hundred and six lots laid out 
by Dr. P. L. Kramer, and the site of the old glass works have since 
been added to it. It has a population at present variously estimated 
at from 800 to 1,000. It has three churches — Presbyterian, Meth- 
odist and Catholic. 

Two manufactories of pottery are located here, the products of 
which are transported by barge down the river and find a market at 
towns along the Ohio and Mississippi, a cargo sometimes running as 
far as New Orleans. The Star Pottery works manufacture tile roof- 
ing. In 1807 glass works were established here which produced an 
excellent quality of window-glass and were for a long time very pros- 
perous. It is related that Albert Gallatin, the eminent statesman, 
who had purchased a plantation near New Geneva, while on his way 
on horse-back to Washington, stopped over night at Tomlinson's in 
the mountains, and having his attention attracted by a party singing 
German hymns in an adjoining room, sought them out and found it 
was a little company of German glass-blowers, on their way to Mays- 
ville, Kentucky, to establish their business. Mr. Gallatin spoke 
their language, and finally induced them to stop at New Geneva, 
where they finally established themselves, he taking a share in the 



522 HISTOKY OF GEEENE COUNTY. 

stock of the company. It was this interest which was finally trans- 
ferred to Greensboro and became the nucleous of the company men- 
tioned above, and was the earliest manufactory in this section — the 
forerunner of the vast business at Pittsburg and vicinity. 

Mr. Gallatin was born in Geneva, Switzerland, January 29, 1761, 
was instructor of French in Harvard University in 1782, married 
a beautiful young woman in Richmond, Va., in 1783, in 1785 bought 
his plantation at New Geneva, where he lived several years in a log 
cabin; but eventually built a quaint stone castle on a commanding 
eminence which he named Friendship Hill. Here he was visited by 
LaFayette in 1824. On the death of his wife she was buried here and 
her grave never marked, which caused among busy bodies unfavor- 
able comments. But on one occasion while out hunting he paused 
near her grave and was lost in deep meditation. Finally he said, 
"There lies one of the best and purest women ever God made. 1 
would have erected a monument to her memory, only she requested 
me not to do so, preferring that her grave should not be so marked. 
She said I would know where she was laid, and as to the rest of the 
world, it was of little importance." The stone edifice where he lived 
still remains, though much changed. He attained eminence as a 
member of the Pennsylvania Legislature, member of Congress — the 
first representative of Greene County, as Secretary of the United 
States Treasury, and as Minister Plenipotentiary to Eussia, to Ghent 
and to London. In 18 16- he was made Minister to France, and in 
the meantime was sent on extraordinary missions to the Netherlands 
in 1817, and to England in 1818. In 1826 he was appointed envoy 
extraordinary to England. He died August 12, 1849, at New York. 
He was probably the most eminent of the adopted citizens with whose 
services the nation has been favored. 

Monongahela Township from the earliest times has been noted 
for the prosperity which has marked its progress. Its home markets 
have been good and the facility with which from every pj^rt it could 
reach transportation practically brought the markets beyond the 
bounds of the county to its own doors. Near the center of the 
township on Whiteley Creek is located the pleasant little village of 
Mapletown, named probably from the ancestors of Robert and 
Thomas Maple. The intelligence and culture of the people is marked. 
The earliest school report under the present system gives the 
township seven schools and 250 pupils, and Greensboro with two 
■ schools and 101 pupils. The report of 1859 says " There are a few 
active and zealous friends of education in this township who evince 
a deep interest in the schools by frequent visitations." The present 
school board is constituted as follows: W. H. Cummins, Pres- 
ident; N. M. Hartley, Secretary; Siks Rose, William Ramsey, 
Stephen Maple, Lee Gabler; of Greensboro: "W. L. Hamilton, Pres- 



inSTORT OF GREENE COUNTY. 523 

ident; C. A. Wolverton, Secretary; David Garrison, James Hamil- 
ton, John C. I51ake, James Atchison. 

As Monongahela was among the earliest portions of the county 
settled, it doubtless suffered as much from Indian depredations as 
any other section. If the record of these midnight massacres and 
burnings could be veritably gathered up and set in order it would 
form one of the most thrilling pages in American history. But 
having given accounts of these in connection with the early history 
of many of the other townships of the county we propose to omit all 
mention of Indian horrors in this, and show instead the other side of 
the picture which may serve as a key to the blood-thirsty disposition 
of the savage. Mr. Evans in his Eighth Centennial article gives 
several very striking incidents under the title of '' White Savages," 
and from this are given below copious extracts. 

" Genuine settlers were seeking homes for themselves and poster- 
ity. Feeling that in a certain sense they were intruders U'lon the 
territory and hunting grounds of the red man, they chose to court 
his friendship and cultivate a spirit of amity with him. But in their 
train followed a class of desperate and despicable outlaws — cormorants 
upon the peace and well-being of the settlements — who 'preyed upon 
the Indians as upon wolves and bears, and improved every opportu- 
nity to commit gross insults, rapine, and murder upon them. De- 
ceived by these bad men, and maddened to frenzy by their frequent 
and brutal atrocities, these uncultivated children of the forest would 
give nnrestrained vent to rankling vengeance, and wonld visit indis- 
criminately tortures the most fiendish and murders the most appall- 
ing that savage genius could invent. I shudder for civilization when 
I chronicle the revolting crimes perpetrated in its name. But the 
truth of history demands the shocking revelation, that no uncertain 
light may be shed on the pathway of succeeding generations. 

« Between the years 1765 and 1774 there was comparative peace 
and harmony between the frontiersman and the neighboring tribes. 
They were dwelling together in unity, and a social intimacy was 
being cultivated by the chiefs and encouraged by the whites. Indian 
and white man mingled and commingled with perfect freedom and 
confiding security. But this period of good feeling was from time 
to time interrupted, and eventually altogether destroyed by the das- 
tardly and reckless piracies of the wicked outlaws above described. 

"A fiend in human shape, John Ryan by name, killed at different 
times three friendly and influential Indians. One of these was Owish- 
togah, the 'Captain Peter' of our region, to whom many of our fore- 
fathers owed a debt of gratitnde for his hospitalities and friendly 
warnings, and judicions advice. Though sadly consternated at the 
damnable perfidy of these monster crimes, retaliation was not at- 
tempted. Gov. Dnnmore, of Virginia, offered a reward for the ap- 



524 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

prehension of the murderer, wliicli caused him to leave the country, 
and the Indians smothered their just indignation and foi'ehore 
redress. 

" On the soutli branch of the Monongahela a most wanton and un- 
pro voiced massacre was committed on some peaceable Indians on a 
friendly visit there, by Henry Judah and Nicholas Ilarpold. The 
former was ari'ested fol- the crime, but the excited and inconsiderate 
populace rescued him, and he was permitted to go unhung. Bald 
Eagle was a chieftain of great celebrity, who was known and highly 
esteemed by all the well-disposed settlers along the Monongahela. 
He was on familiar and confidential terms with the inmates of every 
cabin. His visits were frequent, and his presence always welcome. 
Yet this universal favorite was inhumanly murdered by the three 
dastardly wretches, Jacob Scott, William Hacker and Elijah Runner. 
They met him all alone in his canoe somewhere near the mouth of 
the Cheat, and committed the cowardly deed. Not content with the 
horrible crime of cold-blooded murder, they proceeded to add insult 
to injury by thrusting a johnny-cake in his mouth, propping him up 
in the stern of his canoe and setting him afloat on the river. In this 
condition he was discovered by a Mrs. Province, about the mouth of 
Big Whiteley Creek, who had his remains brought ashore and de- 
cently buried. Soon after the death of Bald Eagle, one William 
White waylaid and assassinated a peaceable Indian, for which he was 
apprehended and committed to Winchester jail for trial. But the 
prejudiced and infuriated populace forced the prison doors, knocked 
o& his shackles and set him at liberty. 

" About the close of the year of 1772, I think, a most atrocious 
butchery occurred on a branch of Dunkard Creek. A semi-civilized 
Indian family, by name of Jacob, lived there by hunting and culti- 
vating a patch of Indian corn. He would frequently supply the 
settlers along the creek with meat and skins. But his peaceful wig- 
wam was invaded, and his whole household slain, with the exception 
of two children, who escaped, half frozen and nearly starved, to tell 
the story of their wrongs to the kindred tribes beyond the Ohio. 
The miscreants who perpetrated this deed are now imknown. About 
this time also Bnlltown, an Indian village consisting of five fami- 
lies, on the Little Kanawha, was ruthlessly invaded by five demons, 
among whom were White and Hacker, before mentioned. All the 
villagers, men, women and children, on the frivolous pretext of a 
mei-e suspicion, were put to death, and their bodies sunk in the river. 
In the spring of 1774, Capt. Crfesop and a party of land sharks first 
waylaid and murdered a couple of peaceable Indians crossing the 
Ohio in a canoe, and afterward fired upon a harmless encampment of 
Indians at the mouth of Captina Creek, killiug aud wounding 
several. 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 525 

" But perhaps of all the black catalogue of unprovoked criines, the 
affair a few days later, at tlie mouth of Yellow Creek, was the most 
infamous. Here the family of Logan, who up to that time was 
known as 'the white man's friend,' was killed. One Daniel Great- 
house led a party of bushwhackers to the scene, ostensil)!}' to protect 
a family named J3aker, who resided at the mouth of the creek, and 
subsisted chietiy froin the miserable occupation of selling the Indians 
rum. Secreting his men, he crossed the creek in the guise of friend- 
ship to the Indian camp. Being advised by a friendly squaw that 
the Indians were getting in liquor and were somewhat exasperated 
on accolmt of the trouble at tlie mouth of Captina, lie returned to 
Baker's and told him if any of the Indians should come over, to give 
them all the rum they wanted. The hypocritical scheme succeeded. 
Lured by his treacherous representations, a party of Indians with 
two females crossed over to Baker's, and when sufficiently intoxicated 
were set upon by Greathouse and his minions, and the whole party 
slaughtered. iVnother party ventured over, and shared a like fate. 
By this time, suspecting foul play, a large detachment attempted to 
cross, but they too were fired upon from the deadly ambuscade, and 
many of them slain and the rest driven back. The perpetration of 
this act of liendish perfidy was fittingly closed by the savage cere- 
mony of scalping all the victims. These were a few specimens of 
the treatment the Indians, when disposed to be peaceable, received 
at the hands of the whites. The soul sickens in contemplation of 
these revolting scenes! The blood curdles to believe mankind guilty 
of such nameless horrors! AVhat marvel that speedy retribution was 
visited upon the settlements? What marvel that swift destruction 
overtook them at noonday? What marvel that the terrible war-whoop 
of the blood-thirsty savage pervaded the whole land; that the toma- 
haNvk and the scalping-knife on every hand were reeking with the 
blood of the innocent; that fire and rapine and general desolation 
ruled the hour? 

" From this time forth Logan was transformed into an avenging 
demon. His name became a terror. At his beck settlements dis- 
appeared as with 'a besom of destruction.' The soil of Greene 
County drank the blood of almost numberless victims to his power. 
Well could reeking scalps, vacant hearths and smouldering ruins 
attest his boast: ' I have sought revenge. I have killed many. I 
liave fully glutted my vengeance.' " 



536 HISTOET OF GREENE COUNTY. 



CHAPTER XLIII. 

MORGAN TOWNSHIP. 

EvEEHAET Hupp — Indian Training — Only Feae — Mes. Hupp, First 
White Woman — Cooking — Boundary — Schools — Directoes — 
Keoollections of an Old Settlee — School-House — Shoemaker 
— Feozen to Death. 

MORGAN TOWNSHIP was one of the earliest settled in the 
county. Evei-hart Hnpp, who lived to be one hundred and 
nine years old, married Margarett Thomas, who lived to the age 
of one Imndred and iive years, and purchased of the Indians 
a large tract of land on Ten-Mile Creek, for which he paid one black 
mare and one rifle gun. On running the lines agreed upon with the 
Indians, he found it contained 1,400 acres, and embraced lands north 
of Ten-Mile Creek and stretching across the North Fork, and conse- 
quently overlapping a portion of Morgan Township, where some of 
his descendants live to this day. The Hupps were always on good 
terms with the Indians, for the reason that they were always made 
welcome and given whatever the cabin afforded. Mr. Hupp used to 
declare that a feeling of fear of the Indians was never excited in his 
mind but once. On that occasion he had gone out upon the creek to 
do some work in a grove where he was shielded from view of his 
cabin, but where he could himself observe it. Going to the only 
point of observation, he was startled to see several stalwart Indians, 
tricked out in his own militia trappings, marching around the house 
and pretending to go through the evolutions of a squad of soldiers. 
At this sight his heart was in his mouth, fearing that his wife had 
been murdered and that the savages were bent on mischief. His 
agony for the moment was indescribable; but to his great joy he 
soon saw his wife coming from the spring-house, bearing a pan of milk, 
evidently preparing something for the red men to eat. He soon re- 
turned to his dwelling and had a friendly chat, while they partook of 
the tafjle (V hote set for them by Madame Hupp, when they departed, 
highly elated by their entertainment. 

Mr. Evans, in his thirty-first Centennial sketch, says: "At this 
time, 1767, there was but one white woman west of the Mononga- 
liela River known to the settlers. She was the wife of George Hupp 
[probably Everhart HuppJ who located a_large body of land on_the 



HISTORY OF GREENE COtJNTf. 527 

north bank of Ten-Mile, and erected a cabin near tlie creek and about 
two miles from its mouth. Her frugal repast consisted of johnny 
cake [journey-cakej shortened with bear's fat, dried venisou and 
Adam's ale. Their hospitality soon became i^roverbial with the 
sparse inhabitants, who were else all males, and the IIupjj cabin be- 
came the Sunday morning rendezvous for all the men in the settle- 
ment. Nauseated with their own unpalatable cookinp;, tliey would 
carry their choice game and fish to lier, and enjoy a toothsome meal 
prepared and served by the veriest lady in the land." 

On account of its contiguity to Kedstone fort, which was a rally- 
ing point in time of dangei", and the point at which the new comer 
tarried until he could find a tract on which to blaze his title, that 
pleased his fancy, the lands of this township were early appropri- 
ated. This was one of the original townships at the time of the or- 
ganization of Washington County, and was at that time much larger 
than at present. It is bounded on tiie north by Washington County, 
on the east by Jefferson, on the south by Jefferson and franklin, and 
on the west by AVashington. The surfa^ce is very broken but the 
soil is fertile, and the farms well improved. It is well watered by 
North and South Ten-Mile Creek aud their tributaries. Clarksville, 
the only village in the township, a place of some 350 inhabitants, is 
situated on a peninsula formed by the two forks of Ten-Mile Creek 
at their junction, at the head of the creek proper. It has three 
churches and the usual business of a centre of a fine farming coun- 
try. In the report of Secretary Burrowes, in 183(5, Morgan is cred- 
ited with four schools and 155 pupils, that of Secretary Black in 
1854, with six schools and 3()0 pupils. The report of 185'J says: 
" The directors of this district are a philanthropic band, who have 
the interest of the rising generation at heart. They have increased 
the school fund, and have paid their teachers liberally. Therefore, 
the cause of education has advanced very rapidly in this townsiiip 
within the past three or four years. All the school-houses are fur- 
nished with blackboards and maps." The good report thus early won 
has been maintained and it still holds a foremost rank. The directors 
for the current year are: J. M. Thistlethwait, I'resident; Joseph Adam- 
son, Secretary, Edward Van Kirk, George Hughes, Solomon Cum- 
rine, and Kobert Buckingham. 

Below we give some reminiscences of the olden time related by 
an aged citizen and published some years ago in the Waynesburg 
RejniMican: 

" The first school-houses were built of logs, with dirt floors and 
greased paper for windows. The seats were made of sticks driven 
into walls aud slabs laid on them. The first teachers I remember 
were Francis Lazear and John McGuire. The books used were U. S. 
speller and the New Testament. The schools then, as now, were 



528 HISTOEY OF GREENE (iotJNTY. 

only open in the winter season, and the little folks had often to go 
several miles through the woods, with the snow two feet or more 
deep; and as there was no such thing as boots then, it was a very 
cold operation. 

"There were shoemakers in that day, but they did not have shops 
as they have now, but went around from house to house, shoeing the 
whole family before leaving. We never got but one pair of shoes in 
a year. Often times little children had no shoes at all, weai-ing noth- 
ing but stockings. 

" 1 will tell you a story of one of these traveling shoemakers. 
His name I have forgotten, but I remember he came to my father's 
and made us all shoes. He was a jolly good fellow, but loved his 
drink. After he got through at our house, he got his money and 
started for home. The weather was very cold and as he had to pass 
a still-house, he stopped and got a jug. As he journeyed on towards 
home, he frequently imbibed, until he had reached within about one 
hundred yards of home — that haven of rest where a wife and several 
children awaited his coming — when he succumbed to the influence 
of the liquor and got down, where he was found a short time after 
frozen to death. It created a great deal of excitement in the neigh- 
borhood, but like such things to-day, had no influence, as whisky 
continued to be made and drunk just the same." 



CHAPTEE XLIY. 
MORRIS TOWNSHIP. 



MiLLIKEN FlEST CoUET HoTJSE JSTlNEVEH BeULAH ChTJECH 

Methodist Chtjech — Unity Chuech — Gael Beothees Mue- 



ROBERT MILLIKEN was born in Ireland in 1772, and died in 
1865. Lie was one of the early commissioners of Greene 
County, and was the first Justice of the Peace of Morris Township. 
He built a house on the site of Waynesburg, where John Buchanan's 
house stands, about the year 1798. He was a brick moulder by 
trade, and built the first brick Court House in Greene County in the 
year 1800. To this time courts had been held in the house since 
occupied by Charles S. Hickey. He married Mary, a daughter of 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 529 

David Gray. He aftenvards owned the farm on Brown's Fork, Mor- 
ris Township, now owned l)y his son, James Milliken. Mrs. Mary 
Milliken was one of two children that made the midnight iiight to 
Jackson's fort, elsewhere mentioned. 

The pi-incipal village in this township bears the bible name of 
Nineveh, pleasantly located on Brown's Fork of Ten-Mile Creek. 
William Day purchased a small plot of ground on which the village 
is located as late as 1845, and having erected a small house, his son 
Francis opened a store therein. Mr. Day laid out streets through 
his plot of ground and soon a number of dwellings were erected. In 
1850 a Cumberland Presbyterian Church was built, which was 
thoroughly repaired and modernized in 1881. The place has become 
of considerable importance as a business center, being in the midst 
of a tine agricultural section. A wagon shop is reputed to turn out 
excellent work. It has a substantial brick school building. 

The Bates' Fork Baptist Church is located near Sycamore Sta- 
tion on the Waynesburg railroad close to the border of Washington 
Township. It was organized on the 29th of December, 1842, by 
Kevs. Isaac Fettit, Levi Griffith, AVilliam Woods and Thomas Rich- 
ards. Fifty-one members were received by letter. Lewis Ketchnm, 
Thomas Taylor and John Pettit were chosen deacons. The following 
named persons have officiated as pastors, as shown by its records: 
Elders Pettit, Sigfried, Pool, Ellis, Kichards, Camonsou, Charles Til- 
ton, Parcell, Eossell, Scott, Morgan and Tilton. 

The Beulah Baptist Church is located on the water-shed which 
divides the basins of Ten-Mile and Wheeling creeks, near the Wash- 
ington County line. The meetings were tirst held at the house of 
Lewis Ketchnm as early as 1823. Elder Isaac Pettit was one of the 
early lal)orers, though for several years preaching was had only occa- 
sionally, and sometimes at long intervals. In ISIS Elder Trevor 
llichards commenced preaching once a month at the school-house 
near by. Soon afterwards a church organization was effected. Elders 
Pettit, Brown and Richards officiating on the occasion, and a house 
of worship was built. The following named persons have officiated 
as pastors or supply: Elders Trevor Richards, John Thomas, AVill- 
iam Whitehead, Charles Tilton, Caleb Rossel, S. L. Parcell, Job 
Rossel, II. K. Craig, W. F. Burwell, Patton, C. Haven. The church 
has been weakened from time to time by withdrawals to found other 
churches and to unite with other organizations. 

The Methodist Episcopal Church of Nineveh, Greene County, Pa., 
was organized January 31, 1881, with five members^ viz.: W. S. 
Throckmorton M. D., and wife; John Vancleve and wife, and Edward 
McVey. -During the preceding summer the lirst church building 
was erected. The society then organized was in the -Waynesburg 



530 History of greene counts. 

circuit, Pittsburg Conference, Rev. W. D. Sleas, pastor, with KeV. 
Geo. li. llutfinan as liis colleague. 

The society at once began to exercise a marked influence on the 
community, so that at the close of the first year a membership of 
sixty-five had been gathered into the church. 

ilev. E. S. White succeeded to the pastorate, and during his term 
a new charge was formed, composed of Kineveh and Hopewell, a 
society that had been organized perhaps sixty years before. 

On December 29, 1883, the beautiful little cliurch building at 
Kineveh was entirely consumed by fire, and but for the faith, courage 
and liberality of Dr. Throckmorton and his devoted wife this grow- 
ing and promising society must have been blotted out. On the next 
day, Sunday Dec. 30, the Quarterly Conference was reconvened and 
resolved to rebuild. The same building committee was reappointed 
and the work began at once. 

On Monday the smoking debris was cleared away and preparatory^ 
work for rebuilding was vigorously begun. 

On Sunday Sept. 21, 1884, the new church building, superior in 
eveiy respect to the one it has replaced, was dedicated. 

During the time of its erection, one of the most commodious, 
convenient and comfortable parsonages, within the bounds of the 
conference, was also erected by the charge on a beautiful lot adjoin- 
ing the church. 

Rev. E. S. Koss succeeded to the pastorate, and during his term 
of three years, provision was made for the liquidation of all debts 
against the church and parsonage, and the membership grew to one 
hundred and twenty. In all departments of church work the society 
has prospered while it has gained proportionately in temporal things. 
At present (1888) the charge is under the pastoral care of Eev. N. P. 
Kerr. 

The Unity Presbyterian Church at Harvey's, Greene County, was 
organized in 1814. In the spring of that year the Presbytery ap- 
pointed a committee consisting of Rev. John Anderson and Rev. 
Jo,seph Stevenson to organize a church here. Among those of Presby- 
terian faith who had settled in this neighborhood was Francis Brad- 
dock who came in 1805 and occupied the farm now held by his son, 
J. H. Braddock. In 1812 Moses and Thomas Dinsmore came and 
secured lands where their descendants now live. 

The committee appointed by the Presbytery met on August 27, 
1814, at the house of David Gray, now occupied by Mrs. McClelland, 
where after holding religious service the Church of Unity was formed. 
The ruling elders ordained and installed were David Gray, Jacob 
Rickey, Francis Braddock «and Moses Dinsmore. The families of 
Messrs. Dodd, Holden and Kent were also represented in the organ- 
ization. Supplies were appointed by Presbytery who came about 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 5^1 

six times a year and received from two to live dollars per Sabbath for 
their services. The Saci'ament of the Lord's supper was usually ad- 
ministered in autumn when the roads were good. The names of 
some of those who came as supplies were liev. John Anderson, 
Joseph Stevenson, James Ilervey, David Ilervey, Keed, Marquis, 
Dodd, McCurdj, Mercer, Moore, Wylie and Patterson. 

In 1828 the churches of Wolf liun and Unity united in calling 
Rev. A. Leonard as stated supply, and he M-as succeeded in 1831 by 
Rev. W. D. Smith, in 1834 by Rev. Samuel Moody, and in 1885 by the 
unfortunate Rev. John Knox. Several young men licensed by the 
Presbytery of Washington supplied for limited periods. Rev. James 
Fleming preached for a time in 1839, and afterwards occasional sup- 
plies until 1842 when the congregations of Unity and Wolf Run 
settled and installed Rev. John Whittim, who was succeeded in 1844 
by Rev. Alexander McCarrell. Upon the establishment of a Presby- 
terian Church at Waynesburg, the two churches united in calling 
pastors who. served half time at each place, Messrs. McCarrell, Ros- 
borough, Calhoun and Miller in succession having charge of tliese 
Hocks. In 1854 Rev. Samuel Jeffrey became pastor and served 
faithfully till his death in 1859. The Rev. J. A. Ewing, Rev. William 
Jeffrey, Rev. William Ilaniui and Rev. William S. Vancleve served 
in succession from 1860 to 1867. At this time the church at Waynes- 
burg engaged the entire time of a pastor and Unity was without a 
stated supply. The Rev. Samuel Graham became pastor in Decem- 
ber, 18G9, conducting a select school at the same time at Jackson- 
ville. In 1872 Rev. J. E. Stevenson supplied it until 1875. Rev. 
Robert P. Farrar in the following year served Unity in connection 
with the church of Cameron. lie was succeeded by the Rev. Samuel 
Graham, who in addition to the pastoral work has a select school at 
Graysville, and is still officiating (1888). 

For many years the congregation worshipped in a log school- 
house which stood below the old grave-yard. A frame structure 
45x50 was erected at a cost of $700. Francis Braddock, senior, 
donated the ground and contributed liberally to the building fund. 
In 1880, after forty years of service, this house was destroyed by fire, 
and a new edifice was erected at Graysville to take its place. It is 
34x54 feet and 17 feet to ceiling and was built at a cost of $2,250. 
It was dedicated on the 20th of June, 1880, the Rev. Joseph S. Rrad- 
dock preaching the dedicatory sermon. The Sabbath-school con- 
nected with this church was established in the days of the old log 
school-house, and Francis Braddock, senior, was the first Su2)erin- 
tendant. It has done efficient work ever since. 

The church has been the nursery whence has gone forth a number 
of able heralds of the cross. Of the family of Francis Braddock, 
senior, three — Francis, Cyrus and Joseph, became ministers, and of 



532 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

the sons ot Moses Dinsmore, six — liobert S., Francis B., Thomas H., 
John, Moses and William, studied for the ministry. The Session 
having been reduced in 1837 to one member, the congregation elected 
four additional members, , A. C. JRickey, Francis Braddock, Jr., 
Obadiali Vancleve and Thomas Dinsmore. By removals and death 
the Session had again become weakened, Francis Braddock, senior, 
after a long and devoted life having been called home, and in 1856 
the following were elected: William Lougliridge, David Braddock, 
John Carter and John Reed. Thomas Dinsmore, at the age of 
eighty-six, William Longhridge, at the age of ninety-five, and A braham 
C. Rickey, at the age of seventy-seven, fathers in Israel, were removed 
by death. On the 7th of July, J. H. Braddock, JIamiltonTeagarden 
and Daniel Clutter were chosen, and subsequently Thomas Henderson. 
The church has enjoyed many seasons of refreshing from the Lord. 

In the early days Robert Carl, his wife and two small children, 
and his two brothers, John and Hamilton, dwelt in a cabin on a 
branch of Wheeling Creek not far from Beulah Baptist Church. 
One night whilst Robert was away from home an alarm of Indians 
came and the inmates prepared to flee to Lindley's Fort. At dawn 
" the two brothers went out to gather dry sticks with which to cook 
their breakfast when they were both shot dead by Indians lying in 
wait. The mother with a two-year-old child in her arms and leading the 
other four-years-old by the'hand, escaped from the house into a dense 
field of corn and succeeded in eluding the wily savages. In attempt- 
ing to enter the cabin the Indians were met by a fuiious bitch which 
had a litter of pups under the bed and so much time elapsed before 
she could be put out of the way that the mother with her precious 
charge escaped. The murdered brothers were scalped, the cabin pil- 
laged even to the destruction of the feather-beds. The mother made 
her way to Lindley's Fort some ten miles away, where not many days 
after she gave birth to another child. 

" There is another tradition," says Evans, " that on Crab Apple 
Run there lived in the troublous days, on lands now owned by David 
G. Braddock, a family by the name of Hume. This family consisted 
of father, mother and five or six children. The murderous savages 
came one day, and without a moment's warning massacred in cold 
blood the entii-e family, a deed of horror that could not be surpassed. 
In this same general neighborhood at various times Indians slaughtered 
a family by the name of Mclntyre, one by tlie name of Beeham, one 
by the name of Link, another by the name of Mcintosh, a Mrs. 
Nancy Ross, and tomahawked and scalped two Beekman boys, and 
committed many other depredations, the traditions of which have 
become so dim by the erasure of time that I have been unable to 
elicit sufficient particulars to justify an attempt at relating them." 



IIISTOHY OF GUEKNE COUNTY. 533 



CHAPTER XLV. 

PERRY TOWNSHIP. 

Surface — Son, — PEonrcnoNS — BouxnARiES — Mount Morris — In- 
telligence — Schools — Directors — Jeremiah Glassgow — Per- 
sonal Contest — First Settler — AVar Paths. 

THIS township is situated in the southern part of the county. Its 
surface is broken, and along the streams precipitous, the rocky 
strata that underlies the soil being exposed to view, piled in massive 
layers one above another, often overhanging the foliage below, along 
which the road winds in seeming dangerous proximity to the cliff. 
But notwithstanding the immensity of the hills, the soil is fertile and 
produces abundant crops of corn, wheat, rye, oats, potatoes, and i-oots 
on which sheep and cattle are fed. The broken and untillable por- 
tions are covered with heavy growths of tine timber, thus covering 
up the deformities of nature and making every part picturesque and 
beautiful. The township is well watered by Dunkard Creek and its 
numerous tributaries. There are portions of the territory which have 
never been improved, being still covered by forest; but the greater 
portion is under a good state of cultivation, and tine breeds of sheep, 
cattle, horses and swine are everywhere noticeable. The township is 
bounded on the' nortli by Whiteley, on the east by Dunkard, on the 
south by Mason and Dixon's line, and west by Wayne. 

At the southeast corner of the township, on the right bank of 
Dunkard Creek, bordered by towering hills, is the pleasant village of 
Mount Morris. It is regularly laid out, and has an air of prosperity, 
though its growth has for some time been impeded by a nuniljer of 
causes which now fortunately seem to be passing away, and an era of 
prosperity appears to be opening before it. The village has always 
been noted for the intelligence and public spirit of its people, and 
here was established one of the earliest gi'aded schools in the county. 
Secretary Black's report in 1854: gives this township eight schools 
with 220 pupils, and Mount Morris one school with seventy-five 
pupils. The report of 1887 gives the township ten schools with 336 
pupils, and Mount Morris two schools and ninety-two pupils, thus 
showing a marked increase. The report of 1859 says: "Mount Mor- 
ris lias one school. The directors of this district manifest a determi- 
nation and active zeal in the work of educational reform worthy the 



534 HISTORY OP GKEEWE COUNTY. 

noble cause in wliieli tliey ai-e engaged. This school stands number 
one." The directors of the township for the current year are: Perry 
Fox, President; Z. T. Shultz, Secretary; G. W. Headiey, David Fox, 
Isaac Cowell, J. .K. Headiey; and of Mount Morris, Dr. M. N. 
Eeamer, President; D. L. Donley, Secretary; J. li. Barrack, Dr. 
Hatfield, John W. Maxim, M. C. Monroe. 

About the year 1765, Jeremiah Glassgow, who had been the com- 
panion of John Minor in settling at Redstone, hoping to better his 
condition, crossed the Monongahela and traveled through the forests 
and thickets which cumbered all the valley of this placid stream, 
until he came to the neighborhood of Mount Morris, in what is now 
Perry Township. On the goodly lands which here border Dunkard 
Creek he selected as pleased his fancy, and toilsomely blazed his 
tract. At winter time he returned to his former home in Maryland. 
On returning in the spring he found that a giant of the forest by the 
name of Scott had, in his absence, taken possession of his tract, and 
would not be persuaded to give it up to the rightful, or rather 
original, claimant. Who was the rightful owner was yet to be deter- 
mined, not by the Marquis of Queensbury rules, but by those of the 
backwoodsman. It was accordingly agreed that the two should light 
for possession, and he who proved himself the better man should 
have it. Accordingly Glassgow chose his friend John Minor, who 
had accompanied him from Redstone and had taken lands at Maple- 
town, as his second, or best friend, and the contestants stripped for 
the trial. Glassgow was much the smaller man, though well built. 
In the first encounters Glassgow was worsted; but practicing wily 
tactics, in which he seems to have been skilled, he grappled with his 
antagonist and threw him heavily to the ground. The giant was 
soon up, but no sooner up than he was again tripped and came 
heavily to the ground. This was repeatedly practiced until the big 
man found himself so bruised and exhausted that he could not shake 
off his assailant. Glassgow was now easily able to give him all the 
punishment he desired, and when he called for a cessation of the bat- 
tle, the two arose, shook hands and agreed that the land belonged to 
Glassgow. Thus in true Horatian and Curatian style was the dispute 
settled, and Glassgow held the groiind which his blood had moistened. 
Disputes like these were not unusiial in those early days of settle- 
ment, and we may learn by this example how the land was originally 
acquired. 

Glassgow was undoubtedly one of the earliest settlers who came 
to stay and cultivate his lands, in the county, and it was the grit dis- 
played in this contest which enabled him to face all the difficulties 
and dangers which were the lot of the pioneers after the defeat of 
Braddock. As the great war-path of the natives passed through this 
township, the inhabitants were exposed to their cruelties. 



HiSTOUY OF grep:ne county. 535 

"The great Catawba war-patli," says Mr. Evans, "entered Fayette 
County from the south at the inouth of Grassy Kun, tlience north- 
ward to Ashcroft, on Mrs. Evans Wilson's land, by Rev. AVilliam 
Brownfield'e, through Uniontown, through Col. Samuel Evans' high- 
lands, past Pearse's fort, a little west of Mt. Braddock house, to 
Opossum Kun, down it to the Youghiogheny, crossing where Brad- 
dock's army crossed, thence by the Bennsville Baptist Church, thence 
by Tintsmon's mill on Jacob's Creek, thence on through Westmore- 
land and Armstrong counties, and on up the Alleghany to its source, 
and over on the headwaters of the Susquehanna into western New- 
York, the grand realm of the mighty Si.\ Nations. 

"The warrior branch of this vast trail left the Ohio River at the 
mouth of Fish Creek, up M'hich it followed to its very source. It 
then crossed over on to the waters of Dunkard Creek, and followed 
this water-course to its confluence with the Monongahela, making an 
intersection with the Catawba line in Springhill Township, Fayette 
County. But the warrior branch was not absorbed, but kept on by 
Craw's mill, and bearing towards the mouth of Redstone Creek, 
joined the old Redstone trail near Grace Church, on the national 
pike." Mason and Dixon were stopped in their survey in November, 
1767, at a point in Wayne Township, where these two paths cross. 



CHAPTER XLVI. 
RICHHILL TOWNSHIP. 



Name Significant — Gkaysville — Jacksonville — Thomas Leepeb — 
Cameron Station — Ryerson's Fort — Old Sea Captain 
Searches for His Town — Fort — The Davis Massacre — David 
Gray — Braddocks — Abner Braddook Drowned — The Tea- 
gardens — Jacob Crow — Headless Hunter — Massacre of 
Three Sisters — Return of the Murderer — Schools — Di- 
rectors. 

THIS township undoubtedly takes its name from the characteristics 
of its surface, for it is one stretch of hills throughout its broad 
domain, and the soil is everywhere deep and rich. This section 
early assumed importance from its being on the direct trail from 
Wheeling to the Muskingum country, down Ten Mile Creek to 



536 HISTORY OF greene county. 

Braddock's road, and was frequented from the earliest times by the 
savages, and later by droves of cattle, sheep and swine on their way 
eastward. Graysvilie is quite a thriving little village situated on 
the Waynesbiirg and Wheeling road thirteen miles from Waynes- 
burg and three and a half miles from Jacksonville. James Mc- 
Lellan built a brick store here, which was occupied by Garret Garri- 
son, subsequently by James W. Hays, and at present by Smith 
Brothers. Jacobs and Hardy are just opening a place of business 
here, April, 1888. The United Presbyterians have a fine church 
edifice, where the Rev. Samuel Graham ministers, and has a school 
of high grade. The postoffice is known as Plarvey's. Jacksonville, 
near the center of the township, is located on a pleasant elevation 
known as Elk Ridge, the postottice having the suggestive name of 
Windridge. The tract was originally acquired by Thomas Leeper, 
his patent bearing date of February 15, 1798, issued by the State of 
Pennsylvania. Robert Brister bought the land where the village is 
now located and surveyed and laid out the plot of the town. Will- 
iam Super had a hotel here forty-four years ago, and Bryan and 
Tupper have succeeded in business. Daniel Walton, Garret Garri- 
son and Charles Pettit have carried on trade at successive periods. 
Sowers and Drake and A. J. Goodman now do a prosperous busi- 
ness. The Cumberland Presbyterian and Methodist Episcopal 
churches have commodious places of worship. Masonic ilall and 
Odd Fellows Hall are pretentious structures, the former bearing the 
name of George Connell, once a leader in the Pennsylvania Senate, 
conspicuously displayed upon its front. Merchandise is largely 
brought to this town from a station on the Baltimore & Ohio Rail- 
road. 

Ryerson Station, once the site ot an important rallying point in 
times of danger known as Ryei-son's Fort, is situated on the great 
Indian war-path leading across from the Ohio River to the Mononga- 
hela, at the confluence of the north and south forks of Dunkard 
branch of Wheeling Creek — a fine stretch of valley with lines of in- 
terminable hills sweeping up on all sides in graceful curves, and 
covered with luxuriant foliage. So suitable did it appear for a town 
that the original owner, Thomas Ryerson, bethought him to make 
the drawing of such a place as he pictured in his imagination woiild 
be a suitable concomitant to such a location, and taking it to Phila- 
delphia, sold out his would-be city for a reality, to an old sea captain 
by the name of Connell, father of the late George Connell. Great 
was the astonishment of the purchaser of this city on paper to find 
only a few hats at the forks of two wild streams, the ground not even 
cleared of the trees and bushes, and the dense, primeval forest resting 
on all the hills. 

It was recognized from the very first as an important strategic 



IIISTOrtY OF OTtEENR COUNTY. 537 

point of defence for the settlers against tlie incursion of hostile In- 
dians from their villages across the Ohio. Here the authorities of 
Virginia had a fort huilt, to the defence of which Cajitain James 
Seals was sent, having in his company the grandfather, father and 
uncles of Isaac Teagarden, and Thomas Lazear, father of Hon. Isaac 
Lazear. 

"About the year 1790," says Evans, "a family by name of Davis 
resided on the north branch of Dunkard AYheeling Creek, about three 
miles above Eyerson Station, and a short distance below Stall's or 
Kinkaid's mill. The family, with the exception of one fortunate lad 
who had been sent to drive up the horses, were seated around the 
breakfast table, partaking of an humble but substantial repast. Sud- 
denly a party of warrior savages appeared at the cabin door. The 
old man and his two sons sprang up as by instinct to i-each for their 
guns which hung on convenient pegs by the cabin wall; but the de- 
sign was detected by tiie Indians, who instantly shot the three dead 
on the spot. After scalping the victims, despatching the breakfast 
and pillaging the premises, they made captive the mother and only 
daughter, and departed on their way up the creek. The boy managed 
to elude them, and escaped unharmed. It appears that they captured 
a horse. One of the Indians mounted it, and taking the girl before 
him, and the woman Ijehind him, was traveling gayly along. How- 
ever, they had not proceeded far when a shot from the rifle of John 
Henderson, who lay concealed in an adjoining thicket, knocked the 
jolly savage oft". But whether the wound was fatal or not, Henderson 
did not remain to find out. He had to provide himself safety from 
the infuriated savages." Some time after the decaying body of the 
daughter was found, but no trace of the mother was ever discovered. 
The mutilated bodies of the slain were buried near the cabin, and 
their graves are still marked. The skeleton remains of an Indian 
were afterwards found, supposed to have been the savage shot by 
Henderson. 

David Gray settled on the Ephraim McClelland farm, a short dis- 
tance east of what is now known as the Brick Tavern at Graysville. 
Upon one occasion the dreaded savage having made his appearance 
in that vicinity, Mr. Gray with his wife, each with a child to carry, 
abandoned their home in the night and fled, the wife and two chil- 
dren on horseback, himself on foot, all the way to Jackson's fort, a 
distance of about fifteen miles. He was one of the commissioners to 
locate and plat the town of Waynesburg for a county seat, and was 
appointed one of the first associate judges. He was appointed a 
justice of the peace for Ilichhill in April, 1793, while yet a part of 
Washington County. 

ATina Gray, one of the daughters of Judge David Gray, married 
Frank Braddock and had a family of five sons — Harvey, David, Frank, 



538 HISTORY OF GREEiSrE COUNTY. 

Joseph and Green, tlie three last becoming quite eminent Presbyterian 
ministers. Abner Braddock, a brother of Francis, was an Indian ' 
scout, and settled on Crabapple Run, where David Braddock now 
lives. He went on an expedition against the Indians beyond the 
Ohio Eiver. On returning his comrades arrived at the right bank 
of the river, and began the construction of a raft on which to cross. 
Being an expert swimmer and not desiring to wait for its completion, 
he placed his clothes and gun on a slight support, and plunged in, 
pushing it before him. Near the middle of the stream he was seen 
to leave his raft and pass on down the current; soon he disappeared 
beneath the surface and was seen no more. Among the scouts who 
witnessed his death were Siiadracli Mitchel, James Brownlee and 
William Gaston. John Gray was a brother of Judge David Gray, 
and Matthew was one of the scouts with Abner Braddock, and one 
of Capt. James Seals' soldiers. He had two sons, William and John. 
The latter is still living in Richhill Township. 

William Teagardeii sold his possessions on the Monongahela, but 
receiving his price in Continental scrip (^the inflation currency of 
that day), it fell as flat on his hands as Confederate legal-tenders after 
Sherman's march to the sea. Financially he was ruined. His home 
was gone, his money of no value, bait his spirit was undaunted, and 
he began life anew by again braving the untried forest. Exploring 
the country inland, he made another tomahawk improvement on 
Wheeling waters, near Byerson Station, to which he removed. 
Here he remained the remnant of his many days, and reared his 
large and thrifty family. Here he experienced many a hardship, 
witnessed many a sad scene in murdered friends, and inade many a 
hair-breadth escape. Here he and two of his boys, Abraham and 
Isaac, enlisted in Capt. James Seals' company, and served honorably 
under Gen. Anthony Wayne in his eventful but successful campaigns 
against the hostile tribes. Capt. Seals and his brave company ren- 
dezvoused for some time at Eyerson Station, and afforded security 
to the much harrassed settlements in that vicinity. 

The entire life of that generation of Teagardens was a continual 
warfare. They were soldiers from the cradle to the grave. Con- 
stantly on the frontier, which was either in a state of defence or 
engaged in actual vigorous warfare in repelling a most blood-thirsty 
invader, they lived at a time that tried men's souls, and endured 
hardships and braved dangers almost beyond belief. Isaac Teagarden 
inherited the spirit of his forefathers, and though superannuated 
long ere the war of the liebellion broke out, he enlisted in the Eighty- 
iifth regiment and served honorably throughout the long and terrible 
years of that civil war. 

In 1769 Jacob Crow, a German, settled near where subse- 
quently Crow's Mill was built, some five miles below Eyerson 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 539 

Station. Michael, his youngest son, was but thi'ee weeks old when 
he came, but Martin, Fred and John, older boys, were also of the 
famih'. He was a thrifty farmer, and gradually added tract after 
tract until he owned a beautiful and valuable domain. While the 
Crow family was thus living in the seclusion of this delectable val- 
ley, two men, whose names have not been preserved, came in and 
established a hunting camp two and a half miles below Crow's cabin, 
on lands now owned bj the Ilarshes. Here the two were surprised 
by the Iiidians and one of them killed. The other made his escape 
and roused the settlers. On returning to the camp, they M^ere horri- 
fied to lind that the head of the murdered man had been cut off, and 
the most diligent search failed to disclose the place of its conceal- 
ment. On the following winter while Jacob Crow was drawing 
wood in this vicinity, what was his astonishment and horror to lind, 
when arrived at his destination, that a man's head was caught fast in 
the hook of his log chain. The chain left dragging through the 
leaves had caught firmly in the under jaw — a ghastly spectacle. In 
this visit to the camp for the burial of the dead, and pursuit of the 
Indians, two of the sons of Jacob Crow, Fred and Martin, joined, 
leading their little brotlier Michael. Thinking the tramp too long 
for him tliey left him at a vacant caliin intending soon to return. 
But for three days he was left alone, a faithful dog keeping him 
company. 

On the first day of May, 1791, four daughters of Jacob Crow, 
Elizabetli, Susanna, Katharine and Christina, from ten to sixteen 
years of age, started out on a pleasure excursion to visit the family 
of Thomas Lazear, then living on lands now owned by Thomas Gray. 
Proceeding leisurely along the creek, they discovered a shad-bellied 
snake, which, having disabled, they were teasing. AVhile thus en- 
gaged their brother Michael came riding down the creek, and called 
to the youngest to mount behind him and ride home; but this she 
declined to do, and he rode away. Scarcely had he gone, when two 
hideous savages, and a heartless renegade white man, by the name 
of Spicer, darted out from their covert, and motioned the girls to 
silence. Hurrying them away up the rugged hillside to a dark 
ravine they were made to be seated upon a fallen tree. After making 
inquiries about their home and its means of defense, a powerful sav- 
age seized a hand of each of the younger girls in one of his, and 
with uplifted tomahawk prepared to deal the blow of death. Chris- 
tina, by a sudden movement, released herself and dashed away. The 
Indian pursued, and gave her such a thrust with his gun as sent her 
headlong down the declivity. Thinking that she was dispatched, he 
returned to have a hand in the slaughter of the other three. But 
Christina still lived, and recovering herself, she saw one of the In- 
dians deal repeated blows upon Elizabeth, felling her to the earth. 



540 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

Crazed by the apiDalling sight, she darted away to seek for help. 
Taking the alarm, the families of the settlers were hurried off to 
Lindley's fort, and Isaac Teagarden, a lad of ten years, was mounted 
upon a fleet horse and sent to Inlow's block house for help. 

" Next morning," says Evans, " a company was organized, and 
repairing to the place of death, beheld a spectacle, the like of which 
only frenzied demons conld have produced. There lay Betsy and 
Susan literally butchered, mangled, dead, scalped. But Katharine 
was not there. Soon, however, traced by stains of blood, she was dis- 
covered near the water's edge, whither she had crept to slake her fever- 
ish thirst. She, too, had been hewn down by the tierce and infuriated 
savages, her scalp torn oft", and left for dead. Weltering in her gore 
she lay all that dreary, terrible night, unconscious of her wretched 
state. Next morning, awakened to consciousness by the gobbling of 
the wild turkeys, she found herself writhing beneath the scorching 
rays of a clouldless sun, and almost perishing of thirst. She was 
tenderly removed to the shadow of a large rock, which, but little 
changed, yet remains in a patch in a bottom land ,a few rods down the 
creek. Here she revived somewhat, and faintly related what little 
she remembered of the terrible affair, and gently chided her brother 
Michael, saying, 'I thought 3'ou would have come to me sooner.'" 
lier scalp was hitched on a haw bush but a few steps from the rock, 
supposed to have been drawn from the Indian's belt as he dashed 
through in pursuit of Christina. The scalp was fitted into the place 
from whence it had been torn, but the wound had become so irritated 
that it would not again adhere. Katharine survived in torment for 
three days, when she was relieved by death, and the three sisters 
were buried side by side. John, a favorite son, afterwards shared a 
like fate at the hands of the savages, and Jacob's hearthstone became 
desolate indeed. Christina lived and became the wife of John Mc- 
Bride. She preserved her scalp, and cari-ied the print of the muzzle 
of the Indian's gun between her shoulders to her dying day. 

Years after at a log-rolling at Jacob Crow's, two strangers, one 
an Indian, called at the house, and asked for food. Christina recog- 
nized the Indian as one of the murderers of her sisters. Scarcely 
had they left when her brother Michael and a trusty friend pursued. 
.They Avere tracked to the neighborhood of Jackson's fort, where the 
trail was lost. The young men encamped for the night, and in the 
morning started to return. They had not gone far before they dis- 
covered the trail of their game, leading up a dark ravine. Following 
it up, their forsaken camp was soon found. Finding that the cul- 
prits had escaped and were far out of the Avay, Crow and his com- 
panion returned to their homes. This was after a treaty of peace had 
been concluded with the Indians. Michael Crow was afterwards ap- 
prehended, on suspicion of having murdered these travelers. But 



JIISTOIiY OF GUEENK COUNTY. 541 

on proof that the men had subsequently been seen, he was released, 
though his neighbors were wont to darkly hint that the hunt of 
Michael was not gameless. 

Martin and Frederick Crow were noted hunters, and fearless In- 
dian scouts. Michael married Nancy Johnson, and was the father of 
ten children — William, John, Jacob, Michael, Nancy, Mary, Eliza- 
beth, Margaret, Susan and Charlotte. About the year 1845, he and 
his son Michael built the popular mills known as " Crow's " mills. He 
died in 1852, at the age of eighty-three. Ills sons, Michael and 
Jacob, now^ old men, still inherit portions of the original Crow lands. 
Michael owns the home farm, upon -which the mill now stands. 
Michael married Sarah Jane Lucas, and has nine children, among 
whom is John M. Crow, professor of languages of Waynesburg 
College, who has given much of the information detailed above. 

The soil of all this section is well watered and very fertile. The 
farm houses are commodious and comfortable, and the barns are 
among the largest and best planned of any in the county. The town- 
ship is bounded on the nortli by Washington County, on the east by 
Morris, Jackson and Center, on the south by Aleppo, and west by 
West Virginia. The principal streams are the several tributaries of 
the Dunkard fork of Wheeling Creek. By the report of 1855 Hich- 
hill is credited with eighteen schools and 900 pupils. In the report 
of 1859 tlie supei'intendent says, "The directors of this district mani- 
fest an interest in the general cause of education, highly commend- 
able. They have also taken considerable care in selecting competent 
teachers." The directors for the current year are: Stepiien Knight, 
President; N. H. Braddock, Secretary; Elias Gribbin, George Mc- 
Cullough, Abner Phillips and William Carpenter. 



54:3 HISTOEY OF GEEENE COUWTY. 



CHAPTER XLYII. 
SPRINGHILL TOWNSHIP. 

CoENEE Stone — Suefacb and Soil — New Feeepoet — Isaac J. 
Hupp — Deep Yalley — The Ceows — Massaceed by Indians — 
Schools — Dieectoes. 

SPIilNGHILL TOWNSHIP is located in the extreme southwest 
corner of Greene County and consequently of the State of Penn- 
sylvania. At its southwest e.xtrenaity is that corner bound of the 
State that was so long souglit and contended over by the authorities 
of Virginia and Pennsylvania, and was Unally discovered by erect- 
ing an observatory and finding by repeated astronomical observa- 
tions the true longitude of the place. This method was adopted 
upon the recommendation of Thomas Jefferson, then Governor of 
Yii'ginia. Mason and Dixon had attempted to find it by reducing 
the distance over mountains and down the valleys to horizontal 
measurement after having found the length of a degree of longitude 
at the parallel of their line. The two methods, however, substantially 
agreed. 

The surface of this township is seamed by the Pennsylvania fork 
of Fish Creek and its tributaries, which drain every part and afford 
ample power for mill purposes and for its numerous flocks and herds. 
The soil is fertile and the yields of grain are abundant. Though 
the country is very broken, and the hills rise almost to the propor- 
tions of mountains, springs of pure water are found even to their 
very summits, and there is scarcely a foot of sterile land throughout 
all its borders. Cattle, sheep and hogs are the most profitable pro- 
ducts, though dairying is carried on to some extent. Quantities of 
hay from its rich bottom lands and timber from the hills are shipped 
away and afford a good income. 

This township was not organized until 1860, and was taken from 
Aleppo and a part of Gilmore townships. It is almost the only 
township in the county that has a regular outline, being in the form 
of a parallelogram. It is bounded on the north by Aleppo, on the 
east by Gilmore, on the south by Mason and Dixon's line -which 
separates from West Yirginia, and on the west by the State line 
which separates it from the Pan Handle of West Yirginia. New 
Freeport is the most considerable village in the township, and is a 



HISTORY OV GREENE COtlNTV. 543 

place of business and rapidly growing. Isaac J. IIupp, son of Ever- 
Iiart Ilupp, one of the earliest settlers on Ten Mile Creek, came to 
this place in 1851, when there were only three houses here, one of 
which he occupied, and kept a hotel. William Elder had a small 
store. Judge Thompson resided at AVheeling, and was accustomed 
to pass through here on his way to Morgantown on his circuit. Ills 
was the only buggy seen in these parts for many years. He was 
accustomed to stop over night at Hupp's. William P. Iloskinson 
came after an interval and succeeded Elder in mercantile business. 
James Berdine, Jackson Barker, Edward Fence, James Styles and 
Solomon White have from time to time been engaged in business 
here. Peter Bradley & Co. are still engaged in business here. This 
valley was once a sugar camp, the sugar maple being very prolific. 
A Baptist church edifice was built here in 1850, and the church was 
ministered to by Rev. G. W. Archer. A new edilice is to take tlie 
place of the old one this season. The Rev. Joseph Clark, an Eng- 
lishman, preceded Archer in ministrations to this church, and Rev. 
Morgan Tilton succeeded. Deep Valley, a few miles below on Fish 
Creek, has a postoffice, and is a place of considerable business, the 
steam mills located there giving it an air of importance. 

The quiet hills and valleys along this stream at an early day 
were the favorite tramping grounds of the whites as well as the 
Indians. 

Sometime in the year 1780 John, Frederick and Martin Crow, 
sons of Jacob, who had settled at Crow's Mill, together with one 
Dickson, went out on the waters of Fish Creek and established a 
camp for the purpose of hunting elk. Going out by twos or singly 
they separated during the day and returned at evening. Fred and 
Martin came in late, and Fred having shot a duck, and observing a 
bright fire in the camp, thought to surprise his comi-ades by throw- 
ing the duck into their midst. At the instant, they were fired on by 
savages concealed near by. Martin had his ear shot away, and 
Frederick was shot through the shoulder. Dropping forward, his 
comrade supposed him killed, and Hed for safety. Thinking the 
way was now clear, Fred pulled some sassafras leaves and was chew- 
ing them in order to make a decoction to apply to his wound, when, 
looking up, he saw an Indian levelling his gun at him. As if by 
instinct he fell to the ground just at the instant that the bullet passed 
harmless over him. Both guns being empty, Fred escaped across 
the creek and the savage did not follow. In the meantime John, 
hearing the firing, ran up to ascertain the cause, and was pierced by 
seven bullets aimed at his heart by the lurking red skins, and so 
accurate was the aim that they entered his body so as not 
to make a wound larger than a man's hand. The wounded Fred 
signaled long for his comrades to come to his assistance, using the 



S44 HistOEir OF greene cotjnty. 

call of a wolf wliicli had been agreed on; but, fearful of Indian 
treachery, they dared not for a long time to come. Returning 
cautiously they found Fred, whom they supposed to have been dead, 
still alive. Organizing a party to search for John, his body was 
found where it had fallen, scalped and mutilated in true Indian 
fashion. The body was buried at the foot of a beech tree, which 
was duly marked and lettered, and was visible for many years; but 
was finally girdled and destroyed. 

Springhill was among the latest of the townships settled, and 
even now thei-e are large tracts of forest which have never been 
cleared away. This township has eleven schools with an average 
attendance of 378 pupils. The following are the school directors: 
John Sellers, President; Peter Bradley, Secretary; John Minor, 
Lindsay Caseman, Wilson Miller, Owen Chancy. 



CHAPTER XLVIII. 
WAYNE TOWNSHIP. 



Location — Boundaeies — Well Watered — Dye's Mill — Schools 

PUENITUEE foe A CaBIN DrESS OF PlONEEES MaSSACRE 

AT StATTLEe's FoET BuEIAL OF AN InFANT. 

THIS township is located in the southern portion of the county, 
and it was here on Dunkard Creek that Mason and Dixon were 
stopped in running their line, at a point where the great Indian war 
path crosses it. It is one of the largest townships in the county, 
and is bounded on the north by Center and Franklin, on the east by 
Whiteley and Perry, on the south by West Virginia, and on the 
west by Gilmore and Jackson. The water slied in the northern part 
sends its waters to nearly all points of the compass; by Pursley 
Creek and Smith's Pun to the north, by the Whiteley to the east, by 
Pandolph's, Robert's, Shepherd's, Hoover's and Tom's runs to the 
south, and by the tributaries of Wheeling Creek to the west. It is, 
however, substantially in the valley of Dunkard Creek which touches 
lightly its southern border and receives the numerous , tributaries. 
It has no villages, though Blacksville, a thriving little town, is lo- 
. cated just across the line in West Virginia, the northern tier of lots 
reaching into Pennsylvania. Nearly a century ago James Dye built 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 545 

a iloiiriiig-uiill here, the remains of which are still visible, which 
was frequented by the early settlers. Caleb Spragg, John McGee, 
Uriah Spragg, John Roberts, John Piles, Lences Jackson and John 
Lantz are mentioned as the pioneer settlers in the township. The 
surface is broken, as is nearly every part of the county, but is under 
a good state of cultivation, and the farms present an air of prosperity. 
The earliest report of the schools gives this township nine with 352 
pupils. The report of 1887 credits it twelve schools and 522 pupils, 
a marked increase. The directors for the current year are J. Morris, 
President; John King, Secretary; llichard Thralls, Marion Minor, 
Thomas Hoge and Mathias Brant. 

The early settlers had many liardships to endure and were ac- 
customed to privations. Dr. Smith in Ids secular history of this 
section gives the following amusing account of the furniture of a 
pioneer cabin: 

" A single fork, placed with its lower end in a hole in the floor 
and the upper end fastened to the joist, served for a bedstead, by 
placing a pole in the fork with one end through a crack, between the 
logs in the wall. This front pole was crossed by a shorter one -with- 
in the fork, with its outer end through another crack. From the 
first pole through a crack between the logs of the end of the house 
the boards were put on, which formed the bottom of the bed. Some- 
times other poles were pinned to the fork, a little distance above 
these, for the purpose of supporting the front and foot of the bed, 
while the walls were the support of its back and its head. A few 

f)egs around the walls for a display of the coats of the women and 
lunting-shirts of the men, and two small forks or buck's horns to a 
joist for the rifle and shot-pouch, completed the carpenter work." 

" Their dress was partly Indian and partly that of civilized na- 
tions. The hunting-shirt was universally worn. This was a kind 
of loose frock, reaching half way down the thighs, with large sleeves, 
open before, and so wide as to lajj over a foot or more when belted. 
The cape was large, and sometimes handsomely fringed with a 
ravelled piece of cloth of a diflerent color from that of the hunting- 
shirt itself" 

The valley of Dunkard Creek was doubtless one of the most at- 
tractive and hence among the first tarrying places for white men in 
Greene County. The ease with which the Monongahela Piver could 
be reached was probably one of its inviting features. In 1778 a 
considerable settlement had gathered in the neighborhood of where 
Blacksville now is. A short distance below, on the Virginia side, the 
settlers had built Stattler's Fort — a place of refuge in time of danger. 
In 1778 the Indians were known to be on the war path, and for greater 
security the settlers went forth to their labor in bands, helping each 
other, and while some worked, others stood guard. One evening 



546 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

after a good day's work they bxitchered some liogs, and set out with 
their precious burden for the fort, all unsuspicious of any danger. 
But, doubtless attracted by the piercing squeals of the swine, a band 
of over one hundred Indians were on the watch for them, ambushint^ 
the path which the pioneers would follow. Toilsomely jnoving on 
with their burdens, they had approached within sight of the fort, and 
were doubtless thinking of the delicions porksteaks they would enjoy 
for their suppers, when all of a sudden the forest was ablaze with the 
fire from the Indians' guns. Several were killed by the first volley; 
but the survivors rallied and returned the lire, fighting their way 
through to the fort, but leaving eighteen of their number dead, 
scattered along the path. So weakened were they that it was some 
days before the survivors ventured forth to bury the dead, whom they 
found stripped, scalped and shockingly mangled. This massacre oc- 
curred near the State line, on the Warrior Branch of the great In- 
dian war path, and it is supposed that this was a war party on its 
way home. The bones of Jacob Stattler, who was killed and buried 
here, were washed out by the rains, and were reinterred not many 
years ago. Brice Worley, grandfather of John I. Worley, of Wayne 
Township, settled on a tract of land a half mile below Blacksville in 
1778. Brice Worley's first born babe died in infancy, and there is 
a well preserved tradition that the brave mother stood a faithful 
sentinel whilst the father nailed Tip a rude box, prepared the grave, 
and committed the darling baby to the earth. The little mound is 
still well preserved. Brice Worley's house was stockaded and was 
known as Worley's Fort. Nathan Worley, his brother, was killed 
by the Indians. 



History of greene county. 54:7 



CHAPTER XLIX. 

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP. 

CuMMEECIALLY SiTUATED IIaIL-RoAD 800 SUBSCRIBERS CoST 

$6,500 PER Mile — In 1877 is Heard the First Scream of toe 
Locomotive — Surface — Boundaries — Early Settlers — He- 
LiGioNS — First Sacrament in 1783 — Services in a Barn — 
Schools — Directors. 

COMMERCIALLY, Washington Township is perhaps more 
favorably located than any other in the county. A highway of an easy 
grade leads down the valley of Ruff's Run, through the central portion, 
and connects at Jefferson with good roads leading to Rice's Landing, on 
the Monongahela River. It was also easily accessible to Waynes - 
burg, so that it' had the Pittsburg and home markets at its command 
from an early day. But latterly it has become especially favored by 
the opening of the Washington tfe Waynesburg Railroad, which by 
the several stations along its course gives easy outlet to Waynesburg 
and Pittsburg for the immense produce of all this fertile region. 

The rail-road, though but narrow guage, is of great importance, 
not only to this township, but to the entire count3\ The project had 
been for a long time agitated; but seeing no prospect of having one 
built by foreign capital, the citizens of the county put their own 
money into the enterprise, and soon saw their wishes gratified. 

In the fall of 1874 the matter took definite form, and during the 
winter and spring succeding, preliminary surveys were made, and 
experimental lines run. Stock books were opened, and about eight 
hundred citizens, principally in Greene County, subscribed. An ag- 
gregate subscription of $130,000 having been obtained, the company 
was organized in May, 1875, with the choiceof the following officers: 
J. G. Ritchie, of Waynesburg, President; Chief Engineer O. Barrett, 
Jr., of Allegheny, and the following named eleven gentlemen directors: 
Simon Rinehart, Henry Sayers, J. T. Hook, A. A. Purman, W. C. 
Condit, Henry Swart, Jacob Swart, Ephraim Conger, James Dunn, 
Thomas lames, John Munnel. The length of the road is twenty- 
nine miles. The guage is three feet, and with two engines and cars 
complete, ready to operate, cost $G,500 per mile. By the first of 
September, 1877, fourteen miles from Washington were completed, 



548 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

and the cars began to nin. By the 17th the track-layers had crossed 
the county line, and the locomotive, " General Greene," entered the 
limits of Greene, and for the first time in all its borders, screamed 
out its note of triumph. Early in October the road was completed, 
and trains commenced running regularly over its entire length. Hon. 
Justus Fordyce Temple, formerly Auditor-General of the State, was 
for several years at the head of the company, and his annual reports 
show that the passenger traffic, and tonnage of the road, had steadily 
increased under his faithful management. Recently the road has 
passed under the control of the Pennsylvania Company, and is oper- 
ated as a part of its great network of chemin defer. 

Washington, like all the townships on the northern border of the 
county, is very rugged, though iinder a good state of cultivation. 
The roads, generally following the courses of the streams, run from 
north to south. It is well watered by a series of runs, Craig's, 
Crayne's, Boyd's, Euffs, Overflowing and Hopkins'. It is bounded 
on the north by Washington County, on the east by Morgan Town- 
ship, on the south by Franklin and on the west by Morris. There is 
no village of any importance in the township, though at the almost 
exact center of its territory, on Ruff's Run, is a mill, store, school- 
house and dwellings, which will probably in time become a place of 
some importance. This township was not organized till 1838, and 
was taken from Morris, Morgan and Franklin. 

A number of English and Scotch emigrants, who had come over 
and settled in New England, subsequently removed to New Jersey, 
Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia. Still not satisfied they crossed 
the mountains, and some found their way to this and the neighbor- 
ing township of Amwell, in Washington County, and brought with 
them a love of religious liberty, first promulgated and acted upon by 
Roger Williams. Among those who thus early settled here was 
Demas Lindley, who acquired property just across the county line, 
on whose land a fort, known as Lindley's Fort, was erected, which 
was a rallying point and a place of refuge for the inhabitants for a 
wide circuit in the two counties. He also built a mill, known as 
Lindley's Mill, which stood upon the site of the present structure 
which still bears his name. He was accompanied by some fifteen or 
twenty families, most of whom emigrated with the Pilgrims, who 
spread abroad in this section, and whose descendants still dwell along 
this stretch of highlands. Following the example of their New Eng- 
land associates they early established churches, the Baptists in 1772, 
and the Presbyterians in 1781, known as the ivpper and lower Ten- 
Mile. A tract of land was donated by Demas Lindley, which was to 
be held in perpetuity " for the occupancy and use of a Presbyterian 
Church and for no other purpose whatsoever." The entry in the 
church book for Wednesday, April 30, 1783, was " Present, Thad- 



History of greene county. 549 

deus Dodd, V. D. M.; Demas Lindley, Joseph Coe, Jacob Cooke, 
Daniel Axtell, elders. At this session twenty-two persons joined." 
The sacrament was first administered on the third Sabbatli in May, 
1783, by Kev. Thaddeus Dodd, assisted by Rev. John McMillan. The 
meeting was held in Daniel Axtell's barn. 

The earliest report of the schools of this township, made in 1854, 
credits it with seven, and an attendance of 436 pupils, which is a 
remarkable number for a rural population. In the report of 1887, 
while the number of schools remains the same, the number of scholars 
in attendance is only 237, which would seem to indicate that the 
families are less numerous now than in that earlier day. The 
directors for the current year are, T. M. Ross, President; J. B. Cox, 
Secretary; Benjamin Shirk, Silas Joluison, Gr. W. Huffman and 
George Durbin. 



CHAPTER L. 
WHITELEY TOWNSHIP. 



commeecial advantages sukfaoe boundaries experience of 

Dk. McMillan — Mr. Evans' Account of Mrs. Bozartii — He- 
roic Defense of Herself — Relief. 

THE northern part of this township reaches up within a few miles 
of the county seat, and has hiirhways of easy grade tliat lead by 
the valleys of Whiteley Creek to the navigable waters of the Mononga- 
hela River. It has, consequently, had access to good markets from its 
earliest settlement. This advantage is shown by the stimulus it has 
given to agricultural pursuits, throughout all its borders. Few 
townships in the county can show farms under better tillage, the 
stock more intelligently bred, and the homes of the inhaltitants more 
tasteful and comfortable. 

The surface is rolling and well watered by Whiteley Creek and 
Dyer's Fork. It is bounded on the north by Franklin and Jefferson, 
on the east by Greene, on the south by Perry, and on the west by 
Wayne and Franklin. In the southern portion of the tow^^ship, at 
the forks ot Whiteley Creek, is tlie village of Newtown, which is 
supplied with mills and the usual places of business, and a Method- 
ist Episcopal Church is located here. Secretary Black's report of 
1854 shows this townsliip to have eight schools and 274 ])upils; by 
the report of 1887 it is seen to have nine schools and 255 pupils, 



550 HISTORY OP GREENE COUNTY. 

which would seem to indicate that the families are more diminutive 
in size now than a tliird of a century ago. The board of directors 
for the current year is constituted as follows: Dr. C. C. Conway, 
President; M. C. Brant, Secretary; John Meighen, James Hatfield, 
John Cowell, and Thomas Mooney. 

The early settlers of this township endured the privations of 
frontier life, and the terror inspired by Indian savagery. When Dr. 
McMillan, the eminent Presbyterian divine, came to this section, 
there was little comfort in the home life of the people, and he began 
life among them in as simple away as the humblest to whom he 
ministered. He says: "When I came to this country, the cabin in 
which I was to live was raised, but there was no roof on it, nor any 
chimney nor floor. The people, however, were very kind, and as- 
sisted me in preparing my house, and on the 16th of December I 
removed into it. But we had neither bedstead nor tables, nor stool, 
nor chair, nor bucket. All these things we had to leave behind us; 
as there was no wagon road at that time over the mountains, we 
could bring nothing but what was carried on pack-horses. We placed 
two boxes on each other, which served us for a table, and two kegs 
answered for seats, and having committed ourselves to God in family 
worship, we spread a bed on the floor, and slept soundly till morn- 
ing. The next day a neighbor came to my assistance. We made a 
table and a stool, and in a little time had everything comfortable 
about us." 

One of the most thrilling incidents in early pioneer life was that 
of Experience Bozarth. Mr. Evans gives the following description 
of it in his Centennial papers: 

" In the spring of 1779 we find her living in a cabin in the lower 
part of the valley of Dnnkard Creek. That it was on Dunkard 
Creek, and in Greene Count}' there is no historic event more posi- 
tive. But the exact locality, which did we know, would add much 
to the interest of the story, is not recorded, nor is there any tra- 
dition to my knowledge on the subject at all. All accounts speak 
of her as a lone woman. She is designated as Mrs. Experience 
Bozarth only. 

" About the middle of March there was an alarm of Indians. 
Besides hers, there were but two or three cabins in the neighbor- 
hood. For some reason, either because her cabin afforded the best 
wall of defence, or because she was such a fearless creature, the 
neighbors fearing to stay at home all assembled at her house, and 
were abiding there presuming that in union there was strength. 

" After the lapse of some days, when the fears of an attack had 
begun to subside and a feeling of comparative security was being 
restored, and tlie vigilance against surprise had consequently been i-e- 
laxed, at a moment when there were but two men in the house, some 



HISTOKY OF GREENE COUNTY. 551 

of the chilJren of tlie various families ran in from their play in 
much alarm, crying, 'Ugly red men! Ugly red men?' Upon one of 
tlie men stepping to the door he received a ball in the side of the 
breast, which caused him to fall back on the floor. The Indian wlio 
shot liim sprang in over his prostrate body, and grappled with the 
remaining white man. The white man threw him on the bed and 
called for a knife with which to despatch him, and Experience an- 
swered that call by seizing an axe and splitting out the brains of the 
intruding savage. At the same instant another Indian entered the 
door and shot dead the man who was engaged with the Indian on the 
bed. Weilding again the fatal axe, Experience Bozarth disembow- 
eled that Indian on the spot, who bawled, 'Murder! murder!' Im- 
mediately several others of the party who had been engaged in 
slaughtering children in the yard came to his relief, and one of them 
thrusting his head in at the door had it cleft in twain by a murder- 
ous stroke of Mrs. Bozarth's axe. At the same time another having 
caught hold of the disemboweled Indian, and drawn him out of the 
way, Mrs. Bozarth, with the aid of the man who had someM'hat re- 
covered from his wound in the Ijreast, shut the door and fastened it 
against the besieging savages. Repeated attempts were made by the 
Indians to break into the house, but our heroine and her companion 
by their bold determination and vigilant, heroic exertions, held fast 
the door and defended every entrance for several days, till a party 
came from the neighboring settlements and drove the Indians away. 



CHAPTER LI. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 



Excise Law — Held Unconstitction.vl — Transportation Difficult 
— Whisky Easy — Law Resisted — Officers Abused — Law Modi- 
fied — Still Resisted — Macfarlane Killed — Militia Called 
— Gen. Lee in Command — Washington Moves with the Army 
— Reviews It at Cumberland — Submit — Honest Whisky — No 
License — Three Stills Left — Religious Excitement — Sects^ 
Slavery — Geology — Oil — Honored List. 

AN outbreak which occurred in 1794, previous to the organization 
of tlie county, commonly called the Whisky Rebellion, which 
was conflned to the southwestern section of the State, is entitled to 
mention, though in its bearing upon the history of these parts it has 
little significance. At that early day the chief sources of wealth to 



552 IIISTOliY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

the inhabitants were the production of grain. So remote from mar- 
ket were they, however, that transportation cost what the produce 
would sell for. To put their grain in a more concentrated form, the 
farmers erected stills and converted their grain into whisky, which 
could more readily be transported to market and would command 
ready sale. "When the Revolutionary Avar was over, the new nation, 
being burdened with a great debt, laid a tax on whisky of four pence 
per gallon. The passage of this act was vigorously opposed in Con- 
gress, on the ground that the constitution provides that taxation 
shall be uniform, and the act would impose a tax on those producing 
whisky, from which those not producing it would be relieved. 

Adopting this argument, the inhabitants of the southwestern cor- 
ner of the State, chiefly the counties of Westmoreland, Alleghany, 
Washington and Fayette, resolved that they would not pay the tax. 
Revenue inspectors and collectors were warned, threatened and 
abused. The pipes of a still-house were cut, the proprietor of which 
had paid his tax, so that "Tom the Tinker," or the ironical mender 
of stills, became the title by which anonymous notices, threats and 
calls were signed. As early as 1791, Robert Johnson, collector, was 
tarred and feathered, his hair cut off, and his horse taken. The man 
sent to serve process upon the offenders, was whipped, tanked and 
feathered, his money and horse taken from him, blindfolded and left 
tied in the woods. Later in the same year, one Wilson was taken 
out of his bed, carried several miles to a blacksmith's shop, his 
clothing stripped off and burned, branded in several places with a 
hot iron, tarred and feathered, and left, naked and wounded, to his 
fate. The law was amended in 1792, and again in 1794; but all to 
no purpose, and "Tom the Tinker" men, the name by which opposers 
of the law were universally known, were only encouraged by these 
modifications to more determined resistance. On the 15th of Sep- 
tember President Washington issued his proclamation, commanding 
all persons to submit to the operations of the law; but it had not the 
desired effect. Altercations continued to occur, public meetings were 
held, resolutions asserting the determination not to pay the tax were 
passed, and finally the malcontents called out tlieir adherents, aruied 
and equipped as militia. Assaults were made upon the dwellings of 
United States officers, and some burnings occurred. Oflicers defended 
themselves, and in the melee which resulted a number were wounded 
with the small ^lot used. Among others the house of Gen. Neville, 
the inspector, was attacked. The malcontents were led by Maj. Mac- 
farlane, an officer of the Revolution. Maj. Kirkpatrick, with ten or 
twelve United States soldiers, were within the house. Neville him- 
self had left, and when a call was made on Kirkpatrick to surrender, 
he made answer that he woiild defend the house. The firing com- 
menced and continued for some time. Finally it ceased from the 



Cavalry. 


Artillery. 


Total. 


500 


200 


5,200 


500 


100 


2,100 


200 


150 


2,350 


300 




3,300 



HISTORY OF GKEKNE COUNTY. 553 

house, and Macfarlane, supposing a surrender was intended, stepped 
forward, when lie was shot and instantly killed. This act enraged 
the opposers of the tax, and a general rendezvous of their party was 
called for Braddock's tield, armed and equipped, with four days' 
rations in liaversacks. 

To sucli a pass had the opposition to the law now come that both 
State and national authorities deemed it necessary to take decisive 
action. On the Gth of August, 1794, Gov. Mifflin sent Chief Justice 
McKean and Gen. William Irvine to inquire into the tacts, and 
endeavor to allay excitement. On the following day President Wash- 
ington, who had now entered upon his second term, issued his procla- 
mation commanding all persons to disperse on or before the 1st of 
September. At the same time he called out the militia of neighbor- 
ing States, as follows: 

Infantry. ^ 

Pennsylvania, - - - 4,500 
New Jersey, - - - 1,500 

Maryland, - - - 2,000 

Virginia - - . . 3,000 

11,000 1,500 450 12,950 

On the 8th of August President Washington appointed James 
Ross, Jasper Yates and AVilliam Bradford to go to the disturbed 
section, and endeavor "to quiet or extinguish the insurrection," and 
the Governor called together the Assembly in extra session. A con- 
gress of the insurgents, composed of 2G0 delegates, was convened at 
Parkinson's Ferry on the 14th of August. But news of the de- 
termined stand taken liy Washington had been received, and the 
action of the delegates was consideralily modified. A conitnittee of 
sixty, one from each township in the disaft'ected district, was ap- 
pointed, and from these a standing committee of twelve, who were 
directed to confer with the national commissioners. Conferences 
were held, at which Gallatin and Brackeiiridge urged submission, 
while Bradford, in fiery terms, opposed. But when the vote was 
taken, and showed thirty-four to twenty-three in favor of submission, 
he yielded, declaring that if his associates would not stand by him, 
he was for submission. It was proposed to take the sense of the 
people throughout the district by having each individual citizen 
answer, over his own signature, this question: "Will the people 
submit to the laws of the United States, upon the terms proposed by 
the commissioners of the United States?" Until the 11th day of 
September was given to signify their intention. The result of this 
test was so unsatisfactory, that President Washington gave the order 
for the army to march, and with banners spread to the breeze, to the 
music of fife and drum, the column moved forward. Henry Lee — • 



554 HISTORY OF GBEENE COUNTY. 

"Light Horse Harry" — was given command. President Washing- 
ton, accompanied by Gen. Knox, Secretary of War, Alexander Ham- 
ilton, Secretary of the Treasury, and Ricliard Peters, of the District 
Court, fet out on tlie 1st of October for the scene of the disturbance. 
On Friday the President reached Harrisburg, on Saturday Carlisle. 
The committee of the insurgents held a meeting on the 2d of October 
■ at Parkinson's Ferry, when, learning that a well organized army 
with Washington at its head was on the march to enforce obedience, 
they delegated two of their number, William Findley and David 
Koddick, to meet the President and assure him of their readiness to 
submit. They were received at Carlisle; but Washington said that 
as the troops had been called oirt, he should not countermand the 
order to march. Proceeding forward, the President reached Cham- 
bersburg on the 11th, Williamsport on the 13th,, and Fort Cumber- 
land on the llth, where he reviewed the Maryland and Virginia 
troops. This was old tramping ground for Washington, and must 
have revived many early recollections. He was now near the end of 
his life, dying five years thereafter. On the 19th the President 
reached Bedford, where he became satisfied that the temper of the 
people had changed, and that they were now willing to obey the 
laws; and after tarrying a few days, determined to return to Phila- 
delphia, where he arrived on the 28th, leaving Gen. Lee to meet the 
commissioners and make such terms of pacification as should be 
just. A meeting of the committee of sixty was held at Parkinson's 
on the 24th, and a sub-committee was ordei'ed to repair to the head- 
quarters of the army, and give assurances of submission. This sub- 
committee did not arrive till after the departure of Washington; but 
at Uniontown they met Gen. Lee, with whom it was agreed that 
books should be opened in every part of the disaifected district, by 
justices of the peace, when every citizen should be required to sub- 
scribe to an oath to support the Constitution of the United States, 
and obey the laws. At the same time Gen. Neville issued an order 
for all stills to be entered according to law, which was promptly com- 
plied with. Having issued a judicious address to the people of the 
disaifected district, and being convinced that there was a sincere dis- 
position to obey the laws. Gen. Lee, on the 17th of November, gave 
orders for the immediate return of the troops to Philadelphia, except 
a small detachment under Gen. Morgan, which was left at Pittsburgh 
for the winter defence. Thus ended the campaign. Some arrests 
were made, and a few convictions were had, but all were eventually 
pardoned. 

By the records of the inspector's office, it is shown that, as early 
as 1788, there were seventy registered distilleries in the district now 
covered by Gi'eene County. Besides these there were numerous 
private distilleries, in which small quantities were made, the result 



HISTORY OF GKEENE COUNTY. 555 

at each amounting to little more than was considered necessary 
for the use of the family, whiskey being regarded as necessary as 
any article of diet. Until within a very few years large quantities 
of whiskey were produced in this county, and a high reputation was 
maintained for making an honest article. But as other sources of 
wealth from the produce of the farm were multiplied, stills were 
gradually al)andoned, until now there are only three in the entire 
borders, Gilpin South's, at I'ald liill, with a daily capacity of thirty- 
three bushels; James R. Gray's at, Gray's Landing, of 130 bushels; 
and TJ. E. Lijipincott's, at Lippincott, of ninety bushels. Some 
eight or ten years ago, Will McConnell, a noted teniperence lecturer, 
canie into the county and commenced his work. lie was received 
witli <;reat favor, and a great revival of the temperance sentiment 
was the result. Local option was submitted to a vote of the people 
and was decided in favor of no license, so that now intoxicating, 
liquors are not sold except at drug-stores, and the store-houses of 
distillers, in quantities, according to law. This action of the people 
makes Greene County the paradise of the total abstinence reformers. 

On several occasions in the liistory of the county, great waves of 
religious excitement have swept over this section, like a whirlwind 
seeming to carry all before it. Several preachers would combine their 
efforts, and hold special services. Vast congregations would be so 
swayed, that individuals in all parts would get down upon their knees, 
in the midst of the preaching, while others would come forward and 
bow at the altar. Indeed the cradle of Presbyterianism, and Cumber- 
laud Presbyterianism, the Baptist faith, and Methodism, west of the 
Alleghany mountains, may be said to have been rocked here. The Sut- 
tons, and the Corblys,the McMillans and the McClintocks, the Mor- 
gans and the Millers, the Ilopkinses and the Sansoms, have lead in a 
great religions work. As a consequence of deep religious conviction, 
as was eyinced in the great revivals which occurred at the beginning 
of the present century, several new sects sprang into existence. 

From 1800 to 1807, were years remarkable for the rapid growth 
of the church in Western Pennsylvania. But as in the days of the 
primitive church degeneracy and heresy crept in, so now followed 
delusion and false doctrine. In the northern part of Greene County, 
and the adjoining portion of Washington County arose a sect called 
Ilalconites. Their leader, Sergeant, claimed to have had a revilation 
from heaven, denying that there was any hell, either as a locality or 
as a state of existence. He gathered njany followers, and his fame 
reached to neighboring States. He was invited to speak at Wheel- 
ing, Va., and at Cnuiberland, Md. While at the latter place, as if 
to illustrate his creed by liis conduct, he committed fogery and was 
imprisoned. This ended his career as a preacher. A woman, Rlioda 
Fordyce by name, was his successor. She proclaimed " that if a 



556 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

person would abstain from all animal food, live on parched com and 
sassafras buds for a given length of time, his body would become so 
etherial that he would be translated to Heaven without passing 
through the gates of death." The experiment was tried by a man 
named Parker, but instead of being translated, he starved to death. 
Ehoda would not allow the body to be buried until after the third 
day, insisting that it would then ascend to heaven, but at the expira- 
tion of tliat time the neiglibors interposed and buried it. After this 
we hear no more of the Ehodianites. But a new sect arose in the 
same locality called " New Lights," whose ranks were swelled by 
converts from the Halconites and Rhodianites. They denied the 
divinity of Christ, believed in immersion as the only mode of baptism, 
and practiced the rite of " washing one another's feet." . These were 
in turn absorbed by another sect known as Campbellites, founded by 
Thomas Campbell and Alexander, his son, who came here from Scot- 
land in 1807. They were originally Presbyterians, but their belief 
not being in entire accord wi.th that body, they resolved to found 
a new denomination. They discarded all creeds and confessions as 
human inventions, and insisted on immersion as the only Christian 
baptism. Two churches were established in 1811, one at Cross Roads, 
six miles northwest of Washington, and the other on Brush Run. 
Alexander Campbell, the son, was a man of brilliant talents, and 
superior genius, and one of the most eloquent and forcible public 
speakers of his day. He came at a time when infidelity and fanati- 
cism were rampant, and they fell before the power of his preaching 
like grass before the scythe of the mower. In some cases, whole 
congregations of New Lights adopted the views of Mr. Campbell. 
Many of his disciples in turn afterward united with orthodox Baptist 
Churches. 

As has been previously observed, slavery existed in this county in 
the early days, pioneers from Virginia and Maryland, where slavery 
was legalized, bringing their slaves and household servants with them, 
the idea prevailing, as late as 1784, that this was apart of the former 
State. The records of the register's office of the county during the 
first dozen or more year contain numerous entries of manumissions 
like the following: 

" Manumission— Thomas H. and James Hughes to James Butler: 
" Know all men by these presents, Whereas, it has been alleged 
that Felix Hughes, onr late father, was entitled to the service of 
James Butler, a black man, and whereas the said Felix Hughes did 
promise and agree that the said James Butler should be free from and 
after the death of the said Felix Hughes, and whereas the said James 
Butler has conducted and behaved himself well, and conformed to all 
his engagements witli his said master, yet liis said master did with- 
out giving the said James Butler any written evidence of his said 



HISTORY OF GKEEKE COUNTY. 557 

manumission, now know ye that we, Thomas H. and James Hughes, 
sons of the said Felix Hughes, do liereby, so far as we are interested, 
renounce all claim to said James I'utler and to his services. Given 
under our liands and seals, A. D. 1805." 

But in the year 1780, Pennsylvania, the first of all the States, 
passed an act for the registration of all slaves, and their gradual 
emancipation, which worked its complete extinction from among us. 

The geological structure of Greene and Washington counties has 
been the subject of Prof. Stevenson's report made by State author- 
ity. Five folds, or waves cross this territory from northeast to south- 
west, parallel with the Chestnut Ridge. The AVaynesburg anticlinal, 
the second of these folds is about eight miles wide, and its axis dips 
to the southwest at the rate of twenty feet per mile. Along the 
synclinal trough of tiiis fold on the eastern side, known as the Lis- 
bon Synclinal, flows the Monongahela Eiver. From the summit of 
this fold to the bottom of this synclinal is an average dip of about 
seventy feet per mile in an east southest direction. The Pin-hook 
Anticlinal is the third marked fold, parallel to the Waynesburg, 
leaving the Waynesburg synclinal to the east of it. The Washing- 
ton Anticlinal lies next, and the Ninevah Synclinal is included be- 
tween it and the Pin-hook. Five miles west of this is the Clayville 
Anticlinal, having the Mansfleld Sjnclinal between it and the 
Washington fold. 

The stratified rocks of this whole region have been subdivided by 
geologists into lower productive, lower barren, upper productive and 
upper barien. The lower productive contain several valuable seams 
of coal, but they lie about six hundred feet below the Pittsburg coal 
seam. The lower barren, reaching from the Mahoning sandstone to 
the base of the Pittsburg coal seam, contains the Morgantown sand- 
stone, several thin seams of coal, but little limestone. It includes 
tlie green crinoidal limestone, 250 feet below Pittsburg coal, is four 
feet "thick and is lightly fossiliferous. At the top of the Morgan- 
town stone is the little Pittsburg coal seam a foot in thickness, of little 
value. Thirty-feet higher is fhe Pittsburg limestone, from four to 
six feet thick, useful as a flux in the manufacture of iron. Tlie 
Pittsburg coal seam lies next, is from nine to ten feet thick, five ot 
which are merchantable coal, and is excellent for fuel and gas pur- 
poses. The Redstone coal seam is some sixty feet above the Pitts- 
burg, is four feet in thickness, and also good for fuel. The great 
limestone strata is about 120 feet above the Pittsburg coal, is eighty 
feet in thickness, and is largely used in the manufacture of iron, for 
mortar and for fertilizing. At twenty feet above the great limestone, 
is the Uniontown coal seam, which is quarried for fuel. Upon this 
coal seam rests the Uniontown sandstone, forty feet in thickness, 
which is largely used for building purposes. One hundred feet above 



558 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

the Uniontown coal seam rest the "Waynesburg coal seam, six feet in 
thickness, largely used for fuel locally, but too soft for transporta- 
tion. It will thus be seen that beneath the surface of this county 
are inexhaustable supplies of valuable minerals, and should the mines 
lying near the surface ever become exhausted, here would be found 
a vast magazine of Avealth, 

Oil has been found in several parts of the county at a depth of 
less than 1,000 feet. The Tanner well has produced for the last 
twenty years, at the rate of ten barrels a day, lubricating oil. In 
1886 the Mt. Morris district was opened and many paying wells are 
being fourLd. There are doubtless oil and gas underlying this territory 
that will gladden the hand of the exjjtlorer. 

In addition to the names of those who have been mentioned in 
other parts of this work the following may be named who served as 
representatives in the National Congress: Albert Gallatin, William 
Hoge, John L. Dawson, Jonathan Knight, William Montgomery, 
Jesse Lazear, George Y. Lawrence, J. B. Donley, Morgan R. Wise, 
Jacob Teemer, Charles E. Boyle. Of the State Senate are the follow- 
ing: Isaac Weaver, William G. Hawkins, Charles A. Black, John 
C. Fleniken, Andrew Lantz, A. Patton, M. D. ; Morgan E. Wise. 
Of the House of Representatives of the State: John Minor, John 
Fleniken, Maxwell McCaslin, James "W. Hays, liees Hill, Adam 
Hays, W. T. Hays, Thomas Burson, W. S. Harv«y, Joseph Sedgwick, 
Thomas Ross, John Phelan, Fletcher Brock, D. W. Gray, M. D.; 
John Hogan, Thomas Laidley, William Kincaid, Patrick Donley. 
It is a notable circumstance that Isaac Weaver was speaker of the 
Senate, at the same time that Rees Hill was speaker of the House, 
both representing Greene County. 



^Biographical Sketches,^ 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



ALEPPO TOWNSHIP. 

ASBUEY ANTILL, farmer and stock-grower, son of John and 
Isabella (Chenith) Antill, was born in this county March 24, 1836. 
His mother was born in Ohio. His father, who was a farmer and 
miller, was born and died in Greene County, Penn. The subject of 
this sketch was the fourth in a family of nine children, all of whom 
grew to be men and women. He was reared on the farm and has 
been an industrious farmer all his life. He is the owner of 243 
acres of well-improved land where lie resides in Aleppo Township. 
In 1857 Mr. Antill married Sarah, daughter of Moses and Hamiaii 
(Whipkey) King. Mrs. Antill is of JJutch extraction, and a member 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Their children are — William, 
Harvey, Maggie, wife of Benjamin Chambers, Jr., Louis, John and 
Asbury K. Mr. Antill is a Democrat in politics. 

BENJAMIN CHAMBERS, farmer and stock-grower, was born 
in Marshall County, West Virginia, Octoljer 13, 1840, is the son of 
J. A. and Susan (Kerr) Chambers, natives of West Virginia, and of 
German ancestry. His father, who spent all his life as a farmer in 
his native State, reared a family of seven children, of whom the sub- 
ject of this sketch is the oldest son. He was reared on the home 
farm, attended the district school and has made iarming and stock- 
growing his chief pursuit. He came to this county in 1865 and 
settled on his present farm in Aleppo Township, consisting of 324 
acres of well improved land. In 1866 Mr. Chambers was united in 
marriage with M. J., daughter of A. J. and Lneinda (Ayers) Iliner- 
man. Her parents were of German origin. Mr. and Mrs. Chambers' 
children are C. T., G. A., Ward, Lucinda, John A., Olive Dillie, 
Leota, Elizabeth and Pearl. Mr. Chambers is a Republican. Mrs. 
Chambers is a member of the Christian Church. 

W. W. CLENDENNING, farmer and stock-grower, was born in 
Marshall County, West Virginia, October 28, 1838. He is a son of 
Archibald and Jane (Cooper) Clendenning, who were natives of Ire- 
land. They came to America and settled in Greene County, where 



562 KISTOEY OF GREENE COTTNTY. 

Mr. ClendenniDg was a farmer for many years and died in 1877. Of 
a family of four children, the subject of this sketch is the youngest. 
He was reared on the farm and received a common school education. 
He has made farming his main occupation, and is the owner of 133 
acres of land, all of which he has accumulated through his own 
efforts. Mr. Clendenning was united in marriage August 26, 1862, 
with Miss Sarah, daughter of James and Jane (McCaslin) Kincaid, 
and sister of Colonel Maxwell McCaslin. Mr. and Mrs. Clendenning 
have eight children, viz.: Kobert Maxwell, "William N., Milton L., 
Anna F., John, Mary, Nellie Grant and Jessie K. Mr. Clendenning 
and wife are members of the Church of God. 

J. T. ELBIN, Associate Judge of Greene County, and one of the 
earliest settlers of Aleppo Township, now living, was born in Alle- 
gheny County, Maryland, March 18, 1824. He was left an orphan 
when a small child and was reared by his grandfather, John Elbin, 
who was a prominent farmer of Greene County, and died intestate in 
1845. Judge Elbin was thrown out in the world without a dollar, 
but was ambitious to be independent and worked as a farm hand by 
the day and month uutil he succeeded in accumulating enough to 
invest in land. He has been engaged in farming and stock-growing 
in this county since 1848, and has been very successful in all his 
business ventures. In 1847 he was united in marriage with Hannah, 
daughter of John and Plannah (Sidwell) McVay, and they are the 
parents of six children, viz.: Lucinda, wife of L. Sammons; JKachel, 
wife of George Grim; Henry, who is an undertaker; John W., a 
farmer; Belle, wife of George tJllom, and Mary Ann, deceased. Mrs. 
Elbin belongs to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and the 
Judge is a member of the Church of God, in which he takes an active 
interest, and has served as superintendent of the Sabbath-school. He 
is a Democrat, and was elected Associate Judge in 1884. He is a 
member of the I. O. O. F., and has served as Justice of the Peace for 
a period of twenty years; elected in 1860, and held the office until 
1880. 

AZARIAH EVANS, farmer and stock-grower, was born in 
Washington County, Penn., August 29, 1828, and is a son of Caleb 
and Anna (Smalley) Evans. His father was a native of Fayette 
County, and his mother was born in Washington County. They 
were of Welsh extraction. His fathei*, a farmer by occupation, came 
to Greene County in 1839, and in 1841 he settled in Aleppo Town- 
ship, where he died in 1860. He reared a family of fourteen 
children, twelve of whom grew to be men and women, and eight of 
the family are still alive and in active life. The subject of this 
sketch is next to the oldest of those now living and was reared on 
the home farm, receiving a common school education. Mr. Evans 
has spent his life as a farmer, having lived in Greene County since 



HISTORY OF GREENK COUNTY. 563 

lie was thirteen years of age. lie has been very successful, and 
owns at present a fine farm of 274 acres. He was nnited in rnarriat^e 
September 3, 1848, with Miss Mary, daughter of William and Eliza- 
beth (Courtwright) Griffith, wlio were of Irish origin. Mr. and 
Mrs. Evans have two children living — Elizabeth A., wife of William 
13. King, and Samuel L., a farmer and stock-grower, who married 
Liicinda, daughter of James and Julianna (Chess) Parson. Mr. and 
Mrs. Evans have met with well deserved success. Both have been 
very hard workers and noted for their liberality. Mr. Evjins' name 
often appears on the chiirch subscription papers, and he has given 
liberally to both the church and the Sabbath school. Though not a 
member of any church, he is ever an.xious for the success of any 
church or moral enterprise. Ills wife is a meml)er of the Church of 
God. Mr. Evans is a Republican. In 1862 he enlisted in Com- 
pany A, Eighteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, and served until the 
close of the war, being discharged by general order. Among the 
engagements in which he took part was the famous battle of Gettys- 
burg. He was at one time an active member of the Patrons of 
Husbandry. 

CHPISTIAN GRIM, fiirmer and stock-grower, son of Jacob 
and Keziah (Courtwright) Grim, was born in Greene County, Penn., 
April 12, 1859. His parents were also natives of this county, and 
of (Tcrman origin. His father was a farmer during his lifetime. 
Christian Grim is the eldest of three children, and was reared on 
the home farm, receiving his education in the common schools. 
He is a successful farmer, and has the management of his own and 
Mrs. Grim's farm, amounting in all to 250 acres. His wife was 
the widow of the late Madison, son of Peter UUom, a native of 
Aleppo Township. Mr. and Mrs. Ulloni were the parents of live 
children, viz. — Eliza, wife of Isaac McCracken; Isaac E., a student 
of Delaware College, Ohio; Clara, Lantz II. 'aiSI Thomas H. Mrs. 
(xrim's maiden name was Melissa Hupp. She is a dauL^hter of Isaac 
Hupp, and of German and English lineage. Mr. and Mrs. Grim 
were married September 7, 1881. They are members of the Church 
of God. They have three children — Flora, John C. and Ella. Mr. 
Grim is a deacon in the church. In politics he is a Democrat. 

JOHN HENRY, farmer and stock-grower, was born in Somer- 
set County, Penn., July 25, 1827. He is a son of John and Eliza- 
beth (Imell) Henry, who were, respectively, natives of Pennsylvania 
and Maryland, and of German origin. His father was a farmer all 
his life. He also learned the blacksmith's trade, and was well 
known in Somerset County for many years as a hotel-keeper. Of 
his ten children the subject of this sketch is the ninth. He was 
reared on the farm in Turkey Foot Township, where he attended 
the district school. Mr. Henry has been a successful farmer, and 



§64 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

owns 165 acres of well improved land. He was married in Somer- 
set County, Februaiy 11, 1847, to HannaL (Garey) Miller, daughter 
of Peter Garey and widow of Michael Miller. Mrs. Henry is of 
Dutch descent. Their children are — Amanda, wife of Samuel 
Fletcher; Mary, wife of J. Matheny; Kebecca, wife of H. Jacobs; 
Christiana, wife of W. Showalter; William H., Elizabeth, wife 
of J. McCracken; Peter, Susannah, wife of N". Miller, and Nancy, 
wife of J. Elbin. Mr. and Mrs. Plenry are members of the German 
Baptist church. Mr. Henry is a Republican. In 1862 he enlisted 
in the One Hnndred and Fortieth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. 
He was in several engagements, and was wounded at the battle of 
Spottsylvania. On account of this wound he is now receiving a 
small pension. Mr. Henry's grandfather was in the Eevolntionary 
war, and his uncle, Peter Henry, was in the war of 1812 under 
General Harrison. 

ANDERSON HINERMAN, farmer and stock-grower, was born 
May 10, 1832, in Aleppo Township, this county, on the farm where 
Christian "Grim now resides. He is a son ot Jesse and Sarah 
(Shutterly) Hinerman. His mother was born in the State of Dela- 
ware, and his father in Millsboro, "Washington County, Penn. Poth 
his grandfathers came from Germany, and his grandmothers were of 
American origin. Mr. Hinerman, the third in a family of ten 
children, received his early education in the subscription school. 
Having been reared as a farmer, he has made this occupation his 
life work, and has met with success, being the owner of a iine farm 
of 170 acres well stocked and improved. On November 4, 1856, 
Mr. Hinerman was united in marriage with a daughter of Silas 
and Jane (Rickey) Aj'era, who were of American ancestry. Mr. 
and Mrs. Hinerman's children are Solomon, Stanton, Tillie M., Clara 
Dell, Blanche A., Walter F., Rosa Balton and Sarah J. (deceased). 
Mr. Hinerman is a Republican and a member of the I. O. O. F. 
He and wife are members of the Church of God, in which Mr. 
Hinerman is superintendent of the Sabbath-school and has been 
elder for eighteen years. 

J. S. HINERMAN, farmer and stock-grower, was born in Alep- 
po Township, October 21, 1845. His parents were Jesse and Sarah 
(Shutterly) Hinerman, the former born in Washington County, Penn., 
and the latter in Wilmington, Del. They were of German origin, 
Mr. Flinerman's father, who was a farmer through life, died April 
3, 1877. His family consisted of ten children, of whom the subject 
of our sketch is the youngest. He was reared on the home farm 
and acquired a common school education. From his youth he has 
been engaged in agricultural pursuits and has been quite successful. 
He is the owner of a fine residence and eighty-seven acres of well 
cultivated land. Mr. Hinerman was married in 1866 to Rebecca, 



HISTORY OF GUEENE COUNTY. 565 

daughter of Leonard Straight. Her parents vvere natives of Penn- 
sylvania, and of Dutch extraction. Mr. and Mrs. llinerman are 
the parents of the following named children — Ida, Alta, Sarah E., 
Luther W., Mary J., Curtis, Clida, Charles B. and John. Mr. llin- 
erman, who is a Republican, was elected justice of the peace in 
1880 and re-elected in 1885. lie and his wife are members of the 
Church of God. 

LINDSEY HINERMAN, farmer and stock-grower, was born 
June 16, 1828, on the farm he now owns in Aleppo Townslup, 
Greene County, Fenn. He is a son of George and Mary (McCon- 
nell) llinerman, who were of German and Irish ancestry. II is 
grandfather, George llinerman, was a British soldiei', but remained 
in this country. He was, like many other members of the family, a 
fanner. Mr. Hinerman's father came from Millsborough, AVashing- 
ton County, Penn., to Greene Couut}' in 1823, where he spent his 
life as a farmer and died in 1876. Lindsey is the fifth in a family 
of eight children. He was reared on the farm and attended tlie sul- 
scription schools. He has made farming his main pursuit and owns 
467 acres of valuable land, well stocked and improved. Our subject 
was employed on the Baltimore ik Ohio Railroad from 1848 to 
1853. In May, 1853, Mr. llinerman married Miss Elizabeth, 
daughter of Jacob and Mary (Whipkey) Slonaker. Their children 
are M. S., Martha J., wife of John Tasker; Sarah, wife of H. 
Wise; Emeline, wife of Sherman W. S. McCracken; David, Mary, 
J. W. II. and Ellsworth. Mr. llinerman is a Republican. 

WILLIAM HOUSTON, deceased, who was a farmer and stock- 
grower by occupation, was horn in Ireland in 1791. When twelve 
years of age he came to America and settled in AVashington County, 
Penn., where he learned the shoemaker's trade and followed it as a 
business until he came to Greene County in 1836, and bought the 
farm in Aleppo Township which is still in possession of the family. 
Here he died in 1854. In 1820 Mr. Houston mari-ied Esther, 
daughter of Captain James Dickey, of Washington County, Penn. 
Their family consisted of seven children, three of whom are living. 
They are W. D., a carpenter and contractor; Samuel, a carpenter 
and farmer; and Joseph. The last two mentioned were soldiers of 
the late war, in Company II, Fifteenth Pennsylvania Volunteer 
Cavalry. The family are highly respected in tlie community in 
which they live. 

HIRAM P. MOSS, farmer and stock-grower, son of Jacob and 
Eleanor (Winnett) Moss, was born in Richhill Township, this county, 
March 22, 1844. His parents were of English and Irish lineage. 
His mother was a native of Washington County, Penn. His father, 
M'ho was a cabinet-makei- and carpenter during his lifetime, was 
born in Fayette County, and died in 1878 in Greene County. His 



566 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

family numbered eight cliildren, Hiram Porter being the youngest. 
In 1868 the subject of our sketch was united in marriage with Miss 
Emma Jane Courtwright. Their children are Maggie, Clara, Mettle, 
May, Mary Addle, Arthur and Emmett Earl. Mr. Moss learned 
cabinet-making and the carpenter's trade with his father, but has 
devoted his time chiefly to farming and the raising of stock, and is 
the owner of ninety- three acres of valuable land. He and his wife 
are members of the Presbyterian Church. 

EEV. JACOB M. MUPKAY, minister and school teacher, was 
born in Fayette County, Penn., May 25, 1857. He is a son of 
James A. and Mary (Miller) Murray, who were natives of Fayette 
County and of German and Irish lineage. His father, who is a 
minister in The Brethren Church, also engages in farming to some 
extent and now resides in Aleppo Township, where he settled in 
1860. Of his family of nine children six are still living. The 
subject of this sketch is the eighth in the family and was reared on 
his father's farm in Aleppo Township. He acquired his education 
in common and select schools and in Monongahela College at Jeffer- 
son, Penn. He began teaching when only seventeen years of age 
and is now considered one of the most prominent educators in 
Greene County. At the age of twenty he united with the Church 
of The Brethren, and was ordained as a minister of that denomina- 
tion when he was twenty-six. Since 1887 he has had charge of a 
congregation at Aleppo, Penn. Mr. Murray is a frequent contribu- 
tor to the religious journals. He is held in high esteem by all who 
know him. He was united in marriage, March 17, 1877, with Miss 
Julia A., daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Evans) Biggie, who 
were of German origin. Mr. and Mrs. Murray have four children, 
tliree of whom are living — Harry Y., Oscar C. and Vernie. Mr. 
Murray is a Democrat. His wife is a member of The Brethren 
Church and is held in the highest esteem by all who know her. 

JOSEPH McCRACKEN, P. O. Cameron, Marshall County, West 
Va., was born in Washington County, Penn., February 13, 1827. He is 
a son of Daniel and Mary (Crall) McCracken, natives of Pennsyl- 
vania, and of Irish and Dutch descent. His father, who died in 
West Vii-ginia, was a farmer all his life. His family consisted of 
eight children, of whom the subject of this sketch is the oldest. He 
was reared on the farm and received his education in the common 
school. He has been a very snccessfnl farmer and stock-grower, 
having at one time owned over six hundred acres of land. On Feb- 
ruary 20, 1853, Mr. McCracken married Miss Mary E., daughter of 
Jennings J. Moss, and they have nine children, viz.: Joseph, a 
farmer; J. C, a physician; George and J. M. B., farmers; Mary, wife 
of H. T. Winnett; S. W. S. and Samuel E. Two of the children are 



HISTORY OF GREENK COUNTY. 567 

deceased. Mr. McCrackeii io a Ilcpuhlican. lie and liis wife and 
eluldreu are inenibei-s ot the Methodist Ejiiacopal Cluirch. 

S. W. S. Mt:CliACKEN, farmer, son of Josepli and Elizabeth 
(Moss) McOracicen, was born in this county, vviiere he was reared on 
a farm and attended tlie district scliooh lie is one of the industrious 
and successful young farmers of his township. In 1888 Mr. Mc- 
Cracken was united in marriage with Miss Emma, daughter of 
Liudsej ilinerman, one of the wealthy and influential citizens of the 
county. Ml'. McCracken is a Republican. 

JAMES McVAY, farmer and wool-grower, and breeder of short- 
horn cattle, is among the most prominent, influential and successful 
farmers of Greene Couutj'. He was born in Morris Township, this 
county, March 21, 182-4, and is a son of John and Hannah (Sidwell) 
McVay, and are natives of Pennsylvania, and of (Terman and Irish 
descent. Ilis father was a fiirmer all his life and died in Greene 
Count}'. His family consisted often children, eight of whom grew 
to maturity. The subject of this sketch is the second and was reared 
on the farm, attending the subscription schools. Mr. McVay started 
in the world with little, else than a determination to succeed. He 
commenced to buy stock when he was still a young man, buying for 
other parties a short time, but soon engaging in the business for 
himself. He has succeeded in accumulating a handsome fortune. In 
1865 Mr. McVay bought 244,000 pounds of wool. His land in 
Greene County amounts to 540 acres, in a high state of cultivation. 
In 1840 Mr. McVay married Susan, daughter of Henry and Mary 
(Williams) Neel, and they are the parents of the following children: 
Mary M., wife of H. H. Parry; Warren, II. M., William 1. and Han- 
nah M., wife of H. C. Snyder; D. L. is deceased. Mr. McVay is a 
Democrat. His wife is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian 
Church. 

GEORGE McVAY, farmer and stock-grower, was born in Aleppo 
Township, Greene County, Penn., August 11, 1832. He is a son of 
John and Hannah (Sidwell) McVay, natives of Washington and 
Greene counties, respectively. Mr. McVay is a member of a family 
of twelve children. He is the sixth, and was reared in his native 
township, where he attended the common schools. He has made 
farming and stock-dealing his business through life and has been 
greatly prospered, being at present the owner of 300 acres of valuable 
land in this county. In 1852 Mr. McVay was united in marriage 
with Miss Maria Smith, now deceased. They were the parents of 
four children, viz.: Elizabeth, Anthony, Sarah and Hannah. Mr. 
McVay's present wife was Miss Elizabeth Long. They have two 
children — Samuel Patrick and Clara. Mr. McVay is a Democrat. 
He has served flve years as constable and one term as d'rector of tlio 
poor in Greene County. 



568 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

LEWIS PAREY, farmer and stock-grower, was born in Sonth 
Wales, Great Britain, February 11, 1838, and is a son of Roger L. 
and Elizabeth (Pugli) Parry, natives of Wales. They came to 
America in 1842, first settling in Pittsburgh. They subsequently 
moved to Washington County, Penn., and settled in Aleppo Town- 
ship, Greene County, in 1858. Mr. Parry's father was a farmer and 
blacksmith. Six members of his family grew to maturity, Lewis 
being the oldest. He was reared in Washington County, where he 
also received his education. Mr. Parry began life as a poor boy, 
working by the day or month, but by industry and economy he has 
made himself a nice and comfortable home. He now owns 116 acres 
of good land in Greene County. In November, 1859, Mr. Parry 
married Mary C, daughter of John and Sarah (Hunt) Wood. Her 
parents, who were of Hutch and Irish descent, were natives of Greene 
County. Mr. and Mrs. Parry's children are — Sarah, wife of Morgan 
B. Lewis; John P., William W., Lou, Emma and Mertie. Mr. 
Parry is a Cumberland Presbyterian, and his wife is a member of 
the Hisciple Qliurch. In 1862 he eidisted in Company A, Eighteenth 
Pennsylvania Cavalry, and was a non-commissioned officer. He was 
taken prisoner in Adams County, Penn., June 30, 1863. He subse- 
quently joined the regiment in Virginia, serving in all two years and 
ten months, and was honorably discharged July 12, 1865. Mr. Parry 
is a Republican, and a prominent member of the I. 0. 0. F. 

WILLIAM M. PARRY, pliysician and surgeon, was born in 
Westmoreland County, Penn., May 12, 1843, and is a son of Roger 
L. and Elizabeth (Pugh) Parry, natives of Wales. His father w-as a 
blacksmith by trade, but engaged in farming after coming to America. 
The subject of this sketch is the third in a family of six children. 
He was reared on a farm, received a common-school education, and 
subsequently took a course in the Academy at West Liberty, Ohio 
County, W. Va., where he remained for several years and studied 
medicine with Dr. Cooper of that place. Dr. Parry began the prac- 
tice of his profession at Jacksonville, Penn., remaining there tor a 
period of two years. In 1870 he located in Aleppo, where he has 
since been in active practice. Dr. Parry has been very successful. 
He owns 200 acres of valuable land where he resides, and has a lucra- 
tive practice. He was united in marriage, September 13, 1871, with 
Mary A., daughter of Rev. Lewis Sammons. Mrs. Parry is of Welsh 
and German extraction. Their children are Edith, Jessie, Jane, Roger 
and Burdette. Dr. Parry is a Presbyterian, and his wife is a member 
of the Baptist Church. She is also an ardent prohibitionist and a 
strong advocate of woman's suffrage. Lie is a Republican, and takes 
gi'eat interest in educational matters, having for eight years served 
as school director. He is a member of the Greene County Medical 
Society. August 12, 1862, Dr. Parry enlisted in Co. D, Twelfth 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 569 

West Virginia Volunteer Infantry, and served till the close of the 
war. He is a member of the 1. O. O. F., and is Fast Master of the 
Masonic fraternity. 

B. F. PHILLIPS, farmer and stock-grower, was born in Wasli- 
ingtun Connty, Penn., Jnly 10, 1833, and is a son of Levi and Sarah 
(McCracken) Phillips, natives of Pennsylvania, and of Irish origin, 
ills father was a farmer all his life. The subject of our sketch, the 
youngest of eight children, was reared on the farm, where he i-eceived 
a common-school education. Mr. Pliillips has made farming and 
stock-growing his employment through life, and owns 340 acres of 
land, which he has jirocnred entirely by liis own exertions. He was 
united in marriage, in 1S71, with Miss Sarah, daughter of Matthias 
and Sai-ah (McClain) Koseberry, natives of Greene Count}'. Mr. 
and Mrs. Phillips are the parents of four children — Joseph M., Ar- 
thur Lee, Maggie P. and Levi N. Mr. Pliillips is a Pepuljlican in 
politics. 

REV. LEWIS SAMMONS, deceased, a minister of the Baptist 
Church, was born January 22, 1815, and was a son of John and 
Mary (Jones) Sammons. His parents were of Welsh and Irish de- 
scent. His father was a ship captain, and in early life ran on the 
Ohio and Mississippi rivers. After leaving the river he followed the 
carpenter trade and auctioneering. Rev. Mr. Sammons was an only 
cliild. He was born in Monongahela Township, this county, but was 
reared in Fayette County, Penn. He received his education in the 
common schools, and early in life learned the cooper's trade, at which 
he worked until 1836. It was in that year he accepted his lirst 
charge as a minister, and he engaged in ministerial work during the 
remainder of his life. He was imited in marriage, November 18, 
1841, with Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Jacob and Susannali (Gans) 
Rumble, who were of German ancestry. To Mr. and Mrs. Sam- 
mons were born six children, viz: Lebbeus, who is a farmer; Mary, 
wife of Dr. Parry; Rossell, a prominent farmer; James J., a sur- 
veyor and teacher, who has taught for many terms in Ohio, West 
Virginia, Pennsylvania and Nebraska; J. L., a physician of West 
Virginia, and Sarah E., a teacher of music. Mrs. Sammons is still 
living, and is a member of the Baptist Church. Rev. Sammons was 
the minister in charge at Enon Baptist Church in 1851, and was 
ordained in 185B. Lie came to Greene County in 1857, settling in 
Aleppo Township nine years later. He was ever an active temper- 
ance worker and Republican. He was successful in all his business 
pursuits, owning at the time of his death a well-improved farm where 
his family reside in Aleppo Township. The family are Republicans, 
and highly educated, four of them having taught ten terms of school. 

ROSSELL SAMMONS, farmer and stock-grower, was born in 
Fayette County, Penn., July 12, 1852. His father was Rev. Lewis 



570 HISTORY OF GEEEWE COUNTY. 

Saramons, a well-known Baptist minister and active temperance ad- 
vocate, who died in this county in 1879. He has written many 
articles against intemperance, and always preached against the grea't 
evil. Of his family of six children, Eossell is the third. lie lived 
in Center Township until he was thirteen years old, when he came to 
Aleppo Township. His means for an education were limited to the 
common schools. In 1872, in company with his brother, Mr. Sam- 
mons established a saw-mill in Greene County, where they were very 
successful. Mr. Sammons bought a small farm and has since added 
to it other purchases until at present he owns 360 acres of fine land, 
well stocked and improved. In 1881 he was united in marriage with 
Miss Sarah, daughter of Joseph and Eliza (Lemmons) Evans. Mr. 
and Mrs. Sammons' children are Lewis E., Joseph Wiley, Olive G. 
and Osceola. Mr. Sammons is a Eepublican in politics. 

LUTHER A. SMITH, farmer and stock-grower, was born in 
Richhill Township, Greene County, November 21, 1852. His parents 
were Andrew and Ellen (Little) Smith. His father was born in Scot- 
land, and came to America when a young man. He settled in Greene 
County, where he died in 1880. His mother was a native of Wash- 
ington County. Of a family of six children, Luther Smith is the 
fifth who grew to maturity. He was brought up on his father's farm 
and received a common-school education. He has been a successful 
farmer, and owns 103 acres of excellent land where he resides in 
Aleppo Township. Mr. Smith has been twice married, his first wife 
being Mary, daughter of John and Ellen (Cox) Edgar, whom ' he 
married in 1871. They were the parents of three children — Alonzo 
D., William B. and Harry. Mrs. Smith died in this county. Mr. 
Smith's present wife is Hannah, daughter of Lewis and Jane Pettit. 
They were married in 1885, and have one child — John C. Mr. Smith 
is a member of the I. 0. O. F. ' 

WILLIAM TEDROW, farmer and stock-grower, was born in 
Somerset County, Peim., June 17, 1823, and is a sou of Henry and 
Elizabeth (Johnson) Tedrow, who were of German and English 
origin. His fa,ther, who was a farmer, died in Aleppo Township in 
1876. Of his family of nine children, the subject of this sketch is 
the second. He was reared on the home farm and received a lim- 
ited education in the old log school-house of the district. He has 
made a success of his farming and stock-growing, and now owns 326 
acres of well improved land. Mr. Tedrow was married in Somerset 
County, November 17, 1844, to Sarah A., daughter of Leonard and 
Elizabeth (Whipkey) Straight, who were of German and English 
extraction. Mrs. Tedrow died January 29, 1888. Their children 
are Josiah, William H., Mariah, Mary E., wife of E. B. Moos; 
Catharine A., wife of James Whipkey; Minerva J., wife of M. Bayles. 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 571 

Mr. Tedrow is a Democrat. lie belongs to tlie Church of God, of 
which his deceased wife was also a member. 

DAVID ULLOM, farmer and stock-grower and dealer in wool, 
was born in xVleppo Township, this county, December 11, 1845, and 
is a son of Peter and Matilda (Kinney) UUom, natives of Pennsyl- 
vania. His father has spent a long life as a farmer, being now 
eighty years of age. Mr. David Ulloni is the youngest in a family 
of six cliildren and was reared on the farm with his parents, receiv- 
ing a common school education. He has spent his life as a farmer 
and has given a good deal of attention to the raising of fine stock. 
He has engaged in wool buying extensively and has been very suc- 
cessful. Mr. UUom owns a tine farm of 200 acres, and is one of 
Aleppo's most prominent citizens. On October 14, 1869, he married 
Marry Ellen, daugliter of Jacob and Catharine (Huffman) King. 
Her parents were of English and German origin. Mr. King is a 
farmer by occupation. Mr. and Mrs. Illlom have one child — Frankie 
D. The family are members of the Church of God. Mr. Ullom is 
a trustee in the church and secretary and treasurer of the Sal)batli- 
scUool. In politics he is a Democrat. 

J. M. WHITE, farmer and stock-grower, who was born in Som- 
erset County, Penn., July 14, 1826, is a son of Edward and Nancy 
(Rush) White. His jjarents were natives of Somerset County, and 
of Englisli lineage. His father, who came to Aleppo Township 
in 1828, was a farmer. He died December 13, 1853. His mother 
lived until 1872. The subject of this sketch is the second in a 
family of six children, and was reared on the farm, receiving his 
education in the common schools. He chose farming as his occu- 
pation, has made his own way in the world, and is the owner of 
a well improved farm where he resides in Aleppo Township. Mr. 
White was united in marriage, February 13, 1848, with Rebecca, 
daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Simons) Hemett, and they are 
parents of three children, viz — Perry J., Stephen and Sarah 
Estlier (deceased). Mrs. White is a member of the Friends' Church. 
Mr. White is a Democrat, has been for seventeen years justice of 
the peace, and has served as school director in his township. He is 
a prominent member of the I. O. O. F. 

JOSHUA WOOD, farmer and stock-grower, was born in 
Tyler County, W. Va., October 8, 1842. He is a son of John and 
Sarah (Hunt) Wood, who were, respectively, of Scotch and German 
and English origin. His father was born in Greene County, where 
he spent all his life as a farmer and died in 1868. His fiiraily num- 
bered ten children, of whom Joshua Wood is the ninth. He was 
reared in Richhill Township, and attended the common schools. 
Early in life he learned the carpenter's trade, at which he worked 
till 1878, when he began farming. He is the owner of a well 



572 HISTOKY OF GEEENE COUNTY. 

stocked and improved farm of 180 acres. In 1861 Mr. Wood en- 
listed in Company H, Twentietli Vohmteer Infantry, where he 
served three months, then re-enlisted in Company E, Seventh West 
Virginia Yoluntcer Infantry and served till 1862, when he was dis- 
charged for disability, having had two of his fingers shot off. He 
subsequently spent some time in Great Salt Lake City. In 1874 
Mr. Wood married a widow lady of Parkersburg, W. Ya. Her first 
husband was John Milton Parker, a railroad engineer on the Balti- 
more & Ohio Iloilroad, who was killed in 1871 by the explosion of 
his engine. Mr. and Mrs. Parker wei'e the parents of two children 
Mertie and Kate Parker. Mrs. Wood's maiden name was Emma 
A. Barrett, a daughter of Caleb and Jemima (Goucher) Barrett, who 
were of German origin. Mr. and Mrs. Wood have three children — 
Earl, Herald and lona. Mr. Wood is a Democrat. He and wife 
are members of the Christian Church. 

GEORGE WOODRUFF, farmer and stock-grower, who was 
born in Jefferson Township, September 18, 1832, is a son of Benja- 
min and Sarah (Tnttle) Woodruff, who were of Dntck and Irish 
descent. Mr. Benjamin Woodruft' was a farmer and stock dealer 
through life. The subject of this sketch is an only child. He was 
reared as a farmer and has made a success of his business. In 1880 
he settled in Aleppo Township where he still resides. Mr. Wood- 
ruff learned the blacksmith's trade, but has devoted all his time to 
agricultural pursuits, and owns a good farm of 200 acres. He was 
naarried in 1851, to Elizabeth, daughter of James and Rhoda (Lewis) 
Nnss. Their children are Susan, wife of W. Balden; Alice, wife of 
F. Drake; Benjamin, George, Andrew, David, William, James and 
Elizabeth. The deceased is John Y. Mr. and Mrs. Woodrufi^ are 
industrious and economical, and have acquired their present posses- 
sions entirely by their own efforts. 



CENTER TOWNSHIP. 

S. II. ADAMSON, retired farmer, Rogersville, Penn. — The sub- 
ject of this sketch is one of the pioneers of Greene County, Penn. 
Fie was born in Morgan Township, May 2, 1822, and is a son of 
Charles and Sarah (Hatfield) Adanison, natives of Pennsylvania. 
They were the parents of nine children, of whom only four are liv- 
ing. Charles and Sarah Adamson departed this life in Greene 
County. S. II. Adamson was twice married; fii'st, September 17, 
1843, with Lucy Knight, who was born in this county March 7, 



HISTORY OF GUKENE COUNTY. 573 

1825. Mrs. Adamson was a daughter .of James and Cassandra 
Knight, wlio were natives of Greene County, -where they remained 
tlirough life. ]3y this marriage Mr. Adamson is the father of six 
children, of whom only two are living — James K. and Charles. Mrs. 
Adamson departed this life Novemher 17, 18(58. Mr. Adamson was 
united in marriage the second time, with Mary (Hipert) Grouse, 
February 7, 1869. She is a daughter of Peter Hipert, and was born 
in Eichland County, Ohio, June 20, 1837. Mr. Adamson was reared 
on a farm and has been engaged in farming almost all his life. lie 
was in the mercantile business at Ilogersville for a period of two 
years, and in 1849 was elected auditor of the county and served 
three years. In 1859 he was elected county treasurer and served in 
that position two years. He was elected county commissioner in 
1881 and tiljed that office three years. Mr. Adamson owns about 
450 acres of land. He is one of the enthusiastic Democrats of 
the county. 

GEORGE A. BAYAEU, merchant, Eogersville, Fenn., was 
born in this county, April 11, 1832. He is a son of Samuel F. and 
Hannah Bayard [nee Mitchell) who were natives of Greene County, 
where they resided until Mr. Bayard's death, which occurred July 
17, 1885. His widow survives him. George was united in mar- 
riage, October 6, 1859, with Martha Morris, who was born in this 
county, August 19, 1837. She is a daughter of Ephraim and 
Martha Morris, deceased. At a very early age Mr. Bayard learned 
the trade of a tanner, which he followed until he was twenty-tive 
years old. He then engaged in farming until 1878, when he began 
merchandising in Eogersville, where he owns a general store. He 
received the appointment of postmaster at Rogersville in 1880, and 
has been filling that position ever since. 

IIENKY BOWLER, retired farmer, Rogersville, Penn.— The 
gentleman wdiose name heads tliis sketch is well known in Center 
Township, having lived on his present farm since the date of his 
birth, May 27, 1818. His parents were John and Mary Bowler, the 
former a native of Maryland and the latter of Greene County, Fenn., 
where tliey resided until their death. Mrs. Bowler died in 1819, and 
lier husband in 1845. On June 5, 1849, Henry Bowler married 
Pene]oj)e Stewart, who was born in this county in 1815. Her par- 
ents were William and Naoma Stewart, natives of Fenusylvania, 
who departed this life in Monroe County, Ohio. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Bowler were born two children — Elizabeth S., wife of Stephen 
Knight; and AVilliam, who married Ruth Seckinan. Mrs. F.owler 
departed this life December 31, 1880. Mr. Bowler was reared on a 
faini and engaged very successfully in farming during the more 
active part of" his life. He is the owner of about 237 acres of land 
in Center Township. In politics he is a Repiiblicau. 



574 HISTOKY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

THOMAS T. BUEEOUGIIS, farmer, P. O. Eutan, was born in 
Washington County, Penn., September 20, 1827. liis parents were 
Samuel and Temperance (Peeves) Burrouglis, also natives of Wash- 
ington County. They lived in Greene County for a short time after 
their marriage, then moved to Washington County, Iowa, and re- 
mained until their death. Thomas was united in marriage January 
1, 1852, with Eliza J". Scott. She was born March .3, 1829, on the 
farm where she lives in Center Township. Mrs. Burroughs is a 
daughter of John and Susannah Scott {iiee Nicehonger), who were 
natives of Greene County, where they were married and remained 
through life. Mr. and Mrs. Burroughs liave a family of nine chil- 
dren — Hamilton S., Arabella, wife of P. F. Headley; Charlotte A., 
wife of Leroy Marsh; Elmira, wife of T. N. Millikin; John M., 
James H., William E., Bertha V. and Thomas B. Mr. Burroughs 
has spent his whole life as a farmer, and owns 165. acres of land, 
constituting his home farm. 

H. S. BUEROUGHS, physician, Eutan, Penn., was born in 
Center Township, this county, December 28, 1852. His parents, 
Thomas T. and Eliza J. Burrouglis (iiee Scott), are natives of Greene 
County and residents in Center Township. The Doctor was united 
in marriage June 28, 1882, with Maggie A. Hopkins, born October 
1, 1859. Her parents are Samuel and Martha Hopkins {iiee Milli- 
kin), who are natives of this county and I'eside in Morris Township. 
Dr. Burroughs began reading medicine May 1, 1875, with Dr. John 
T. lams, of Waynesburg, Penn. He graduated from the Jefferson 
Medical College of Philadelphia, Penn., March 12, 1879, and in the 
following April commenced the practice of his profession at Eutan, 
Penn., where he still resides with his family. The Doctor is well 
qualified for the duties of his profession and has a good practice. 
He is a Baptist, and his wife is a member of the Methodist Church. 

JAMES CALL, retired farmer, P. 0. Eogersville, was born in 
Center Township, Greene County, Penn., Septeuiber 17, 1825. His 
father and mother, James and Sarah (Hoge) Call, were natives of 
Greene County, where they were married and spent the remainder of 
their lives. They departed this life at the home of their son James 
Mrs. Call March 7, 1862, and her husband June 13, 1868. In Oc- 
tober 22, 1849, James Call married Martha Vanwey, who was born 
in Perry County, Ohio, December 31, 1833. Ller parents, John 
and Anna (Mains) Yanwey, were natives of New Jersey, and after 
marriage resided in Perry County, Ohio, until their death. To Mr. 
and Mrs. Call have been born seven children, of whom six are living 
Harvey L., Eobert H.,Zadok G., Mary E., wife of Asa W. Morris; 
Ida M., wife of Thomas E. Knight and Martha A. William is 
deceased. Mr. Call was reared on a farm, and has engaged in farm- 
ing as a business through life. He owns about 140 acres of land, 



HISTORY OP GREENE COUNTY. 575 

where lie and family reside. He engaged in merchandising in Oalv 
Forest about nine years. In 18(50 he was elected justice of the 
peace of Center Township, and served ten years. He and family are 
representative citizens of Center Township, Greene County, Penn. 

THOMAS J. CAllPENTEIl, farmer, P. O. Rutan, was born in 
Gilmore Township, this county, January 1, 1858. He is a son of 
Joseph and Elizabeth Carpenter (jiee Stewart). His father was born 
in New York and his mother in Greene County, Penn., where tliey 
were married and have since made their home. Thomas J. Carpen- 
ter was twice married; iirst, January 11, 187U, to J>elle Grove, who 
was born in Center Township), June 14, 1860, and is a daughter of 
William and Rebecca (Shaw) Grove. By this marriage Mr. Car- 
penter is the father of one child — W. E. Carpenter. Mrs. Carpen- 
ter departed this life October 7, 1883. Mr. Carpenter's second wife 
was Jessie L. Sujiler, whom he married September 28, 1885. She 
was born September 16, 1865, and is a daughter of Martin and 
Lizzie P. (Goodwin) Supler, who reside in Richliill Township. Mr. 
and Mrs. Carpenter have one child — Floyd M. Mr. Carpenter was 
engaged in merchandising until twenty- two years of age, at which 
time he began farming, in which he has engaged as a business ever 
since. He owns 112 acres ot land, where he lives with his family. 
He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His 
deceased wife was a member of the Christian Church. 

R. I'. CHURCH, farmer, Holbrook, Penn., was born in Center 
Township, Greene County, Penn., June 17, 1842. His parents are 
Elijah and Anna Church {^tiee Moore), who are natives of Greene 
County, where they now reside. The subject of this sketch was 
united in marriage July 13, 1867, with Sarah Thomas, who was 
born in Center Township April 18, 1851. She is a daughter of 
John and Mary Thomas (^lee Wood), the former deceased. Mr. and 
Mrs. Church are the parents of four children, two of whom are 
living — George W. and Hamilton. The deceased are Fannie and 
Asa C. Mr. Church has followed the occupation of farming throu<f]i 
life, and owns 166 acres of land where he and family live. Durin<T 
the late Rebellion he entered the service of his country in Company 
F, Eighty-fifth Volunteers, serving four years and four months. He 
was in a number of serious engagements, in one of which, in 1863 
he was severely wounded. Mr. and Mrs. Church are consistent 
members of the Christian chuix'h, and are among the leading families 
of Center Township. 

G. M. CHURCH, cabinet-maker, Rogersville, Penn., was born 
in Greene County, Penn., February 13, 1845, and is a son of Elijah 
and Anna Church, who were natives of this county, where they uo-^ 
reside. Mr. Church was united in the holy bonds of matrinionv 
July 31, 1870, M'ith Nancy L., daughter of William and SaraJa 



576 HISTORY OF GREETTE COUNTY. 

Sharpnack. Mrs. Cliiircli was born at liice's Landing, Penn., October 
11, 1845. She and her husband have a family of tliree children, two 
of whom are hving, viz., William E. and Anna S. Mr. Church is a 
cabinet-maker by trade, which he followed the most of his life. He 
owns a nice furniture store and good property. in JKogersville, where 
he and family reside. When the war broke out he enlisted in the 
service of his country in Company F, Eighty-lifth Pennsylvania 
Volunteers, and served two years, during which time he passed 
through a number of serious engagements. In polities Mr. Church 
is a Republican. He and family are among the leading citizens in 
the village where they reside. 

CEPHAS CLUTTER, a retired farmer of Hunter's Cave, Penn., 
was born in Washington County, Penn., January 6, 1804, and is a 
son of William and Sarah Clutter {^nee Rutan). tlis parents, who 
were natives of New Jersey, were married in Washington County, 
Penn., and remained there until their death. The subject of our 
sketch was united in the holy bonds of matrimony August 25, 1827, 
with Laura Day, who was born in Greene County July 25, 1809. 
Mrs. Clutter is a daughter of William and Mary Day (^lee Sutton), 
who were also natives of New Jersey, and after marriage settled in 
Greene County, Penn., where they remained until their death. To 
Mr. and Mrs. Clutter were born seven children, five now living, 
viz. — William, Zebulon, John M., Mary J., wife of Lewis Baltzell; 
and Spencer B. The deceased are Franklin and Robinson. Mr. 
Clutter has always lived on a farm, and has been engaged in farming , 
and stock-raising all his life. He owned at one time over 640 acres 
of land in this county. About 400 acres of this he has given to 
his children, and owns 240 acres where he resides. Mrs. Clutter, 
who was a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, died 
July ly, 1885. She and her husband made their home in Center 
Township for nearly half a century. 

J. M. CLUTTER, farmer, Plarvey's, Penn., was born in Greene 
County, Penn., February 29, 1832. His father and mother are 
Cephas and Laura (Day) Clutter, natives of Washington and Greene 
Counties, respectively. They were united in marriage August 25, 
1827, and settled in Greene County, where they have since resided. 
Mrs. Clutter departed this life July 19, 1885. Her husband is still 
living, having reached the advanced age of eighty-four years. The 
subject of our sketch was united in marriage January 1, 1856, 
with Elizabeth Ullom, who was born in this county November 
14, 1834. Mrs. Clutter is a daughter of Daniel T. and Anna 
(Jolmson) Ullom, who were residents of this county until Mr. 
Ullom's death. Plis widow is still living at the old homestead. 
Mr. Clutter was reared on a farm, and has been a successful farmer 
■ through life. He owns 146 acres of good land, where he and 



History of gueene county. 577 

family reside. He is considered one of the most substantial farmers 
and among the leading citizens of Center Township. 

W. H. COOK, retired farmer, Harvey's, Penn., was born in Nor- 
wich, Connecticut, May 7, 1817. He is a son of William and Mar- 
garet (Harvey) Cook, the former a native of Scotland and the latter 
of England. They were married in New York City, M-here they re- 
mained sometime, then moved to Connecticut, and in 1818 moved to 
Greene County. Penn. Soon after their arrival in the county, Mr. 
Cook took a trip on a keal boat down the Ohio River, and was never 
heard of after he left AVheeling, W. Va. His widow remained in 
Greene County until her death, which occurred in 1875. W. H. 
Cook was their only child, and was united in marriage, November 2, 
1847, with Elizabeth Rinehart, who was born in Waynesburg in 1825. 
Mrs. Cook is a daughter of Jesse and Lucy (Workman) Rinehart, 
natives of Greene County, where they remained until their death. 
Mr. and Mrs. Cook are the parents ot seven children, viz.: Jesse R., 
Margaret, wife of Jacob 15raddock; Maria H., wife of Abner Phillips; 
Samuel H., Lora, Francis L., wife of Hiram Smith; and Thomas H. 
Mr. Cook is a house-joiner by trade, which he has followed almost 
all his life. In later years he engaged extensively in farming, and 
owns 350 acres of land in this county. Mr. Cook has served as 
school director, and belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church, of 
which his wife, who died May 1(), 1885, was also a faithful member. 

LAYTON CROUSE, farmer, Rogersville, ■ Penn.— The gentle- 
man whose name heads this sketch is one of the prosperous farmers 
of Center Township, where he was born August 23, 1827. He is a 
son of Samuel and Rebecca Grouse, also natives of this county and 
residents therein until their death. They were the parents of nine 
children, five living. Layton was united in marriage, January 5, 
18(51, with Catharine M. Thomas. Mrs. Grouse was Ijorn in Greene 
County, June 28, 1839, and is a daughter of Eli and Sarah Thomas 
(7iee Knight), also natives of this county. Mr. and Mrs. Grouse are 
the parents often children, iive of whom are living, viz.: Mnry B., 
Janette, Elizabeth, Campbell and Sherman. The deceased are 
Lucy, Sarah J., Franklin, Eli and Walter S. Mr. Couse was raised 
on a farm and has been engaged in farming all his life. He owns 
140 acres of land where he and his family live. In politics lie is a 
Republican. 

S. B. EAGON, farmer, Rogersville, Penn., was born in Center 
Township November 25, 1831. His father and mother, Uriah and 
Cassandra (Adamson) Eagon, were natives of Pennsylvania. The 
former was born August 21, 1802, and the latter March 21, 1804. 
They were married October 10, 1822, and were the parents of nine 
children, of whom six are living. The subject of our sketch was 
united in marriage, September 8, 1853, with Sarah A. Thomas, who 



578 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

was born in Center Township January 23, 1832. Her parents were 
Eli and Sarah Thomas, natives of Pennsylvania, who departed this 
life in Center Township. To Mr. and Mrs. Eagon have been born 
three children, of whom two are living — Jesse K. and Sarah J., — 
Uriah is deceased. Mr. Eagon has been engaged in farming the 
greater part of his life, and owns about 156 acres of land where he 
and his fauiily reside. During the rebellion he entered the service 
of his country, enlisting in 'Company A., Eighteenth Pennsyluania 
Cavalry, and served two years and ten months. In politics he is a 
Republican and is a member of the G. A. R. 

A. G. FORDYCE, retired farmer. White Cottage, Penn.— The 
subject of this sketch is one of the pioneer citizens of Greene County. 
He was born December 4, 1807. Ilis father and mother were Jacob 
and Elizabeth Fordyce, the former a native of Kew Jersey and the 
latter of Fayette County, Pennsylvania. They settled in Greene 
County and remained until their death. A. G. Fordyce was united 
in marriage the lirst time, March 11, 1827, with Nancy Leonard, who 
w^as born in this county March 2, 1809. Her parents were "William 
and Elizabeth Leonard, both now deceased. By this marriage Mr. 
Fordyce is the father of twelve ehildren, of whom eight are living, 
viz.: Jacob, Elizabeth, wife of LaFayette Eagon; Maria, wife of 
Jesse Wood; Sarah, wife of Edward Wood; William, Silas, Barnet, 
and Clarinda, wife of A. R. White. Mrs. Fordyce departed this life 
October 22, 1855. On October 30, 1856, Mr. Fordyce was again 
united in marriage with Elizabeth Simmons, who was born in Wash- 
ington County, Penn., May 28, 1823. Mr. Fordyce's parents were 
Spencer and Mary Simmons, who settled in Greene County and re- 
mained until their death. By the second marriage Mr. and Mrs. 
Fordyce have three children, only one of whom is living — AlbertG . 
Mr Fordyce was reared on a farm, has been engaged in farming all 
his life, and owns a farm of 280 acres. In politics he is a Repub- 
lican. Mr. and Mrs. Fordyce are faithful members of the Christian 
Church, of which his deceased wife was also a devoted member. Mr. 
Fordyce has fifty-three grand-children, twenty-eight great-grand- 
children and some of them are married. 

SILAS FORDYCE, a farmer of Holbrook, Penn., was born June 
20, 1842, on the old Fordyce homestead in Center Township, Greene 
County, Penn. His parents were Archibald G. and Nancy Fordyce 
(^nee Leonard), who were born in this county — Mr.Fordj'ce Dec. 4, 
1807, and his wife March 2, 1809. They were married March 11, 
1827 and remained in the county until Mrs. Fordyce's death, which 
occurred October 22, 1855. After her death Mr. Fordyce was united 
in marriage with Elizabeth Simmons, a native of Washington County, 
Penn. On January 23, 1862, Silas Fordyce married Mary J. Orndurf, 
who was born in Whiteley Township, October 1, 1842. She is a 



JlISTOnY OF GREENE COUNT V. 57y 

daughter of Jesse and Isabella Orndiirt', the latter deceased. Mr. 
Fordjce and wife are the parents of ten childi-en, of whom nine are 
living — Nancy B., William L., Jesse, Louella E., Snsan, Archibald, 
Nevada, Garfield, Frank, — and Lillie (deceased). The subject of this 
sketch was raised on a farm, and has been engaged in farming and 
stock-raising almost all his life. He owns 300 acres of land where 
he resides with his family. In politics Mr. Fordyce is a Eepablican. 
When the war broke out he enlisted in the Eighteenth Pennsylvania 
Cavalry and served his country one year and eight months, during 
which time he was in a number of serious eno'ao-ements. He and his 
wife are consistent members of the Christian Church. 

JESSE FORDYCE, deceased, was a resident of Center Town- 
ship, Greene County, Peiin., where he was born May 28, 1831. He 
was a son of Jacob and Martha Fordyce, natives of Greene County, 
now deceased. Jesse was united in marriage, November 10, 1859, 
with Rachel Orndolf. Mrs. P^ordyce was born in Center Townshi}), 
this county, September 19, 1829, and is a daughter of William and 
Salome Orndotf (^iiee Wisecarver). Mr. and Mrs. Fordyce are the 
parents of one child — Ardella, born April 5, 18G1. Mr. Fordyce 
was reared on a farm and engaged in farming through life. At the 
time of his death he was the owner of uinety-si.K acres of land, where 
his widow and daughter now reside. lie belonged to the Methodist 
Protestant Church, of which Mrs. Fordyce is also a devoted member. 
In politics Mr. Fordyce was a Republican. lie departed this life 
April 14, 1885, and by his death the township lost a good citizen, 
and his family a kind father and husband. 

S. R. FORDYCE, farmer, Rogersville, Peun., was born in Cen- 
ter Township August 7, 1841- He is a son of Jacob and Martha 
Fordyce, who were natives of Greene County and now deceased. On 
June 22, 1867, S. R. Fordyce married Elizabeth OrndufF, who was 
born in Greene County March 13, 1850. She is a daughter of Jesse 
and Susan Orndurf (^iiee Wear). Mr. Orndurf was born in Franklin 
Township May 20,1810, and Mrs. Orndurf in West A^irginia November 
21, 1826, and they reside in Center Township. Mr. and Mrs. For- 
dyce are the parents of two children — Archibald and Edison. Mr. 
Fordyce was born and reared on his present farm, and has been en- 
gaged in farming the most of his life. He owns about 111 acres of 
land where he and family reside. In politics he is a Republican. 
During the late rebellion he eidisted in the service of his country in 
Company I, Eighth P. R. V. C, and was in the service almost three 
years, passing through many serious engagements. Mr. and Mrs. 
Fordyce are faithful members of the M. P. Church. 

D. W. FRY, Waynesburg, Penn., was born in Wayne Township, 
Greene County, Penn., February 26, 1838, and is a son of George 
and Elizabeth Fry. His parents were born in Greene County — his 



580 HISTOKY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

fatlier in 1813, and his motlier in 1818. She died November 16, 

1883. They'were the parents of seven children, live of whom are 
living. The subject of this sketch was united in marriage, March 
10, 1859, with Sarah, daughter of John Simington. She departed 
this life April 18, 1860. Mr. Fry was a second time married, July 
14, 1861, with Mary M. Eagon, a native of Greene County, where 
she was born May 13, 1843. Her parents, Uriah and Cassandra 
Eagon, are both deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Fry are the parents of 
three children — Elizabeth S., wife of Joseph Huffman ; George W. 
and Louie. Mr. Fry was reared on a farm and has devoted all his 
time to farming. He owns 230 acres of land, on which are sub- 
stantial buildings. He also engaged in the mercantile business at 
Rogersville for a period of eighteen months. In politics Mr. Fry is 
a Republican, and he and his wife are prominent members of the 
Christian Church. 

W. C. FKY, farmer, Waynesburg, Greene County, Penn. — The 
subject of this sketch was born in June, 1847, on the farm where he 
resides in Center Township, Greene County, Penn. He is a son of 
"William and Susannah (Strosnider) Fry, pioneers of the county. 
William Fry, Sr., was born June 9, 1808, and his wife in 1812. 
They were united in marriage in 1832 and have resided in this county 
all their lives. They are the parents of eleven children, nine of whom 
are living. W. C. is the sixth. He was united in marriage in April, 
1878, with Lizzie P., daughter of Abnor M. Bailey. She was a 
native of Greene County, born in 1857. To Mr. and Mrs. Fry were 
born two children — Alonzo B. and Lida B. Mrs. Fry, who was a 
kind and affectionate wife and mother, departed this life August 1, 

1884. Mr. Fry was reared on a farm, and owns 120 acres of land in 
Center Township. In politics he is a Democrat, and belongs to 
the Christian Church. 

JOHN S. FUNK, farmer, Rutan, Penn., was born in Jefferson 
Township, this county, November 7, 1827. His parents, Henry and 
Levina (Smith) F\ink, who were natives of Pennsylvania, were united 
in marriage in Greene County, where they resided until their death. 
The subject of this sketch was united in the holy bonds .of matri- 
mony, June 4, 1854, with Margaret Craft, who was born in Fayette 
County November 6, 1832. Mrs. Funk is a daughter of Benjamin 
and Mary Craft, who were natives of Fayette Countj^, and after 
marriage moved to Greene County, and remained until Mr. Craft's 
death. His Madow is still living. Mr. Funk and wife are the parents 
of four children — George, Elizabeth, James and Wellington. Mr. 
Funk taught school for fifteen years in the earlier part of his life, 
and has since devoted his time exclusively to farming. Fie still 
takes an active interest in the educational affairs of his township, and 



illSTOIJT OF GKEENK COUNTY. 5S1 

has served as school director. He is the owner of a good farm of 
105 acres, where he and family reside. 

EAGON GOODEN, a retired farmer of Eutan, Peiin., was born 
in Wa^'ne Township, this county, February 22, 1828. He is a sun 
of William F. and Mary (Shields) Gooden, who were natives of 
Greene County, where they were married. Mrs. Gooden is deceased. 
Her husband is now a resident of Guernsey County, Ohio. The 
subject of this sketch was united in marriage September 19, 1850, 
with Elizabeth Wells. Mrs. Gooden was born in Greene County 
August 20, 1829, and is a dangiiter of James and Rhoda (Orndolf) 
Wells, also natives of this county, where they were married and re- 
mained until the death of Mrs. AVells. Mr. Wells is still living and 
resides in Center Township. Mr. Gooden and wife are the parents 
of eleven children, of whom ten are living — William T., Margaret 
J., wife of Eeasin Davis; Mary, wife of James Morris; James 
B., John J., Rhoda, wife of Henry Luellen; Eliza A., wife of 
Thomas L. McKerrian; Sarah A., wife of Charles N. Marsh; Har- 
riet F., Flora B., and Jesse (deceased). In early life Mr. Gooden 
taught school for about nineteen years; he would teach in the winter 
and work as a farm hand through the summer. His tirst purchase 
of land was in Wayne Township. It consisted of eighty-two acres 
which he sold, and in 1869 bought his present farm of 1()2 acres. 
In politics Mr. Gooden is a Democrat. He has served as judge and 
inspector of elections, and has been school director of his township. 

SETII GOODWIN, farmer, liutan, Penn., was born in Wasli- 
ington County, Penn., February 6, 1828, and is a son of John and 
Sarah A. (Gardner) Goodwin, natives of Pennsylvania. His parents 
were married in Washington County and remained there until about 
the year 1832, at which time they moved to Greene County and 
spent the remainder of their days. The subject of our sketch was 
united in marriage April i, 1854:, with Mary Hill, who was born in 
Greene County March 16, 1832. Her parents were Dan and Ma- 
tilda Hill (nee Penn), who were also natives of Pennsylvania, and 
after their marriage settled in this county and remained until 1851. 
They then moved West and remained for twenty-eight years, return- 
ing in 1882 to their native county in Pennsylvania, where Mr. Hill 
departed this life. His widow survives Iiim. Mr. and Mrs. Goodwin 
are the parents of twelve children, tiie following are living — .John 
W., Daniel II., Sarah M., wife of J. L. Hays; Thomas C, Mary F., 
Harry B. S., Elizabeth, Nan, and Nettie. Mr. Goodwin has been a 
tiller of the soil most of his life, and owns 200 acres of valuable 
land where he and family live. He and wife are prominent mem- 
bers of the Baptist Church. 

JOHN T. GOODWIN, farmer, Eutan, Penn., is one of the 
prosperous citizens of Center Township. He was born in (ireene 



582 SISTOKY OF GEEENE COtTNTY. 

Connty, July 31, 1840. Plis parents were John and Sarah A. Good- 
win {^lee Gardner). They were natives of Pennsylvania, where they 
wore married in Washington County, and about the year 1832 moved 
to Greene Connty and remained until their death. John T. was 
united in marriage, August 18, 1861, with Margaret A. Smith. Mrs. 
Goodwin was born in Center Township, February, 1842, and is a 
daughter of Edmund and Elizabeth (Adamson) Smith, who were 
natives of Greene County, where they were married and resided until 
Mr. Smith's death in 1887. His widow is still living. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Goodwin have Ijeen born four children — Edmund S., Thomas R., 
Emma J. and Flossie E. Mr. Goodwin makes quite a success of his 
farming, and owns about 186 acres of excellent land, where he and 
family reside. Mr. and Mrs. Goodwin are leading members of the 
South Ten-Mile Baptist Church. 

SAMUEL J. GRABLAM, farmer, Waynesburg, Penn., was born 
in Center Township, this county, November 22, 1837. His parents, 
George and Sarah B. (Mason) Graham, were natives of Greene County 
and residents therein until their death. Samuel was united in mar- 
riage, October 5, 1861, with Lizzie E. Boyd. She was born in Wash- 
ington Township, this county, October 6, 1842, and is a daughter of 
James and Martha Boyd. Her parents are also natives of this count}'; 
her father is now deceased. By this marriage Mr. Graham is the 
father of three children, two of whom are living — Sarah A. 'and James 
B. — and Florence E. is deceased. Mrs. Graham, who was a faithful 
Christian wife and mother, departed this life April 12, 1871. After 
her death, November 1, 1875, Mr. Graham was united in marriage a 
second time, with Sarah A. Price, who was born in Marion County, 
West Virginia, May 21, 1851. Her parents are Eli T. and Amanda 
Price {iiee Troy), natives of West Yirginia, where they were married 
and spent their lives. Mrs. Price is now deceased. By the last 
mari-iage Mr. Graham is the father of two children — Charles W. and 
George E. P. Mi'. Graham was reared on a farm and devotes his 
time wholly to agricultural pursuits. He is the owner of about 163 
acres of valuable land. He and wife are prominent members of the 
M. E. Church. 

JAMES HOGE, miller. Oak Forest, Penn., a descendant of one 
of the pioneer families of the coimty, was born in Center Township, 
September 23, 1834. His father and mother were George and Sarah 
Hoge, who died in this county. James was united in the holy bonds 
of matrimony, December 23, 1855, with Margaret Kent, a native of 
Greene County, born September 2, 1835. Mrs. Lloge is a daughter 
of John and Keziali Kent, who reside in Wayne Township, this 
county. Mr. Hoge and wife are the parents of eight children, of 
whom live are living, viz: Elizabeth, Maryetta, Lucy B., Jesse B. and 
Flora M. The deceased are Albert W., Rinehart K. and Margaretta. 



HISTORY OI'" GRKKNK COUNTY. 583 

Mr. Iloge is a carpenter by trade, which lie followed for many years. 
lie engaged in farming for some time, but for the last iifteen years 
has been operating a grist-mill. He owns land in the county, a num- 
ber of houses and lots, one-half interest in mill property at Oak 
Forest, also one-half interest in the lloge & Iloge Clothing Store at 
Waynesburg, Penn. Mr. Iloge has iilled the office of justice of the 
peace for ten years, and is one of the most enter{)rising and industri- 
ous men of the- county, and has carried on the undertaking business 
for thirty years and is still in the same business. lie is also in the 
wagon-making and repairing business. 

WILLIAM IIOGP], farmer, Rogersville, Penn., was born in 
Greene County, Penn., December 31, 1830. His father and mother 
were Morgan and Elizabeth Hoge (^nee Lippencott), who were natives 
of this county, where they made their home through life. William 
Hoge was twice united in marriage, the first time February 20, 18l')7, 
with Eliza A. McQuay. By this marriage Mr. Hoge is the father of 
four children — Samuel M., William McKinley, Elizabeth N. and 
David J. Mrs. Hoge died August 17, 1S75. JS^ovember 10, 1878, 
Mr. Hoge married for his second wife Esther M. Carter, born in 
Greene County in 1859. Her father and motiier were James and 
Martha Carter, the latter deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Hoge are the 
parents of five children, viz: Mary J., Cinderella, Levi L., Martha 
and Jesse. Mr. Hoge is a successful farmer, and owns 250 acres of 
land — his home farm. He and wife are zealous members of the Bap- 
tist Church. 

LEVI HOGE, farmer, Holbrook, Penn., was born June 24, 1833. 
His parents were Morgan and Elizabeth Hoge, who were born in 
Greene County, Penn., and resided there through life. Levi, the 
subject of our sketch, was united in the holy bonds of matrimony, 
October 12, 1868, with Susannah Orndoff. Mrs. Hoge was born in 
Center Township, Api'il 22, 1810, and is a daughter of William and 
Salome Orndoff, who, like Mr. Iloge's peojilo, were natives of Greene 
County, where they remained until their death. Mr. and Mrs. Hoge 
are the parents of one child — Mary J. Mr. Hoge was raised on a 
farm, and following out the careful instructions tiiere received, he 
has, by his industry and economy, proven himself one of the most 
substantial farmers in his township. He owns a nice farm of 236 
acres in Center Township, where he and family live. Mr. Hoge aiid 
family are prominent members in the Christian Church. 

JOSEPH HOGE, retired farmer. P.O. Oak Forest, Penn., is one of 
the pioneers of the county, and was born in Franklin Township, No- 
vember 16, 1806. His parents, Solomon and Mary Hoge, were 
natives of Virginia, and when first married moved to Greene County, 
Penn., and remained until their death. Joseph was three times mar- 
ried, first December i, 1828, to Mary Coen, a native of Greene 



584 IIISTOKY OF GREKNE COUNTY. 

County. By this marriage Mr. Hoge is tlie father of ten children, 
five of whom are living. Mrs. Hoge, who was a faithful Christian 
wife and mother, died in 1842. In 1843 Mr. Ploge married for his 
second wife Miss Jane Blair, who was born in this county February 
17, 1817. By this marriage there were seven children, four now 
living. Mrs. Jane Hoge departed this life August 22, 1856. Mr. 
Hoge subsequently married Mrs. Jane M. (Wood) Watson, June 22, 
1857. She was born in Washington County, Penn., November 16, 
1812. Mr. and Mrs. Hoge have one child. Mr. Hoge was reared 
on a farm, and has been engaged in farming all his life. He has re- 
sided on his present farm about sixty-four years. In politics he is a 
Eepublican. He and wife are members of the Baptist Church, in 
which he has been deacon for nearly fifty years. 

WILLIAM HOGE, farmer, P. O. Holbroolc, Penn., was born in 
Center Township, December 15, 1830. He is a son of Joseph and 
Mary (Coen) Hoge, who are natives of Greene County. Mrs. Hoge 
is deceased. October 4, 1855, William Hoge was united in marriage 
with Mary A. Graham, who was born in Franklin Township, Greene 
County, December 30, 1824. Her parents were William and Mar- 
garet (Muckle) Graham, the former a native of this county, and the 
latter of New Jersey. They were married in Greene County, Penn.^ 
where they settled and remained until their death. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Hoge have been born three children, of whom two are living — Will- 
iam G., and Margaret M., who is the wife of John M. Scott. The 
deceased is Llenry H. William G. was born July 28, 1855, and was 
married July 20, 1878, to Mary A. Moore. Mrs. Mary A. Hoge, 
wife of William G., died August 24, 1888. He was married again 
June 11, 1885, to Miss Alice M. Orndoff. Margaret M. was born 
July 5, 1859, and married January 29, 1885, to John M. Scott. Mr. 
Hoge has been engaged in farming the most of his life, and owns 
241 acres of land in Center Township. He and Mrs. Hoge are zealous 
members of the Baptist Church, and are among the leading families 
of the township. 

T. J. HUFFMAN, farmer. Oak Forest, Penn.— The subject of this 
sketch was born in Center Township, Greene Conntj', Penn., August 
BO, 1829. He is a son of Joseph and Sarah (Plant) Huffman. On 
December 27, 1855, Mr. Huffman was united in marriage with Caro- 
line Hathaway, who was born in Washington County, Penn., and is 
a daughter of Jacob and Jane Hathaway, residents of Washington 
County, Penn. Mr. and Mrs. Huffman have a family of nine chil- 
dren, eight of whom are living, viz: Joseph, Jacob, Robert, Daniel, 
Charlie W., Lizzie, Belle and Dora, and Jennie (deceased.) Mr. Huff- 
man was reared on a farm, and has been engaged in farming through- 
out his life. He owns about 240 acres of land in Greene County. 



HISTORY OF GREENK COUNTY. 585 

^Ir. and Mrs. linffiuau are promineiit iiieiiibers of the Christian 
Church, and higlily respected by all who kjiow them. 

REASIN HUFFMAN, fanner, Waynesburg, Penn., is one of the 
industrious fanners of Center Township, Greene County, Penn., where 
he was born June 24, 1831. His parents were Joseph and Sarali 
Huffman {nee Hunt), who were natives and residents of this county 
until their death. On October 15, 185U, Mr. Huffman was united in 
the lioly bonds of matrimony with Sidney Stewart [nee Tiionias). Her 
father wasanative of Ohio, and her mother of Greene County, Penn. 
They now reside in Monroe County, Ohio. To Mr. Huffman, and wife 
have been born nine eliildren, eight of whom are living — Joseph L., 
William R., Albert L., Emma F., Biddie E., Alexander C. J., John 
F., Isa O., and Nancy (deceased). The subject, like Ins brothers, 
was reared on a farm and has devoted his life principally to agriculture 
pursuits. He owns about 200 acres of land. In politics Mr. Huff- 
man is a Democrat, has tilled the office of school director in his 
township, and he and wife are devoted members of the Christian 
Church. 

S. B. HUFFMAN, farmer, Waynesburg, Penn., was born on the 
Huffman homestead in Center Township, this county, September 2fi, 
1847. He is a son of Joseph and Sarah (Hunt) Huff'man, who were 
natives of Pennsylvania, residing in Greene County until their death. 
Mr. Huffman was united in marriage, May 11, 1872, with Ella 
Neel, a native of Greene County, born March 21, 1853. She is a 
daughter of Remembrance and Nellie Neel [nee Thomas), natives 
of Pennsylvania, the latter deceased. Mr. Huft^man and wife are the 
parents of six children, five of whom are living — Harry, Charlie, 
Josie, Ray and Roy. Remembrance (deceased). Mr. Huffman has 
been engaged in farming all his life, and owns IGO acres of land 
where he and family reside. In politics Mr. Huffman is a Democrat, 
and is school director in his township. He and wife are active mem- 
bers of the Christian Church. 

SAMUEL lAMS, retired ftirmer, Harvey's, Penn., was born in 
Washington County, Penn., April 8, 1817. His parents, John and Anna 
(Coulsonj lams, were natives of Washington County, where they were 
married and remained through life. Mr. lams died, in December, 
1866, and Mrs. lams in November, 1886. They were the parents of 
five children, of whom three are living. Samuel was united in mar- 
riage, October 29, 1840, with Nancy Grimes, who was born in Greene 
County, August 15, 1817. Her parents were Peter and Mary (Sher- 
win) Grimes, deceased. The former was a native of this county, 
and the latter of Baltimore, Maryland. «Mr. and Mrs. Samuel lams 
are the parents of seven children, of whom five are living — Dr. John 
T., of Waynesburg, Penn.; G. P.; Ida, wife of Byron Braddoclc; Carrie, 
wife of James B. Throckmorton; and Samuel S. The deceased are 



ggg HISTOKY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

Mary A. and Cordelia. Mr. lams is a mill-wright by trade, which 
he followed for many years. He subsequently engaged in farming 
and stock raising, and owns about 420 acres of land in Greene County. 
Mrs. lams and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church . 

F. G. JACOBS, farmer, P. O., Rutau, was born in Greene County, 
Penn., November 25, 1832. His father, Daniel Jacobs, was born in 
New Jersey. His mother, whose maiden name was Hannah Tiayle, 
is a native of Maryland. They were married in Greene County, 
Penn., where they still reside. The subject of this sketch was 
united in marriage, June 24, 1858, with Catharine Nelson, who was 
born in this county February 14, 1832. She is a daughter of Samuel 
and Barbara (Banner) iNfelson. The former was born in Virginia and 
the latter in Greene County, Penn., wliere they were married and spent 
tlie remainder of their lives. Mr. and Mrs. Jacobs have seven children 

Daniel, Hannah, wife of Melvin Headley; William R., Barbara E., 

Mary B., Henry and Delia M. In early life Mr. Jacobs taught 
school for a few years, but subsequently devoted his time to farming. 
He owns about 225 acres of land where he and family live. Mr. and 
Mrs Jacobs are zealous members of tlie Metliodist Protestant Church. 

A. J. JOHNSTON, farmer, Hunter's Cave, Penn., w^as born in 
Washington County, Penn., January 18, 1816. His parents 
wei-e Andrew and Climena (Conklin) Johnston the former a 
native of New Jersey, and the latter of Pennsylvania. After 
marriage they settled in Washington County, and in 1820 moved 
to Greene County and remained until their death. The subject of 
our sketch was united in holy bonds of matrimony, December 9, 1847, 
with Phoebe McCnllough, who was born in Washington County, 
A.pril 3, 1817. Mrs. Jolinston is a daughter of Thomas and Sarah 
(Dunn) McCuUongh. They were also natives of Washington County, 
where they remained two years atter their marriage, then moved to 
Greene County and spent the remainder of their lives. Mr. and Mrs. 
Johnston have four children: Sarah A., wife of William Heaton; 
George W., Andrew J., and Eliza A. Mr. Johnston has been en- 
gaged in farming and stock raising all his life, and owns about 400 
acres of land — his home farm. Mrs. Johnston and the children 
are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

COLUMBUS JOHNSTON, farmer, P. O. RogersviUe, was born 
in Center Township, Greene County Penn., June 4, 1831. He is a 
son of Andrew and Climena (Conklin) Johnston who were natives of 
Washington County, but after marriage resided in Center Township, 
Greene County, until their death. Columbus was united in marriage 
March 5, 1855, with Emeline Bane, who was born in Washington 
County, June 17, 1838. Mrs. Johnston is a daughter of Nathan and 
Hannah Bane (.nee Carter), who were also natives of Washington 



HISTORY OF GREElSrE COUNTY. 587 

County, and moved to Greene County about 1844, remaiiiiiicr until 
Mr. Bane's death. His widow is still living and resitles in West 
Vircrinia. Mr. Johnston and wife are the parents of four children — 
Nathan B., Lizzie A., Dora M., and Lewis B. (deceased). Mr. Johnston 
was reared on a farm and has made farming his business through life, 
and by strict honesty and industry lias procured a nice home, con- 
sisting of 108 acres of land, where lie and family reside. lie and 
Mrs. Johnston are active members of the South Ten Mile I'aptist 
Church. Li politics he is a Republican. 

DAVID KNIGHT, retired tarmer, P.O.Oak Forest, Penn.,was 
born in Greene County, Penn., October 24, 1818. His parents, 
James and Cassandra Knight, were natives of Greene County, where 
they were married and remained until their death. Daviil was 
united in marriage June G, 1839, with Mary A. Fry. Mrs. Knight 
was born in this county February 2(3, 1819, and is a daughter of 
John and Mary Fry. They were also natives of Greene County, but 
moved to West Virginia and resided until their death. To Mr. 
Knight and wife have been born nine children, seven of wliom are 
living — Mary, Joshua, Cassie J., Thomas J., Lucy A., Jemima and 
Harriet. The deceased are Catharine and Eli. Mr. Knight has been 
successfully eugaged in farming all his life, and owns about 184 
acres of land. In politics he is a Democrat. The Knight family 
are pioneers of the county, and among its most highly resjiected 
■citizens. 

THOMAS KNIGHT, former, P. O. Rogersville, Penn., was born 
in Franklin Township, Greene County, Penn., November 27, 1820. 
His father and mother, James and Cassandra Knight, were natives 
of this county, where they resided until their death. Thomas Knight 
was united in marriage November 18, 1841, with Nancy AVood, 
who was born in Jackson Township, October 13, 1822. Mrs. Knight 
was a daughter of Micajah and Jane W^ood, the former a native of 
Pennsylvania, and the latter of Ireland. Both died in Greene 
County. Mr. Knight by this marriage is the father of eight chil- 
dren, of M'hom iive are living. Mrs. Knight died March 3, 1863. 
On December 24, 1863, Mr. Knight married for his second wife 
Miss Edna Sellers, who was born in Center Township, October 30, 
1829. Her parents were Christopher and Nancy (Johnson) Sellers, 
both natives of Pennsylvania, who departed this life in OJreene 
County. Mr. Knight and wife have two children, one living. Mr. 
Knight is a cabinet-maker by trade, but has been engaged in fann- 
ing for many years. He owns 212 acres of good land. 

LEVI II. MARTIN, P.O. Rogersville, Penn., is one of the sub- 
stantial farmers of Center Townsliip, this county, where he was born 
March 1, 1S43. His parents, Daniel and Rachel (Rush) Martin, 
were natives of Greene County, where they were married and re- 



588 HISTOKY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

mained until Mr. Martin's death, April 6, 1879. His widow is 
still living. Levi was united in marriage, December 24, 1867, 
with Rachel Eddy, who "was born July 24, 1842, in tliis county, 
and is a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Knghn) Eddy. Her 
parents are natives of Greene County and reside in Wayne Town- 
ship. Mr. and Mrs. Martin have a family of three children, two of 
■whom are living — Belle and Levi E. Mr. Martin was reared on a 
farm, and has engaged in farming as his occupation through life. 
Lie is the owner of 150 acres of good land in Greene County. He 
and Mrs. Martin are active members of the Christian Church, and 
the family are highly respected in the community. 

A. B^ McClelland, merchant, Oak Forest, Penn.— The 
subject of this sketch is one of the leading merchants of Center 
Township. Lie was born in Waynesbui-g, Penn., February 25, 1840. 
His parents were Dawson and Sarah (Hughes) McClelland, who were 
natives and residents of this county tlirough life. Asa B. was united 
in marriage March 10, 1861, with Nancy Donahoe. She was born 
in Greene County, November 30, 1841, and is a daughter of William 
and Nancy Donahoe, both deceased. Mr. McClelland is a black- 
smith by trade, which he followed about twenty-five years, then en- 
gaged in farming and merchandising. He owns a general store at 
Oak Forest, Penn. In politics he is a Republican, and served as 
postmaster for five years at Oak Forest under the Republican ad- 
ministration. He and wife are faithful members of the Baptist 
Church. 

J. P. McGLUMPHY, farmer, P. O. Rutan, was born in Center 
Township, Greene County, Pennsylvania, July 16, 1822. He is a 
son of Edward and Magaret (Haines) McGlumphy. His father was 
a native of Ireland, and his mother of Maryland. They were the 
parents of seven children, of whom four are living. Mr. McGlum- 
phy was united in marriage February 11, 1847, with Lida A. 
Thomas. Mrs. McGlumphy was born in this county March 12, 
1831, and is a daughter of James and Elizabeth Thomas. Mr. and 
Mrs. McGlumphy are the parents of four children — Maria S., wife 
of Henry Scott; Hiram R.; Elizabeth M., wife of F. M. Carpenter, 
and Lucy J., wife of W. II. Throckmorton. Mr. McGlumphy has 
been a farmer all his life, and owns a nice home where he and 
family reside. He and wife are prominent members of the Cumber- 
land Presbyterian Chiirch, and are highly respected by all who 
know them. 

JESSE McN EEL Y, farmer, P. O. Rutan, Penn., was born in 
Wayne Township, Greene County, Pennsylvania, April 11, 1851. 
He is a son of John and Elizabeth McNeely, who were natives of 
Pennsylvania and settled after marriage in Greene County, where 
Mrs. McNeely departed this life in Wayne Township. Mr. Mc- 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 589 

Neely afterward married a Mrs. Coen, whose maiden name was 
Stockdale. They moved to Center Township and remained until 
Mr. McNeely's deatli. His widow came to her death June 13, 1888, 
by the falling of a porcli roof. She was standing on the porch when 
the roof fell in and killed her instantly. Jesse was united in mar- 
riage ]Vo\ember 0, 1875, with Melissa YanCIeve, who was born in 
Center Township, August 7, 1852. Iler parents were John and 
Ursula (Tlirockmorton) VanCleve, also natives of this county and 
and residents of Center Township. Mr. and Mrs. McNeely have 
two children — James A. and John H. In connection witli his 
fiirming Mr. McNeeley has been engaged extensively in the lumber 
business. He is the owner of seventy-six acres of land, where he 
and family reside. He has served as scliool director of his town- 
ship and was elected justice of tlic peace February, 1888, for a term 
of live years. JMrs. McNecly is a devoted member of the Method- 
ist Episcopal Church. 

JOHN MEEK, a successful farmer, F. (). Rutan, Fenn., was born 
in Washington Townsliip, this county. May 20, 1833. His parents, 
John and Elizabeth (Boyd) Meek, were also natives of this county, 
where they remained nntil tlieir death. On October 15, 1851), 
John Meek was united in marriage with Jane Simpson. Mts. Meek 
was born in Greene County, February 7, 1840, and is a daughter of 
John and Mary (Auld) Simpson, Her fatlier was born in Greene 
County, Fenn., and her motlier was a native of Ireland. Both died 
in this county. Mr. and Mrs. Meek have three children — Miles, 
John W. and Ottowa A. Mr. Meek has been engaged in farming 
all his life, and owns 224 of land where he and family reside. Mr. 
and Mrs. Meek are leading members in the Metliodist Frotestant 
Church. 

WILLIAM MILLIKIN, farmer, F. O. Rutan, was born in Mor- 
ris Township, this county, April 3, 1832. His parents, David and 
Lida (Rogers) Millikin, were natives of Greene Connty, the former 
of Irish and tlie latter of English descent. They were united in 
marriage in Greene County, where they remained through life. 
William was united in marriage, September 1, 1852, with Rebecca 
Simpson, who is a native of this county, born March 9, 1835. Her 
parents Avere John and Mary Simpson, the former a native of Fenn- 
sylvania, and the latter of Ireland. They were residents of Greene 
County, Fenn., for the greater part of tlieir lives. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Millikin have been born eight cliildren, of whom six are living — 
John W., Robert I., Thomas N., Harry B., Maggie J. and Sadie M. 
The deceased are Lida A. and Cora V. Mr. Millikin is one of the 
substantial farmers of Center Township, and by his industry and 
good management has made a comfortable home for himself and 
family. His farm consists of about 300 acres of land, on which are 



590 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

good buildings. Mr. and Mrs. Millikin are consistent members of 
the Metliodist Protestant Church. 

JOHN MOREIS, farmer, Rogersville, Penn., was born in Cen- 
ter Township, this county, March 28, 1832. llis parents, Ephraim 
and Martha (Eoseberry) Morris, were natives of Greene County, 
where they were married and spent all their lives. John Morris was 
twice united in marriage, first November 11, 1854, with Sarah 
Church, a native of Center Township, and daughter of Elijah and 
Anna Church Uiee Moore). Pier parents are natives and residents of 
this county. By this marriage Mr. Morris is the father of six chil- 
dren, viz: Martha A., wife of Harvey Call; James M., Asa W., John 
J., Arta M., wife of Goodwin E[unt, and Elijah. Mrs. Morris de- 
parted this life March 10, 1878. November 30, 1879, Mr. Morris 
married for his second wife Elizabeth Phillips, a native of Marshall 
County, W. Va. Her parents were Joseph and Anna (Inghram) 
Phillips, natives of West Virginia, both now deceased. Mr. and 
Mrs. Morris are the parents of two children — Joseph G. and Sarah 
A. Mr. Morris is quite a genius, and has learned several different 
trades. He is a carpenter, stone-mason and blacksmith, and succeeds 
in almost any kind of work. He has been engaged in farming for 
several years, and owns about 300 acres of land where he and family 
reside. Dui'ing the Eebellion he entered the service of his country 
in Company F, Eighty-fifth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served over a 
year, receiving a wound at Williamsburg from a piece of a shell. 
Mr. Morris was elected commissioner of Greene County and served 
three years, being one of the few Eepublicans who ever held that 
office in the count}'. 

ELI OENDUEF, farmer, P. O., Eogersvillo, Penn., one of the 
substantial citizens of Center Township, was born in Greene County, 
Penn., Febrnai-y 25, 1828. He is a son of William and Salome 
(Wisecarver) Orndurf, the former a native of Virginia, and the latter 
of Pennsylvania. They departed this life in Greene County, in 
1885. They were the parents of twelve children, of whom eleven 
are living. Eli Orndurf was united in the holy bonds of matrimony, 
March 23, 1854, with Martha A. Wyly, who was born in Greene 
Connty, September 6, 1834. Mrs. Orndurf is a daughter of James 
and Mary Wyly {iiee Neel), natives of this county. Mrs. Wyly died 
February 14, 1876. Mr. Wyly is still living. To Mr. Orndurf and 
wife have been born se-ven children — William H., Mary S., wife of 
Edmund Scott; James L., Susan, Joseph S., Barney and Mattie I. 
Mr. Orndurf has been a farmer all his life, and owns 365 acres of 
land where he and family reside. In politics he is a Eepublican. 

W, B. OENDOFF, farmer and stock-raiser. Oak Forest, Penn., 
one (jf the substantial and industrious farmers of Center Township, 
was born in this county, January 15, 1837. He is a sou of William 



IIISTOUT OF GREENE COUNTY. 591 

and Salome (Wisecarver) Oriidolf, wlio departed tliis lii'e in 1885. 
William B. was united in marriage, September 12, 1868, with Mary 
E. Scott, who was born in Greene County, September 22, 1841. She 
is a daughter of John and Charlotte Scott [nee Mason), both natives 
of this county and residents of Jackson Townshij). Mr. and Mrs. 
Orndofl' are the parents of fh'e children — Bertha, Orvil 1)., Judson 
II., John D. and liersey. Mr. Orndoif has been engaged in farming 
for many years, and owns 338 acres of land in Center Township. In 
politics he is a Bepublican, and has served on the school board in his 
township. 

ISAAC ORNDOKF, farmer, Bogersville, Penn., is a descendant 
of the old pioneer family of Orndoffs. He was born in Center Town- 
ship, April 4, 181G, and is a son of William and Salome (AVisecarver) 
Orndoff, the former a native of Virginia, and the latter of J^ennsyl- 
vania. They were married in Greene County, and remained there 
through life. Isaac Orndoff was twice married, the first time April 
4, 1869, to Margai-et R. Seckman, who was born in Kogersville, May 
18, 1848. Mrs. Orndofl" was a daughter of John W. and Lila Seck- 
man, the former deceased. By this marriage Mr. Orndoff is the 
father of three children — Emma E., John S. and Lora M. Mrs. Orn- 
dofl' departed this life October 25, 1874. Mr. Orndofl"'s second wife, 
whom he married in 1877, was Harriet Headley, who was born in 
Gilmore Township, this county, May 8, 1848. She is a daughter of 
John and Eliza Headley. Mr. and Mrs. Orndofl' are the parents of 
six children — Jesse F., Eddie G., Sweet, Isaac B., Charlie W. and 
Georgie A. Mr. Orndofl' has been a farmer all his life, and owns 
eighty-tive acres of land where he and family reside in Center Town- 
ship, Greene County, Penn. 

D. S. ORNDOFF, farmer, Oak Forest, Penn., was born in Vir 
ginia, March 2'J, 1854. His father and mother are William and 
Margaret Orndofl", natives of Virginia, where they still reside. On 
November 20, 1875, D. S. Orndofl" married Mary S. Orndofl", who 
was born in Greene County, J'enn., March 25, 1851. Mrs. Orndofl" 
is a daughter of AVilliam and Salome Orndofl" (wee Wisecarver). The 
former was born in Virginia, and the latter in Pennsylvania. They 
settled in Greene County and remained until their death. To Mi', 
and Mrs. Orndofl' have been born four children — Maggie B., Lizzie 
M., Edsa S. and Efl'a A. Mr. Orndofl" came from Virginia in 1875, 
and has remained in Greene County ever since. He is engao-ed in 
farming, and owns 220 acres of land in Center Township. He and 
wife are consistent members of the Christian Church, and are hio-jily 
respected throughout the community. 

JESSE ORNDURF, retired farmer. White Cottage, Penn., was 
born in Franklin Township, this county, May 20, 1816. His father 
and mother were Jesse and Catharine Orndnrf, who were natives of 



592 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

Virginia, but came to Greene County, Penn., and spent their later 
life. Mr. Orndnrf departed this life in 1816, and after his death 
Mrs. Orndnrf was united in marriage with John Gordon. Both are 
now deceased. Jesse Orndurf was united in marriage the iirst time 
with Isabella Mooney, who was a daughter of Thomas and Cassandra 
Mooney, the former a native of Ireland, and the latter of Pennsyl- 
vania. Bj this marriage Mr. Orndurf is the father of four children, 
only one of whom is living — Mary J., wife of Silas Pordyce. Mrs. 
Orndurf departed this life in 1851. In 1853 Mr. Orndurf married 
for his second wife Susan Wear, born in West Virginia, November 
21, 1826. Mrs. Orndurf is a daughter of William and Sarah Wear. 
Her father died in Portsmouth, Ohio, and her mother in West Vir- 
ginia. By the second marriage Mr. and Mrs. Orndurf have six 
children — Elizabeth, wife of S. R. Pordyce; William, who married 
Eliza Mitchell; Inghram, the husband of Sidney White; Jesse B., 
who married MoUie L. Hughes; Sarali A, wife of C. V. Smith, and 
Sidney, wife of Thomas Stewart. Mr. Orndurf has been engaged 
in farming all his life, and has given his children a great deal of 
property. He owns at present 400 acres of land in Greene County. 
He and wife are zealous members of the Methodist Protestant Church. 
In politics he is a Democrat. 

S. B. OWEN, physician. Oak Forest, Penn. — Among the suc- 
cessful young physicians of Greene County, Pennsylvania, we take 
pleasui'e in mentioning the name of Dr. S. B. Owen, who was born 
in Greene County, January 4, 1857. He is a son of Isaac N. and 
Anna Owen (nee Push), who are natives of this county, where they 
have spent most of their lives. Doctor Owen was united in marriage 
August 28, 1879, with Laura K. Donley, who was born at Mt. 
Morris, Penn., August 28, 1862. She is a daughter of David L. and 
Louisa Donley (nee Evans). Her father is a native of this county, 
and her mother of West Virginia. They have resided in this county 
since their marriage. To Dr. S. B. Owen and wife have been born 
two children — Mabel D. and Edward L. The Doctor commenced 
reading medicine with his father in 1879, and graduated from the 
Starling Medical College of Columbus, Ohio, March 6, 1884. He 
began the practice of his profession at Oak Forest, Penn., the same 
year, where he I'eceives a large patronage and meets with good 
success. 

JOHN PATTERSON, farmer, P. O., Hunter's Cave, Penn., was 
born in Washington County, Penn., August 18, 1819, and is a son 
of John and Mary (Enlow) Patterson. His father is a native of Adams 
County. Mrs. Patterson was born in Washington County, Penn., 
where they were married and remained until their death. On Sep- 
tember 15, 1846, John married Mahala Patterson, a native of Morris 
Township, Greene County, Penn., born January 15, 1828. Her 



insTOKY OF TtREENE COUNTY. 5<)3 

parents, John and Elizabeth (Shriver) Patterson, were natives of 
Greene Connty and resided tlierein through life. Mr. and Mrs. Pat- 
terson are the parents of six children, three of whom are living — 
James E., Saniantha, wife of Jacob Schrode; and Ida B. The de- 
ceased are Nancy E., Mahalia S. and John W. Mr. Patterson was 
raised on a farm and has made farming the occupation of his life. 
He' is the owner of 220 acres of good land where he and his family 
reside. Mr. and Mrs. Patterson are leading members of theMeth- 
odist Episcopal Church. 

JESSE C. PATTERSON, farmer, Waynesbnrg, Penn., is one of 
the industrious young farmers of Center Township, where he was 
born September 22, 1854. He is a son of James and Mary J. (Par- 
shall) Patterson, natives of AVasliington and Fayette counties, re- 
spectively They were married in Greene County and remained there 
until their death. Mrs. Patterson departed this life March 7, 1884, 
and her liusband July 16, 1885. Jesse C. was united in marriage 
January 18, 1883, with Ilebecca Wade, wlio was born in this county 
December 4, 18(32. Her father and mother are Greenberry and 
Mary (McCorraick) Wade, natives of AVest Virginia, where they 
lived for many years. They subsequently moved to Greene Connty, 
Penn., and reside in Mt. Morris. Mr. and Mrs. Patterson are the 
parents of two children, one living, James E., and Wade (deceased). 
Mr. Patterson has been engaged in farming through life, and owns 
102 acres of land which constitutes his home farm. In politics 
he is a Democrat; he has held the office of school director in liis 
township, and he and Mrs. Patterson are consistent members of the 
Baptist Church. 

O. S. PHILLIPS, farmer, P. O. Hunter's Cave, was born in 
Washington County, Penn., August 21, 1829. He is a son of John 
and Lida (Rutan) Phillips, the former a native of Greene and the 
latter of Washington County, where tliey were married and remained 
until about the year 1844. Tliey then moved to Greene County and 
remained until Mr. Phillips death, which occurred at Fairfax Court 
House during the rebellion. After his death his widow lived with 
her son O. S., with whom she made her home until her death. Mr. 
O. S. Phillips was united in marriage, August 1, 1850, with Charity 
Graham, who was born on the farm where she resides, August 10, 
1833. Her parents were (Jeorge and Sarah B. (Mason) Graham, 
natives of this county and residents of Center Township until their 
death. To Mr. and Mrs. Phillips have been born the following 
named children — George W., Margaret J., wife of Simon Moore; 
Samuel 0., Belle L., wife of W. McCullough; Benjamin F., Sadie L., 
Dora M., Birdie W., Olive C. and Guy C. The deceased are lihoda 
A. and Willis B. Mr. Phillips was raised on a farm and lias been 
engaged in farming and stock-growing all his life. He owns about 



§94 HISTORY OF GKEENE COUNTY. 

440 acres of laud in Greene County. In politics lie is a Democrat, 
has tilled the otiice of school director in his township, and he and 
his wife are active members in the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

LEVI PORTER, Harvey's, Fenn., was born in Franklin Town- 
ship this county, June 5, 1845. His parents, John and Hannah 
(Rineliart) Porter, were natives of Greene County, where they were 
married and remained until their death. Levi was united in mar- 
riage September 3, 1873, with Lizzie, daughter of David and Eliza- 
beth Kent. Her father was a native of Pennsjdvania, and her mother 
of New Jersey. Both are now deceased. Mrs. Porter was born in 
Franklin Township. She and Mr. Porter had a family of four 
children — Linnie L., Mattie M., Alma E. and Florence A. Their 
mother died October 3, 1883.. Mr. Porter was afterwards united in 
marriage, March 30, 1885, with Linnie Bradford, who was ulso a 
native of Franklin Township, born October 20, 1856. She is a 
daughter of Robert and Sarah J. Bradford i^iee Kent), also natives of 
Pennsylvania and residents of Greene County until Mrs. Bradford's 
death. Mr. Bradford is still living. By his last marriage Mr. 
Porter is the father of two children — Goldie M. and Viola E. Mr. 
Porter has been engaged in different lines of business during his life, 
but at present devotes his time principally to farming, and owns one- 
hundred and thirty-eight acres of land where he and his family re- 
side. Mr. and Mrs. Porter belong to the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, of which his deceased wife was also a devoted member. 

"W. P. REESE, miller, Rogersville, Penn. — Among the stirring 
business men of Rogersville we take pleasure in mentioning the 
name of William P. Reese, who is a native of Greene County and 
was born November 28, 1884. Lie is a son of John D. and Cath- 
arine Reese, who were pioneers of Greene County, and remained in it 
until their death. William was united in marriage September 11, 
1869, with Maria Fry, who was born in this county, March 21, 
1847. Mrs. Reese is a daughter of George and Elizabeth Fry, who 
were born in Greene County. Mr. Fry in 1813, and his wife in 1818. 
Mr. Fry is still living. Mr. Reese and wife are the parents of seven 
children — John L., Cora B., George C, Catharine E., William A., 
Alice M. and Allen T. Mr. Reese is a miller by occupation, owns a 
grist and planing-mill in Rogersville, also 225 acres of land in Greene 
County. Lie is a member of the Masonic Order and his political 
views are Democratic. Lie has been a citizen of Rogersville for nine 
years. 

PHILLIP RUSH, farmer, Rogersville, Penn., was born in Morris 
Township, Greene County, Pennsylvania, October 17, 1834. He is 
a son of Abraham and Lida Rush (iiee Bottomfield), the former a 
native of New Jersey, and the latter of Pennsylvania. They were 
married in Greene County and resided there until their death. In 



HISTOHY OF GUKENK COUNTY. 595 

1857 Pliillip Rush married Catliariiie M. Huffman, who was born 
in Center Township, tiiis county, in 1837. Her parents, Joseph and 
Sarah (Hunt) Huffman, were natives of Pennsylvania, and resided 
in Greene Countj until their death. To Mr. and Mrs. Rush have 
been born eleven children, ten of whom are living — Stephen J>., 
Joseph L., Francis M., Nancy E., Clarinda, Timothy R., John, Yada, 
Lucy, May and Ora. Thomas J. is deceased. Mi\ Rush has been 
a farmer all his life, and owns 123 acres of valuable land where lie 
and his family reside. Mrs. Rnsli is a devoted member of the 
I'aptist Church. 

C. W. SCOTT, farmer, Rutan, Peiin., was born December 10, 
1837, on the farm where he and family reside in Center Township. 
He is a son of John and Mnry A. Scott {nee Teagarden), who were 
natives of Pennsylvania and residents of Greene County until their 
death. Mrs. Scott departed this life in 1856, and her husband lost 
his life in a collision on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, near Co- 
lumbus, Ohio, October (i, 1860. They were the parents of four 
children. On October 6, 1859, C. W. Scott was united in marriage 
with Rachel "Webster, who was born in this county November 30, 
1839. Her parents were John and Elizabeth (Cowell) Webster, also 
natives of this county. Mr. Webster died in 1871 and Mrs. Web- 
ster in 187-4. To Mr. and Mrs. Scott have been born five ciiildren, 
four living — William H., George M., John, Flora, and Mary E. 
(deceased). Mr. Scott was raised on a farm, has spent his life in 
farming, and is the owner of 124 acres of land. He has served as 
director of the poor in Greene County for three years. Mrs. Scott 
is a faithful member of the Baptist Church. 

THOMAS SCOTT, farmer, P. O. Rutan, Penn., was born in Center 
Township, Greene County, December 24, 1834. His parents, Elias 
and Harriet (Kent) Scott, were natives of this county, wiiere they 
were married and remained through life. Mr. Scott died August 
20, 1884, and his wife June 14, of the same year. On September 
13, 1855, Thomas Scott married Elizabeth A. Turner. Mrs. Scott 
was born in Greene County, June 12, 1838, and is a daughter of 
Rev. James L. and Nancy (Patterson) Turner. Her father was a 
native of New York and her mother of Greene County, Penn. Both 
are now deceased. By this marriage Mr. Scott is the father of 
eight children — Wesley S., Walter P., Elias, Harriet N., Ida L., 
Albert F., Carrie E. and James E. Mrs. Scott died July 16, 1876. 
Mr. Scott was subsequently united in marriage December 20, 1879, 
Avith Anna B. Drake, who was born in Greene County, October 5, 
1849. Her parents, Francis and Eliza Drake, were natives ot this 
county. Mr. Drake is deceased. By the second marriage Mr. 
Scott is the father of three children — Harry R., Leah N. and Will- 
iam. Mr. Scott has been a farmer all his life, and owns 133 acres 



596 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

of land where he and family live, hesides property in West Virginia. 
He has been a member of the school board of his township. He 
and Mrs. Scott belong to the Methodist Protestant Church, of which 
his deceased wife was also a devout member. 

GEORGE W. SCOTT, farmer, Rutau, Penn., was born in Center 
Township, this county, April 30, 1837. His parents are James and 
Charlotte (Strawn) Scott, natives of Greene County, where they 
were married and remained until Mr. Scott's death in 1884. His 
widow is still living. George W. was united in marriage July 4, 
1864, with Amanda J. Woods, who was born in Waynesburg, Penn., 
October 25, 1843, and is a daughter of Samuel and Leah Woods 
(nee Divers). Mrs. Scott's mother was born in Baltimore, Md., 
and her father was a native of Washington County, Penn., where 
they were married. They settled in Waynesburg and remained 
until their death — Mrs. Woods dying June 6, 1885, and her hus- 
band June 21, 1886. To Mr. and Mrs. Scott have been born six 
children, viz. — Emma L., wife of George B. Mc!Neely, M. D.; Mary 
C, Cora, Nellie L., Reynolds and Claude. Mr. Scott has devoted 
his life chiefly to farming, and owns 131 acres of land where he 
and family reside. When the war broke out Mr. Scott entered the 
service of his country in Company I, Eighth Pennsylvania Reserves, 
and served three years. He passed through many serious engage- 
ments, and was wounded three times. ITe has flUed the office of 
auditor of his township. Mrs. Scott is a consistent member of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. 

HENRY A. SCOTT, farmer, P. 0. Rutan, was born in Greene 
County, Penn., April 11, 1842. He is a son of James and Charlotte 
(Strawn) Scott, who were natives of Greene County, where they re- 
sided until Mr. Scott's death, which occurred April 9, 1884. His 
widow is still living. Henry was united in marriage January 28, 
1864, with Catharine Morris. Mrs. Scott was born in this county 
July 7, 1848, and is a daughter of Ephi-aim and Martha (Roseberry) 
Morris. Her parents were also natives of Greene County, and resi- 
dents therein through life. To Mr. and Mrs. Scott have been born 
six children, of whom four are living — James F., Lucy J., Asa and 
Sarah. Mr. Scott has been engaged in farming through life, and 
owns 184 acres of land where he and family live. Mrs. Scott is a 
devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

JOSHUA SCOTT, farmer, P. O. Rutan, is one of the pioneers 
of Greene County, Penn. He was born December 20, 1824, and is 
a son of James and Mary Scott (nee Sellei-s). His parents were 
natives of Gi-eene County, where they resided until their death. 
On October 10, 1843, Joshua Scott married Nancy J. Rinehart. 
She was born in this county in 1826, and is a daughter of Samuel 
and Mary Rinehart, both deceased. To Mr. Joshua Scott and wife 



IIISTOUY OF GKEENK COUNTY. 59* 

were born four cliildren, of whom tliree are living — Mary E., Chris- 
topher and Samuel. James is the deceased. Mr. Scott has engaged 
in farming throughout his life, and owns 160 acres of land where 
he and family reside, lie belongs to the Methodist Protestant 
church, of which his wife, who died January 1, 1866, was also a 
faithful member. By her death the family were bereft of a faithful 
and devoted wife and uiother. 

ASA M. SELLERS, farmer, Ifogersville, Penn. — The gentleman 
whose name heads this sketch is a descendant of one of the pioneer 
families of Greene County, Penn., where he was born July 8, 1828. 
His father and mother were David and Elizabeth Sellers, who were 
also natives of this county, and remained here until their death. 
Asa Sellers was united in marriage March 31, 1855, with Jane Orn- 
doff. Mrs. Sellers was born in Center Township March 23, 1832. 
Her parents were William and Salome Orndotf (iiee Wisecarver). 
To Mr. and Mrs. Sellers have been born six children, of whom four 
are living — Elizabeth S., wife of Carey Grimes; AVilliain L., Atkin- 
son II. and David K. The deceased are Mary A. and Adda M. 
Mr. Sellers has been engaged in farming and raising stock all his 
life, and owns about 200 acres of land where he and family reside. 
In politics he is a Republican. 

THOMAS SMITH, farmer, Rutan, Penn., was born in Center 
Township January 6, 1836. He is a son of Edmund and Elizabeth 
(Adainson) Sinith, who were natives of Greene County, where they 
were married and remained until Mr. Smith's death, Februai-y 11, 
1887. Mrs. Smith is still living. Thomas is their oldest child, and 
was united in marriage A])ril 19, 1855, with Susannah Scott, who 
was born in Center Township, September 24, 1836. Her i)areiits, 
Elias and Harriet (Kent) Scott, were natives of Greene County and 
residents there until their death. Mr. and Mrs. Smitli are the 
parents of eight children, seven living — James L., Hiram R., Laura 
A., wife of Lindsey D. Grove; "William L., Emerson B., Fannie A., 
Elzie and Harriet E. (deceased). Mr. Smitli's life has been devoted 
to farming and the raising of stock. His farm in Center Township 
consists of 289 acres of land, on which are fine substantial buildings. 
Mr. Smith has hlled the office of director of the poor, and has been a 
member of the school board. He and wife are members of the 
Baptist Church. 

JOB C. SMITH, farmer, Rutan, Penn., was born in Center 
Township December 1, 1818. He is a son of Edmund and Eliza- 
beth Smith (nee Adamson), natives of Greene County, Penn., where 
they resided until Mr. Smith's death in 1887. His widow is still 
living. Job C. was united in the holy bonds of matrimony August 
1, 1875, with Christie A. Slusher, who was born in Washington 
County, Penn., November 11, 1846, and is a daughter of David and 



598 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

Elizabeth Sluslier {nee Moore). Her parents are also natives of 
Washington County, and moved to Greene County in 1872. In 
1880 they went to Iowa, where they still reside. Mr. and Mrs. 
Smith have six children — Bessie E., Ilattie E., Guy B., Clyde D., 
Loyd L. and Goldie Z. Mr. Smith is an industrious farmer, and is 
the owner of 106 acres of land wliere he and family live. He and 
wife are zealous members of the Baptist Church. 

J. C. SMITH, retired farmer, Eutan, Penn., was born in Morgan 
Township, Greene County, Penn., May 11, 1814. His parents, Job 
and Mary (Cravanj Smith, were natives of Pennsylvania, settled after 
marriage in Morgan Township, and remained during life. They 
were the parents of three children. J. C. is their only child living, 
and was united in marriage July 4, 1839, with Elizabeth Scott. She 
was born in Center Township March 20, 1821, and is a daughter of 
John and Susannah Scott {iiee Niceswungei-). Her parents, who 
M'ere natives of Greene County, are botli deceased. M/. and Mrs. 
Smith are the parents of eleven children, of whom ten are living — 
"William, Sarah A., wife of William Cowen; John, Maria J., wife of 
James Wells; Mary, Thomas J., Hiram S., Samuel H., Lydia, wife 
of George Gi'imes; and Emma A., wife of Samuel Showalter. The 
deceased is Job, who died in the Andersonville prison. Mr. Smith 
has been a farmer all his life, and owns a nice home where he and 
family reside. He and wife are active members of the Methodist 
Protestant Church. 

STEPHEN STEAWN a retired farmer residing near Waynes- 
burg, Penn., was born in Franklin Township September 5, 1817. 
He is a son of Abner and Juda (Grant) Strawn, who were natives of 
Pennsylvania and died in Washington County. Stephen was united 
in the holy bonds of matrimony July 15, 1841, with Margaret J. 
Jewell. Mrs. Strawn was also a native of Franklin Township, born 
November 3, 1823, and is a daughter of Samuel and Margaret 
(Mason) Jewell, the fonner a native of New Jersey and the latter of 
Ireland. They are now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Strawn have 
been born eight children, seven of whom are living — John, Eliza, 
wife of Jacob Wilson; Samuel, William, Abner, Mason and Morton 
T. The deceased is Elizabeth, who was the wife of J. B. Smith. 
Mr. Strawn has been a farmer all his life, and is the owner of ninety- 
seven acres of land where he and family reside. He has served as 
school director and inspector of elections in his township. 

SAMUEL THOMPSON, P. O. Eogersville, Penn., was born 
in Center Township, Greene County, Pennsylvania, January 1, 
1839. He is a son of Joseph and Margaret (Bowler) Thompson. 
The former is a native of West Virginia, and the latter of Greene 
County, Penn., where they were married and made their home until 
Mr. Thompson's death, which occurred July 7, 1867. Mrs. Thompson 



HISTORY OF OREKNE COUNTY. 590 

is still living. She resides witli her son Samuel, who was united 
in marriage March 4, 1865, with Sarah E. Call. Mrs. Thompson 
was born in Center Township in 1840, and is a daughter of James 
and Sarah E. Call who were natives of Pennsylvania, and departed 
this life in Greene County. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson are the parents 
of nine children, of whom eight are living — Thomas, Harry, Mary 
1j., Maggie, James, Lindsey, Essa and Coral. Henry is deceased. 
Mr. Thompson was reared on a farm and has devoted almost all his 
life to farming. He owns about 320 acres of land. AAHien needed 
in the surface of his country he enlisted in Company E, Eighty-iifth 
Pennsylvania Volunteers, served for three years, and was in a num- 
ber of serious engagements. He and wife are faithful members of 
the Christian Churcli. 

JAMES THROCKMORTON, retired farmer, P. O. Harvey's, 
Penn., is one of the pioneer farmers of Center Township. He was born 
in Franklin Township, this county, February 22, 1816. His father 
and mother were Joseph and Catharine (Hulsart) Throckmorton, na- 
tives of Monmouth County, New Jersey, where tliey were united in 
marriage in 1809. Soon after marriage they moved to Franklin 
Township, Greene County, Penn., and remained until Mrs. Tlirock- 
morton's death in March, 1853. After her death Mr. Throckmor- 
ton was united in marriage the second time in Morrow County, 
Ohio, with Laura Gilbert, and remained in that county until her 
death. He then returned to Greene County, Penn., and made liis 
liome with his children until his death, September 15, 1881. James, 
the subject of our sketch, was united in marriage January 9, 1840, 
with Mary M., daughter of William S. and Jane (Gettys) Harvey. 
]\Irs. Throckmorton was born in Center Townsliip, May 3, 1821. 
Her father was a native of Philadelpliia, Penn., and represented 
Greene County in the State Legislature. Her mother was born in 
Fayette County, Penn. After marriage they settled and remained 
in Center Township until their death. To Mr. and Mrs. Throck- 
morton have been born nine children, of whom eight are living — 
Joseph G., Catharine C, wife of Daniel Hopkins; Mary E., wife of 
Andrew Frantz; William IL; Maggie C, wife of Robert Dins- 
more; Sadie A.; Carrie L., wife of George C. Davis, and Emma F., 
wife of John M. Burroughs. Mr. Throckmorton is a millwright by 
trade, which he followed for fifteen years. He has since engaged in 
farming, and owns 120 acres of land where he and family live. Mi-. 
and Mrs. Throckmorton are active members of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church, and the entire family are highly respected by all wlio 
know them. 

SAMUEL THROCKMORTON, deceased, who was a farmer of 
Rogersville, Penn., was born in Franklin Township, ilay 21, 1818. 
He was a son of Morford and Margaret (Hill) Throckmorton. His 



(300 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

fatlier caiiio from New Jersey, and Lis mother was a native of 
Greene County, Penn., where they were married and spent all their 
lives. Samuel was nnited in marriage July 24, 1844, with Nancy 
Eeese, who was born near Waynesburg, Peon., January 31, 1825. 
Mrs. Throckmoi'ton is the only daughter of John and Elizabeth (Drips) 
Eeese, also natives of Greene County, where they remained until 
their death. To Mr. and Mrs. Throckmorton were born eight chil- 
dren, of whom seven are living, viz., Elizabeth M., wife of James B. 
Smith; William S., John K., James E., Thomas M., Albert B. and 
Charlie. The deceased is Margaret, who was the wife of Morgan 
Eoss, and departed this life February 6, 1883. Mr. Throckmorton 
was a farmer and wool-grower in his life-time. At the time of his 
death he owned about 980 acres of land, and his wife about 200 acres. 
He was a member of the M. E. Church, and during the last half of his 
life he held at varions times the position of trustee and leader in his 
chosen denomination. Mrs. Throckmorton is a faithful member of the 
Presbyterian Clmrch. Mr. Throckmorton was killed by lightning, 
July 28, 1881, while at work in the iield with four of his sons. By 
his death the county lost a good citizen and his family a kind hus- 
band and father. 

JESSE ULLOM, merchant, Eogersville, Perm. — Among the 
substantial business men of Eogersville, we take pleasure in men- 
tioning Jesse Ullom, -who was born in Greene County June 20, 
1836. He is a son of Daniel T. and Anna (Johnson) Ullom, who 
were natives of Greene County, where they resided until Mr. 
Ullom's death, in October, 1881. His widow survives him. This 
union was blessed with twelve children, nine of whom are living — 
three sons and six daughters. On March 29, 1861, Jesse was united 
in marriage with Phoebe Morris, who was born in this county No- 
vember 11, 1843. She is a daughter of Ephraim and Martha Morris, 
both deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Morris were the parents of ten cliil- 
di-en, of whom eight are living. Mr. and Mrs. Ullom have a family 
of seven children, four living, viz., Thomas M., Mattie A., John T. 
and Jesse F. The deceased are Fannie L. and two infants. Mr. 
Ullom has been engaged in farming and merchandising all his life. 
He owns forty-seven acres of land, nice property in Eogersville, also 
a general country store. In 1881 he was elected to the office of 
justice of the peace in Center Township, and has been serving in 
that capacity ever since. He and wife are active members of the 
Methodist Protestant Church. 

EOBEET WATSON, farmer and stock-dealer, Plolbrook, Penn., 
was born in West Bethlehem Township, Washington County, April 
12, 1847. He is a son of John and Anna Watson. Plis father was 
a native of Ireland, and came with his parents to America when ten 
years of age. His mother is a native of Pennsylvania, where she 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. fiOl 

and Mr. Watson were married in Washington Connty, and remained 
there until their deatli. Mr. John Watson departed this life in 185B, 
and Mrs. Watson in 1869. They are buried on the farm at the head 
of Castile, where tiie family settled when they first -came to this 
country. In 1870 llobert Watson married Kate Anderson, who was 
a native of Amwell Township, AVashington County, and born in 
1848. Her parents were John and Anna (Ilowshow) Anderson, 
natives of I'ennsylvania and residents in Greene County through 
life. Mr. and Mrs. Watson have seven children — Samuel, John I., 
Smith, Anna F., George W., Maggie and Lizzie. Mr. Watson was 
reared on a farm and has made farming and stock-dealing his busi- 
ness tlirough life. lie owns about 112 acres of land where he re- 
sides with his family. During the late Rebellion he went into the 
service of his country in Company 1), Sixth Pennsylvania Cavalry, and 
served until the close of the war. He and wife are consistent mem- 
bers of the Christian Church, and are highly respected by all who 
know them. 

SAMUEL WEBSTER, a successful farmer and stock- dealer, 
Rutan, Penn., was bom in Jefferson Township, this county, Novem- 
ber 23, 1833. He is a son of John and Elizabeth (Cowell) Webster. 
The former was a native of New Jersey, and the latter of Greene 
County, Penn., where they were married and remained until about 
the year 18(58, at which time they moved to Iowa, where Mr. Web- 
ster departed this life, November 9, 1871. His widow then returned 
to Greene County, and died May 11, 1874. They were the parents 
of -twelve children, eleven of whom are living. In September. 1856, 
Samuel Webster married Lncinda Goodwin, a native of Center Town- 
ship, and daughter of John Goodwin, now deceased. By this mar- 
riage Mr. Webster is the father of two children, one living, Mary E., 
wife of Andrew Johnson, and John, deceased. Mrs. Ayeb-^ter de- 
parted this life in 1860. Mr. Webster was afterwards married, Sep- 
tember 29, 1863, to Nancy Higinbotham. who was born in West 
Virginia, October 7, 1834. Iler parents were Thomas and Lucretia 
Higinbotham, who departed this life in West Virginia. Mr. and 
Mrs. Webster are the parents of eight children — Lucinda J., wife of 
Daniel W. Jacobs; William AV., Anna M., Samuel H., Bertha B., 
Maggie A., John I. and xVdolphus S. Having been. reared on a farm, 
Mr. AV^ebster has devoted his whole attention to farming and stock- 
dealing, and owns about 425 acres of land in Greene County, besides 
hotel property at Ryerson's Station, Penn. He is one of the enter- 
prising and industrious business men of Center Township. Mr. and 
Mrs. Webster are leading members in the Baptist Church. 

BENJAMIN L. WOODRUFF, physician, Holbrook, Penn., was 
born in AVashington County, Penn., August 3, 1822, and is a son of 
Jesse and Rebecca (Wilson) AVoodruff. His father was born in Eliza- 



602 HISTORY OF GEEENE COUNTY. 

beth, N. J., June 15, 1784. His mother was born August 27, 1788, in 
Washington County, Penn., wliere they made their home for a num- 
ber of years. Jesse Woodruff departed this life March 3,, 1.862, and 
his wife April 8, 1870. The Doctor was united in marriage the first 
time March 31, 1847, with Martha, daughter of Samuel Barnett. 
Mrs. Woodruff was a native of Washington County, Penn. By this 
marriage Dr. Woodruff is the father of three children — William B., 
Emily, and Dr. Samuel W. (deceased). Mrs. Woodruff departed this 
life January 25, 1854. The Doctor was afterwards united in mar- 
riage, September 13,1855, with Acinda Lough, who was born in West 
Virginia, April 10, 1836. Her parents, John and Sarah (Basnett) 
Lough, were natives of West Virgiilia, and remained there until 
their death. By his second marriage Dr. Woodruff is the father of 
seven children, six living — Newton C. (late editor Waynesbnrg Mes- 
senger'), Dora, Lillie, Bessie, Acinda, Benjamin L., and Flora (de- 
ceased). Dr. Woodruff' began reading medicine about 1844, with 
Dr. W. G. Barnett, and graduated in 1848. Pie first engaged in the 
practice of his profession in Rogersville, Penn., and from there went 
to West Virginia and remained until 1861. He then moved to his 
present location, and has been in active practice ever since. He owns 
420 acres of land where he and family reside. He and wife are mem- 
bers of the Christian Church. 

E. W. WOOD, farmer. Oak Forest, Penn., is among the repre- 
sentative farmers and wool dealers of Greene County. He was born 
in Franklin Township, October 28, 1837. His parents were John D. 
and Nancy (Crichfield) Wood, also natives of this county, where they 
were married and remained until their death. Mr. Wood departed 
this life September 26, 1876, and his wife October 12, 1849. They 
had a family of seven children, of whom five are now living. E. W. 
Wood was united in marriage, October 17, 1867, with Mary J. Pat- 
terson, who was born in Whiteley Township, this county, September 
11, 1844. She was a daughter of William and Rlioda Patterson, 
also natives of Greene County, and residents therein through life. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Wood were born five children, of whom four are 
living, viz:C. Endsley, Norman, Edward, Mary, and Charles B. (de- 
ceased). Mr. Wood is a tanner by trade, in which he engaged until 
twenty-five years of age. He then enlisted in Company K, Fifteenth 
Pennsylvania Cavalry, and served his country three years. He is a 
member of McCnllough Post, No. 367, G. A. E. When the war 
was over he engaged in the wool and stock business, and also farmed 
extensively. He is the owner of 160 acres of land where he and 
family live. Mr. Wood is a member of the M. E. Church, of which 
his deceased wife was also a devoted member. She departed this life 
January 30, 1881, and by her death the family was bereft of a kind 
and affectionate wife and mother. 



iijrtoi;y of guekne county. 603 

CARMICHAELS BOROUGH AND 
CUMBERLAND TOWNSHIP. 

WILLIAM A. AILES, farmer and stock-grower, P. O. Car- 
micliaels, Avas Lorn in Wasliington Connty, December 25, 1835. lie 
is a son of James and Elizabeth (Nixon) Ailes, who were also natives 
of Washington County', Penn., and were of English and Irish de- 
scent. His grandfather was Amos Ailes, also a native of Washing- 
ton Connty. William is the youngest of a famil}' of seven children. 
He has remained on the farm with his parents, where he received his 
ediTcation, and wisely chose farming as his business. His farm con- 
sists of 300 acres of land, well stocked and improved. Mr. Ailes 
was nnited in marriage, March 1, 1858, with Miss Lucinda, daughter 
of Thomas and Dorcas (Bell) Patterson. Mrs. Ailes' parents were 
of Irish descent. Mr. and J\Irs. Ailes' only child, Mary I'ell, was 
born in 1880, and died in 1886. In politics Mr. Ailes is a Eepubli- 
can; in religion they are both Cumberland Presbyterians. 

WILLIAM AIIMSTKONG, 'deceased, who was a farmer and 
stock-grower, was a son of Abraham and Enth (Conwell) Armstrong, 
and was born in Greene County in October, 1805. His parents 
were natives of Pennsylvania, and of English descent. His father 
was a farmer by occupation, and among the early settlers of the 
county. William was the oldest of a large family, and was reared 
on the farm in Cumberland Township, where he attended the sub- 
scription schools. He was nnited in marriage with Miss Mary AVill- 
iams, of English descent. iSiie was born in 1807. They were tiie 
parents of nine children — Maggie, wife of Archibald Grooms; George 
W., a farmer; Emma, wife of William M. Murdoch; Elizabeth, wife 
of Josiah L. Minor; Sarah, wife of Oliver Griffeth; Alice, wife of 
James K. Gregg; Cinthy, wife of Eichard Gwynn; Lyda, wife of 
N. II. Biddle, and James, a farmer. Mr. Armstrong made farming 
the business of his life, met with great success, and at the time of 
his death was the owner of a well-improved farm in Cumberland 
Township, where he died in 1849. In politics he was a Democrat; 
in religion a Cumberland Presbyterian, of which church his widow 
is also a faithful member. 

ALFEED T. AEMSTEONG, deceased, who was a farmer and 
stock-grower, was born in Greene County, Penn., February 1, 1807. 
He was a son of William and Elizaljeth (Eussell) Armstrong. His 
mother's parents were of Scotch-Irisii origin. Alfred was the oldest 
in a family of seven children; he was reared in this connty and 
attended the subscription schools. He engaged in farming as a busi- 



604 HISTOKY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

ness, and met with more than ordinary success. He was united in 
marriage, February 22, 1837, with Miss Helen M., daughter of Jere- 
miah and Anna (Alexander) Davidson. Mrs. Armstrong's father 
was a native of this coLinty, and her Tnother of Mercer County, Penn. 
They were of English descent. Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong had a 
family of ten children, of whom six are living — E.ussell, Barclay, 
Elizabeth, wife of Jesse Benner; John, Neri, and Maggie, wife of 
"William Ellliott. Mr. Armstrong was a Democrat, and a devoted 
Presbyterian, of which church his widow is also a zealous member. 
He died in 1878. 

JOSEPH H. AKMSTKONG, deceased, was a farmer and stock- 
grower. He was born in Cumberland Township, Greene County, 
Penn., July 25, 1819, and died July 4, 1887, in his sixty-seventh 
year. His father, William Armstrong, also his grandfather were 
among the earliest Scotch-Irish settlers of this county. They were 
all farmers. Joseph was the sixth in the family, and was reared on 
the farm where he died. His education was obtained in the township 
and the old Greene Academy at Carmichaels. He was industrious, 
frugal and a good linancier, owning at the time of his death 225 
acres of well improved land. He was united in marriage Novem- 
ber 23, 1848, with Mary A., danghter of James and Mary (McClel- 
land) Flenniken. Her ancestors were also farmers, and among the 
earliest settlers of the county. They wej-e of Scotch-Irish descent. 
Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong were the parents of three children — Lizzie, 
wife of Daniel Thompson, of Uniontown, Penn.; Mary Louisa, wife 
of Robert Denham, and William W., who is a farmer and has charge 
of the home place. In politics Mr. Armstrong was a Democrat. 

NERI ARMSTRONG, merchant, Carmichaels, Penn., was born 
in Cumberland Township, December 27, 1855. He is a son of 
Alfred and Helen M. (Davidson) Armstrong, natives of Fayette and 
Greene counties respectively, and of Irish descent. Mr. Armstrong's 
father was a farmer, and reared a family of ten children, of whom 
Neri is the ninth. He received a common-school education, remain- 
ing on the farm with his parents until 1884, when he went to Car- 
michaels to engage in business for himself. He there opened a 
grocery and drug store which he still retains. He is a man of good 
business qualifications, industrious, prompt and obliging, has a great 
many friends and a fair patronage. In 1876 Mr. Armstrong married 
Frances, daughter of I. L. Craft. Mrs. Armstrong is a native of 
Greene County, and of German descent. They have two children — 
Myrtle and Alfred. Mr. Armstrong is a Democrat and a member 
of the town council. He and Mrs. Armstrong are prominent 
members of the Presbyterian Church. 

J. K. BAILEY, farmer and stock-grower, was born in Cumber- 
land Township, Greene County, Penn., August 30, 1814. He is a 



IITSTOKY OF GRT:KNE COUNTY. 605 

son of William and Zillali (Johnson) Eailey, the oldest in their 
family of seven children. His parents were natives of Pennsylvania, 
were members of the Society of Friends, and of English origin. 
Ills father was twice married, his first wife being Miss Sarah Miers. 
By tliis marriage he was the father of one child, a daughter, who is 
now the wife of Miller Haines, and resides in Columbiana County, 
Ohio. J. K. Bailey's sisters and brothers were: Amanda, wife of 
James Murdock; Kev. E. E., now a missionary to the Indians; Ruth 
Ann, wife of Samuel Eea; William, Zillah, the widow of 11. 
Eichardson, and L. M. (deceased). ]V[r. Bailey was reared in Cumber- 
land Township, and has made farming his business, in which he has 
met with great success. In 1835 he was married to Miss Delilah, 
daughter of John and Phoebe (Ilibbs) Craft, who were natives of 
Pennsylvania, and of English ancestry. J\Irs. Bailey was born in 
Cumberland Township, August 10, 18i2. Her mother was a mem- 
ber of the Society of Friends. Mr. and Mrs. Bailey's children are 
—Zillah. wife of N. H. Biddle; John Milton; Phcebe, wife of R. S. 
Long; W. Calvin; Clarinda, wife of Joseph Hawkins, Lydia B., 
wife of Corbly Fordyce; Almira is the wife of John Rinehart, and 
J. K. Jr. The family are all members of theCuinberland Presbyte- 
rian Church, in which Mr. Bailey has served for many years as elder 
and Sabbath-school superintendent. In politics Mr. Bailey is a Re- 
publican, and has served for twenty-five years as justice of the 
peace, in which office both his father and grandfather preceded him. 
REV. E. E. BAILEY, missionary, was born in Greene County, 
Penn., August G, 1817, a son of William and Zillah (Johnson) 
Bailey, also natives of this State. Ilis parents were of Quaker ori- 
gin and of English ancestry. Ilis father came to Greene County 
when he was about nine years old with his parents, Eli and Ruth 
Bailey, from Chester County, Penn.; he died at the advanced age of 
eighty-two years. He was twice married, and the Rev. E. E. is a 
child of his second wife, and grew up on the farm with his parents, 
receiving his early education in a log cabin school-house, afterwards 
attended school at Greene Academy and at Waynesburg, Penn. At 
the age of sixteen he joined the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in 
Greene County. He was licensed to preach and ordained by the 
Union Presbytery of tlie Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He 
lal:)ored some in AVest Virginia, six miles west of Morgantown, but 
mostly in Fayette County, Penn., where he was engnged in the min- 
istry for a term of years. Having liad a desire for missionary work 
he then went West, where he engaged in missionary work among the 
Indians, and met with good success. In 1887 he was sent to his 
present position among the Cherokee Indians by the board of mis- 
sions of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. In 1830 Mr. Bailey 
was united in marriage with Miss Mary, daughter of John and Mar- 



606 HISTOET OF GREENE COUNTY. 

garet (Dowlin) Eea. Mrs. Bailey is of Irish descent. They have 
live children — Harvey M., John F., Hannah J., Margaret E. and 
William E. Mr. Bailey is a Prohibitionist. 

JOSEPH TAYLOR BAILEY, farmer and stock-grower, Carmi- 
chaels, Perm., was born in Dnnkard Township, Greene County,' June 
10, 1820, and is a son of Joseph and Hannah (Johnson) Bailey, na- 
tives of Pennsylvania. His father, who was a farmer and miller, 
came when a young man to this county, where he was married and 
reared a family of six children. Of these Joseph Taylor is the young- 
est, and was reared in Greene and Fayette counties. Early in life he 
learned the miller's trade with his father, and followed it for forty 
years. He erected and operated a grist-mill for nearly twenty-eight 
years. He is a successful farmer and at the present time the owner 
320 acres of valuable land in Cumberland Township. He was mar- 
ried in Fayette County, Penn., November 16, 1854, to Miss Martha 
Jane, daughter of Francis and Martha (Morehouse) Lee. Mrs. Bailey 
is of English descent. Her father was a blacksmith and farmer. Mr. 
and Mrs. Bailey have two children — Eli and Frances. In politics 
Mr. Bailey has ever been a strong Democrat. He and his wife are 
prominent members of the M. E. Church. 

ELLIS B. BAILEY, farmer and stock-grower, was born in 
Greene County, Penn., November 21, 1824, and is a son of Eli and 
Peria (Gregg) Bailey. His parents were natives of Chester County, 
Penn., were members of the Society of Friends, and of English de- 
scent. His father was a farmer. Mr. Bailey's ancestors were among 
the earliest settlers in Greene County, and often had to flee to the 
forts for protection. His father died in 1854, in Fayette County, 
where he had resided since 1837. His family consisted of ten chil- 
dren, eight of whom gTew to maturity. Of these Ellis B. was the 
sixtli. He was reared in Fayette County, attended Madison College 
and had entered the senior year, when he left school and commenced 
farming and stock-growing. He has made his own way in the world, 
and is among the wealthiest men of Greene County, owning over 
1,000 acres of well improved land. He is a man possessed of more 
than ordinary energy, liis success in life having been due largely to 
his strong determination to succeed, coupled with a willing disposi- 
tion to work. His business life has not, however, all been sunshine. 
He lost $23,000 by the failure of the Exchange Bank of Waynes- 
burg, and 182,000 by the destruction of his wool in a big fire at 
Boston. But every reverse in business seemed only to make him 
more determined, and to add new strength to his ambition. He has 
devoted his time to farming, stock-dealing and buying land, and he 
has dealt considerably in wool. He was never given much to specu- 
lating; but gave his business close attention and caretnl oversight, 
and has succeeded in accumulatine" a handsome fortune. He was 



iiisTonY OF grep:ne county. 607 

married in Fayette County, Penn., Marcli 7, 1850, to Harriet, danirh- 
ter of John and Sarali (^Barton) Gaddis. Iler parents were Quakers, 
and of English descent. Mr. and Mrs. Bailey have six sons and two 
daughters — AVilliani 11., John E., Joseph E., George E., Eli F., 
Richard L., Sarah F., wife of Thomas 11. Hawkins, and Anna R., 
wife of George F. Luse. The two daughters and three sons are 
married; all are intelligent business men and good citizens. In poli- 
tics Mr. Bailey has been a Whig and a Republican. He has served 
nine years as school director in Cumberland Township. All the 
family are members of the Presbyterian Church, in which Mr. Bailey 
has been elder and superintendent of the Sabbath-school. 

J. E. BAILEY, farmer and .stock-grower, was born in Cumber- 
land Township, Greene County, May 22, 1858. He is a son of Ellis 
B. Bailey, whose biograpliy appears in this volume. He is the fourth 
in a family of eight children. He received a common-school educa- 
tion, and also attended (rreene Academy at Carmichaels, Pennsylva- 
nia. Mr. Bailey married Miss Ella, daughter of J. M. and Charlotte 
(Rinehart) Morris. They have one cliild, Earl, an interseting little 
fellow of four years. Mrs. Bailey's father, Morris Morris, is a promi- 
nent farmer and stock-grower of Greene Township, and one of its 
most influential citizens. He is an ardent Democrat and has taken 
an active part in the politics of the county. Mr. Bailey is a rep- 
resentative young man of his township, is a Republican in politics, 
and a member of the Presbyterian Church. 

GEORGE E. BAILEY, farmer and stock-grower, son of Ellis 
B. and Harriet (Gaddis) Bailey, was born in Cumberland Township, 
Greene County, Penn., December 8, 1860. His father is a prominent 
farmer, and resides in this township. George E. is the fifth in a 
family of eight children. After attending the district school, he en- 
tered Greene Academy at Carmichaels, and subsequently attended 
Monongahela College at Jeft'erson, Pennsylvania. He is an indus- 
trious, energetic young man, and has made farming and the raising 
of line stock a decided success. He spent the summer of 1883 in 
the South and West, as the general agent of a large book publishincr 
establishment of Philadelphia. In politics Mr. Bailey is a Repub- 
lican; and he is a zealous, active member of the Presbyterian Church. 

W. H. BARCLAY, farmer and stock-grower, Khedive, Penn., 
was born March 6, 1836, where he now resides on a farm of one 
liundred and seventy-eight acres. He is a son of Hugh and Phrebe 
(Craft) Barclay, the oldest of theii- Ave children. His grandfather, 
Hon. Hugh Barclay, was of Scotch-Irish descent. He was a repre- 
sentative of the Pennsjdvania State Legislature, and during his term 
introduced the bill establishing the Greene Academy at Carmichaelg, 
Penn. W. H. Barclay's father was a farmer all his life. Ilis family 
consisted of live children, all of whom are married. Mr. Barclay 



608 HISTORY OF GREEffE COUNTY. 

was reared on the farm, received liis education in Greene Academy j 
and has made farming the business of his life. In 1856 lie was mar- 
ried to Sarah E., daughter of -John P. Minor. She died in 1863. 
In 1866 Mr. Barclay was again united in marriage with Martha J., 
daughter of Henry and Mary (McCann) Arford. Mr. and Mrs. Bar- 
clay are the parents of seven children — Sarah Ellen, George P., W. 
H., Myrtle V., Phoebe E., Nerval L. and Harry S. Mr. Barclay is a 
Republican, and he and his wife are members of the Cumberland 
Presbyterian Church, in which he is a trustee. 

G. A. BARCLAY, merchant-miller, was born in Cnmberland 
Township, this county, February 25, 1850. He is a son of Hugh and 
Phoebe (Craft) Barclay, and grandson of Hon. Hugh Barclay. His 
father and grandfather were prominent among the early farmers of 
the county. Mr. Barclay is the j'oungest of a family of six children. 
He was reared on the farm, receiving his education in the common 
school and in Waynesburg College. Early in life he learned the 
miller's trade and operated a mill for a period of four years. In 1882 
he engaged in the same business at Carmichaels where he has met 
with good success. In 1870 Mr. Barclay was united in marriage 
with Khoda, daughter of Samuel Kendall, deceased. Mrs. Barclay 
is a native of this county. Her father was a Baptist minister. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Barclay have been born six children — Ida L., 
Stephen H., John F., Ettie, Gertrude and Clarence. Their mother 
is a devoted member of the Baptist Church. Mr. Barclay is a Re- 
publican in politics. He is a school director and member of tiie town 
council of Carmichaels Borough. 

JAMES BARNS, the subject of this sketch, was born June 24, 
1790, and died March 12, 1883. lie was the youngest son of 
Thomas and Sarali Barns, who were among the pioneer settlers of 
West Yirginia. They settled in tlie woods near where the thriving 
town of Fairmont now stands. His parents were among the iirst 
Methodists in West Virginia, his father being a class leader many 
years, and his father's house a preaching place for a long time. At 
the age of fifteen, Mr. Barns left his home to learn the trade of a 
millwright, and served an apprenticeship of five years. In 1811 he 
had an attack of fever, the only sickness that ever caused him to lie 
in bed one day, during a period of nearly ninety-three years. He 
was badly injured in 1870, by the running away of a team of horses, 
from the effect of which he was confined to his room for six weeks. 
On December 10, 1812, he was united in marriage with MissRhoda 
Davidson, of Fayette County, Penn. — a worthy companion of a 
worthy man. Their union was blessed with nine children, five of 
whom were living, also present when he died. This worthy couple 
were converted at a camp-meeting held in 1819, near Browns- 
ville, Penn., and their habitation became emphatically a liouse of 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 609 

prayer as long as they lived. In 1824 lie became dissatisfied with 
the government of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he and 
Lis companion were devoted members. He took a deep interest in 
the controversy that agitated the church, and culminated in the 
organization of the j\Iethodist Protestant Church, and identitied him- 
self with the new organization in 1830. lie was elected as a lay 
representative from the Pittsburgh Annual Conference to the first 
General Conference of the Methodist Protestant Church, which held 
its session in Georgetown, D. C, in May, 1834. He was also a 
member of the General Conference of 1838, which held its session in 
Pittsburgh, Penn. In Febrnary, 1868, God took his beloved com- 
panion from him. Her loss was painfully felt by liim and his 
children, tiiough assured of her future and eternal happiness in 
lieaven. On March 1, 1870, he married Mrs. Mary Lantz, mMIIi 
whom he lived in the enjoyment of great domestic happiness until 
February 12, 1880 — the date of her death. Two years later, he sold 
his farm and the old homestead, in which he had lived si.xty-seven 
years, to his son-in-law, Isaac B. Patterson, who married his youngest 
daughter, Mary Ellen. This was very agreeable to all his children, 
as it keeps in possession of the family the dear old honaestead where 
they were born and raised. Mr. Barns had a good constitution, and 
he took good care of it. His habits were exemplary; he was strictly 
temperate and regular in his manner of life. He always cultivated 
a cheerful disposition; lived in communion and fellowship with God; 
was always usefully and honorably employed, and to these things 
owed his long life, at the close of which he makes this note: "Have 
had great enjoyment all through life, and also health. Have not 
laid in bed one day from sickness since 1811." Thus after a sojourn 
longer than that usually allotted to man, James Barns peacefully 
passed away; the last of as good a family as Virginia ever ]iroduced, 
consisting of four brothers — William Barns, M. D.; John S. Barns, 
Esq.; Thomas Barns and James Bai'us. There were three sisters — 
Sarah Willie, Phoebe Shinn and Mary A. Thrapp. These all lived 
and died in the faith, and left behind them families that revere their 
memories and imitate their virtues. '• Children of parents passed 
into the skies.'' 

ISAAC T. BIDDLE, deceased, who was a farmer and stock- 
grower, was born in New Jersey, in the year 1799. He was a son 
of Timothy and Mary (Taylor) Biddle, natives of New Jersey and 
of English and German origin. His father, who was a shoemaker in 
early life, came to Washington County, Penn., in 1802, and carried 
on farming for twenty-eight years. In 1840 I. T. Biddle came to 
Greene County and bought a farm in Cumberland Township, and 
one year later his father, Timothy Biddle, came to the same farm. I. 
T. took chai'ge of the farm and continued his father's business of 



610 tllSTOKY OP GREENE COUNTY. 

fanning and stock-growing, devoting liis time principally to the 
raising of fine sheep. - He succeeded in accnmulating a handsome 
fortune, but in later years met with serious reverses by the failure of 
three banks in which he lost about $40,000. This proved a serious 
disarrangement in his financial aflairs, but he was a good business 
man and died in fair circumstances after reaching a good old age. His 
widow, whom he married in Washington County, still survives him. 
lier maiden name w-as Jane Kerney, daughter of, William and Eliza- 
beth (Montgomery) Kerney. Mrs. Biddle was born in Washington 
County, September 16, 1804, and is of Irish lineage. Mr: and Mrs. 
Biddle had a family of eleven children, Seven now living — Eliza, 
wife of Edward Carson; Mary, wife of Lewis Jennings; Morgan, who 
married Eunice Patterson; Nathan H., married Zillah Bailey and 
lives on the old homestead; Jolm, married Mary Barclay; Amanda, 
wife of Dis South; and Edith F., wife of Walter Eichey. Mr. and 
Mrs. Biddle have been faithful members of the Cumberland Presby- 
terian Church, in which he served as elder for many years. Mrs. 
Biddle has property in Carmichaels, where she still resides,,an active 
and remarkably well preserved woman for her age, and loved and 
respected by all who know her. 

N. H. BIDDLE, farmer and stock-dealer, P. O. Carmichaels, 
was born in Washington County, Penn., August 25, 1829. His 
father was Isaac T. Biddle, now deceased. His mother's maiden 
name was Jane Kerney; she was born in 1804 and is still living. 
Harvey came with his parents from Washington County to Cumber- 
land Township in 1840, and has made it his home till the present 
time. He is the fourth in a family of eleven children, seven of whom 
are living. He was reared on a farm aiid has been engaged in farm- 
•ing and stock-dealing all his life, owning at present over seven 
hundred acres of valuable land in Greene County. Mr. Biddle was 
united in marriage, December 25, 1856, with Zillah, daughter of J. 
K. Bailey. Their family consists of four sons and two danghters — 
Newton M., Flora, wife of Thomas Patterson; William C, Kichard 
L., Jesse T. and Yirtue C- Mr. and Mrs. Biddle are zealous members 
of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church at Carmichaels, Penn., in 
which he is one of the elders. Mr. Biddle takes an active interest 
in the educational afiairs of the county, served as school director for 
twelve years, and has been a member of the board of trustees of 
Waynesburg College for a number of years and is still a member. 

SAMUEL BUNTING. — Among the representative meu of Cum- 
berland Township we mention Samuel Bunting, a farmer and stock- 
grower, who was born in Fayette County. Penn., April 28, 1836. 
He is a son of Samuel and Nancy (Butler) Bunting, natives of Penn- 
sylvania, and of German and English origin. Mr. Bunting's father, 
who has made milling the business of his life, has now reached the 



History of greene county. 6ll 

advanced age of eighty-four years. Samuel was the fourth in his 
family of eleven children, and was hronght up in Fayette and Greene 
counties, having lived in the latter since he was eiglit years old. 
Early in life he learned the miller's trade with his father, continued 
in the business until 1885, and has since been engaged in farming 
where he now resides near Carmichaels, Penn. lie was united in 
marriage February 22, 1859, with Agnes, oldest daughter of Samuel 
and Mary (Cree) llorner. Mrs. l)Unting is of English descent. Her 
father was a wealthy miller, and also engaged somewhat extensively 
in farming. In politics Mr. Bunting is a Prohibitionist, lie and 
his wife are zealous and active members of the Presbyterian Church, 
in which he is an elder, and is also serving as assistant superintendent 
of the Sabbath-school. 

S. S. BAYARD, farmer and stock-grower, was born near 
Waynesburg, Penn., December 27, 1839, and is a son of Perry A. 
and JN^ancy (^Sayers) Bayard. His parents were natives of Greene 
County, descendants of the early pioneers, and of French and Eng- 
lish origin. Mr. Bayard's father was a farmer and mechanic; in 
early life he was a stone-mason in Whiteley Township. S. S. is the 
tifth in a family of seven children; he was reared in Greene County, 
attended the schools in Whiteley Township, and afterwards entered 
Waynesburg College. lie is a farmer by occupation, and owns 200 
acres of well improved land where he resides in Cumberland Town- 
ship. He has about twenty acres of his farm in choice fruit trees. 
In 1866 he married Miss Jane, daughter of W. T. E. Webb, Esq., 
of Waynesburg. Her mother's maiden name was Mary Stull ; she 
was of French origin and a native of Kentucky. Her father was 
born in Virginia and was of English descent. Mr. and Mrs. Bayard 
are the parents of four children, two of whom are living. In politics 
Mr. Bayard is a Republican. In 1862 he enlisted in Company K, 
Fifteenth Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry, and was Sergeant of the 
company. He was in several prominent engagements of the late 
war — among others the battles of Antietam and Stone River, and 
was discharged for disability in 1863. Both his grandfathers were 
in the Revolutionary war. Mr. and Mrs. Bayard are active mem- 
bers of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and both are prominent 
teachers in the Sabbath-school. 

JEREMIAH CLOUD, retired miller and distiller, Carmichaels, 
Penn., was born in Cumberland Township, Greene County, Septem- 
ber 3, 1797. He is a son of Joel and Susannah (Carrington) Cloud, 
being the oldest in a family of twelve children. His father was of 
English-German descent, a native of Chester County, Penn., and was 
both a farmer and a cooper. His mother was of Welsh origin. He 
received a common school education, and at an early age learned the 
hatter's trade, which he followed until he attained his majority. He 



612 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

was married by Rev. William Barley October 3, 1822, to Jane, 
daughter of Joho and Sarah (Wright) Morgan, who were of English 
descent. Three of his seven childi-en are now living — Thomas, a 
farmer; Marion, a millwright; and Sarah Ellen, wife of Joseph 
Everly. At the age of twenty-one Mr. Cloud engaged with his 
father in the distillery business, in which he continued for a period 
of twenty years. By reason of the meagre facilities of that early 
day, the distilling art being then in its most primitive state, they 
could make but slow progress, one barrel a day being considered a 
big day's work. A grist-mill was erected by him in 1846, which 
for many years was a great convenience and benefit to the people of 
his neighborhood. He retired from the cares of an active business 
life at an advanced age. Mr. Cloud is the owner of 203 acres of 
valuable farming land in Cumberland Township, He is a self-made 
man, his success in life being due largely to his strong will and 
remarkable energy. He has been an enthusiastic Kepublican ever 
since the party was organized; and so steadfast was he in the sup- 
port of Bepublican pi-inciples that he was never prevailed upon but 
once to vote for a Democrat. He was an active politician, but 
neither desired nor held an office. His thorough knowledge of 
politics, however, made him a very popular leader of his party. Mr. 
Cloud was reared a Quaker, and although he never joined any re- 
ligious denomination, his sympathies were with the Society of 
Friends, of whose doctrines he has ever been an earnest advocate. 
Mrs. Cloud, deceased, was a zealous member of the Baptist Church. 
CAPTAIN HIRAM H. CREE, farmer and stock-grower, was 
born May 21, 1819, where he now resides on the farm of 160 acres, 
which has been in the possession of the family since 1785. He is a 
son of Hamilton and Agnes (Hughes) Cree, natives of Pennsylvania, 
which has been the home of the Crees for many generations. The 
Captain's father was a farmer, who, in 1848, died at the age of 
seventy-eight, on the farm where Hiram H. now resides. His family 
consisted of ten children. Hiram, one of the youngest, was reared 
on the farm, and attended the common school in Cumberland Town- 
ship. He engaged in farming until 1847, when he went to Cin- 
cinnati, Ohio, and was employed as salesman in a large wholesale 
dry-goods house. After five months spent in that business, he re- 
sumed his farming until 1862, when he went into the army, enlist- 
ing in Company A, One Hundred and Sixty-eighth Pennsylvania 
Infantry. When the company was organized he was unanimously 
elected its Captain, in which capacity he served most faithfully 
throughout his terra. He was ever a gallant soldier, highly esteemed 
by all his company. In 1864 he married Miss Elizabeth, daughter 
of James S. Kerr, and they are the parents of two children — Ellen 
Agnes and Rose Allena. In politics the Captain is a Republican, 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 613 

in religion a Methodist, and his wife is a member of the Cumber- 
land Presbyterian Church. 

JOHN CKAGO, a retired farmer of Cumberland Township, 
was born February 15, 1814, and is a descendant of one of the 
pioneer families of Greene County. He is a son of John Crago. 
lie owns 330 acres of well improved land, where his great-grand- 
fatjier settled and was afterwards killed by the Indians. The Cragos 
all came of industrious and energetic ancestors, and are noted for 
their morality and patriotism; they were represented in the Ite- 
volutionary war. John Crago, of whom we now write, received his 
education in the subscription schools of his township, where he was 
married in 1840 to Eleanor, daughter of John and Mary Flenniken, 
both natives of Greene Conntj, and of Irish and English descent. 
They have two children — Caroline, wife of M. L. McMeans; and 
William II., a farmer, who was born in Cumberland Township April 
5, 1843. He grew up on the farm, attended the district school, and 
has made farming his chosen occupation. In 18G2 Mr. Crago en- 
listed in a cavalry company, which was afterwards consolidated and 
became Company D, Twenty-second Pennsylvania Cavalry. He was 
discharged for disability March 22, 1864. Mr. Crago has been 
blind for a number of years; but is possessed of such a wonderful 
memory that he can go all over his farm and attend to almost any 
kind of work. He transacts his own business afl'airs, in which he 
has been greatly prospered, having at present a competence sufficient 
to keep him in comfort the rest of his days. 

J. N. CRAGO, teacher and carriage manufacturer, Carmichaels, 
Penn., was born in Cumberland Township October 10, 1832. He 
is a son of Thomas and Cassandra Crago. His ancestors, who 
were of English descent, were among the early pioneers of this 
county. His father, who died in 1884, spent his life in farming. 
Mr. Crago is the oldest of five children, all of whom were born 
and reared in Cumberland township. He attended the common 
schools and Greene Academy. He learned the cabinet-maker's 
trade, serving the regular apprenticeship. Early in life he began 
to teach school, and has been identified with the teachers of Greene 
County for thirty years. About the close of the war he began the 
manufacture of carriages at Carmichaels, and has devoted much of 
the time since to that business, in wliich he has made a reputation 
for good style and fine workmanship. In 1861 he married Per- 
melia, daughter of William Spencer. Mrs. Crago is of English 
descent. They have a family of five children — Kichard, Thomas, 
Samuel, Bertie and Mary. Mr. and Mrs. Crago are zealous mem- 
bers of the Carmichaels Cumberland Presbyterian Chnrch. Mr. 
Cl'ago is trustee of the chnrch, and served for many years as 



614 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

superintendent of the Sabbath-school. He is a Republican and is a 
member of the I. O. O. F. 

T. J. CRAGO, surveyor and school teacher, was born near Car- 
raichaels, this county, July 16, 1843. Ilis ancestors were among 
the pioneer farmers of the county. His parents, Thomas and Cas- 
sandra (Hughes) Crago, were of Irish and English descent. His 
father, who was a farmer and teacher, died in 1884. Mr. Crago is 
the fourth in a family of five children. He was reared in this coun- 
ty, attended Greene Academy, and became a teacher early in life, 
lu 1862 he enlisted in Company C, in what was known as the Rin- 
gold Cavalry, which was consolidated with the Twenty-second Penn- 
sylvania Cavalry in 1864, his company then being Company D. He 
was in many engagements — among others the battles of Winchester 
and Lynchburg. He was discharged May 28, 1865, at the close of 
tlie war, and has since taught school in Greene County, with the 
exception of two winters. He has also engaged to some extent in 
farming and surveying. Mr. Crago was united in marriage June 
23, 1868, with Fannie J., daughter of James Wright, and is the 
father of three children — Mary, Albert and James. Mrs. Crago's 
parents were natives of Westmoreland County, and of. Irish and 
Dutch descent. She died March 26, 1887, a faithful member of the 
Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Mr. Crago is also one of the 
leading members of that denomination. In politics he is a Republi- 
can; he is a member of the G. A. R., and commander of Post 265 
of Cumberland Township. 

THOMAS J. CRAGO, boat builder, was born in Cumberland 
Township, Greene County, Penn., June 30, 1847. He is a son of 
Joseph and Maria L. (Thomas) Crago, and grandson of Thomas and 
Priscilla (Thurman) Crago, who were of English descent. His 
grandfather was a farmer, and one of the early settlers of the county. 
He was the father of fifteen children, of whom Thomas Ci-ago's 
father, Joseph, was the youngest. Joseph was born in Cumberland 
Township, August 7, 1811. lie had two older brothers in the war 
of 1812, and his grandfather, Archibald Crago, was killed in this 
township by the Indians. Thomas, the oldest i^ a family of seven 
children, received a common-school education, and early in life 
engaged in the saw-mill business. He has also paid considerable 
attention to boat-building, having built a number of boats and started 
them out from his place of business. In addition to his saw-mill, 
he owns a nice little farm of thirty-eight acres, which he has secured 
through his own industry and a strong determination to succeed. In 
1866 he was united in marriage with Mary E., daughter of John 
Ridge. They have eight children — Amos A., W. L., Lorenzo*, Susan- 
nah, Louella, Bertha, Grover Cleveland and Tina M. In politics 



HISTOUY OF GREENE COUNTY. 615 

Mr. Crago is a Democrat, and lie and wife are members of the M. E. 
Churcli, in which he is a trustee. 

GEORGE G. CROW, dentist, Carmicliaels, Penn., was born in 
Fayette County, Penn., January 1, 1837. He is a son of Michael 
and Sarah (Gant) Crow, also natives of Fayette County, and of Ger- 
man origin. Ills father was a miller and farmer. ' Dr. Crow is the 
third iji a family of thirteen children, live of whom reached maturity. 
He was reared on the farm and attended the common schools of 
Fayette County. Early in life he began the study of dentistry at 
Sinithlield, Penn. In 1859 he came to Greene County and located 
at Carmichaels, where he has practiced ever since. He has made a 
thorough study of his profession, and bears the well-deserved reputa- 
tion of being a first-class dentist. He has many friends in Greene 
County, and has liad several students in dentistry who have since be- 
come successful practitioners. Dr. Crow was the first dentist to 
locate in Greene County. May 1, 1861, he married Sarah, daughter 
of Daniel Darling. Mrs. Crow is of English descent. They have 
three children — G. AV., Ella and Frank. At the breaking out of the 
Rebellion the Doctor promptly enlisted in the Eighth Pennsylvania 
Yolunteers, and was afterwards a member of Company I, Thirty- 
seventh Regiment of U. S. Infantry. Tiiis company was made up 
of men from Waynesburg and Carmichaels. Dr. Crow was Third 
Sergeant, and was in eleven general engagements, among others the 
battles of Malvern Hill, Harrison's Landing, second Bull Run, An- 
tietam, Fredericksburg, the Wilderness and Spottsylvania. At the 
close of his term he returned to Carmichaels, and continued his 
practice in dentistry. He was instrumental in organizing the Dental 
Society of Greene County, and served five years as its president. 
The Doctor's family are members of the M. E. Church, in which he 
takes an active interest, being a trustee and superintendent of the 
Sabbath-school. In politics he is a Republican. 

JERRY DAVIDSON, owner and proprietor of the Davidson 
Hotel, Carmichaels, Penn., was born in Cumberland Township, May 
26, 1834. His parents, Alexander and Elizabeth (Gallalier) David- 
son, were natives of Fayette County, Penn., and of Irish descent. 
His father was a farmer, and reared a family of eight cliildren, of 
whom Jerry is the fifth. He was reared on the farm and received a 
common-school education. He followed farming as a business until 
1875, when he engaged in the hotel business in Carmichaels. Mr. 
Davidson keeps an excellent table, and always has first-class horses 
and carriages for the accommodation of commercial travelers and the 
traveling public. Mr. Davidson has been twice married, lirst in 
1856 to Miss Selauta Flenniken. Of, their three children two are 
living — J. Calvin, a blacksniitli, and Frank F., a tinner. They are 
both married and doing well in their business at Carmichaels, where 



616 HISTOKY OF GEEENE COUNTY. 

they reside. Their mother died in 1872. Mr. Davidson's present 
wife's maiden name was Harriet Stone. She was the widow of Ira 
J. Hatfield. They have two children — Henry Alexander and George 
S. Mr. Davidson is a member of the I. O. O. F. In politics he is 
a Democrat, in religion a Presbyterian. Mrs. Davidson is a member 
of the Cnmberland Presbyterian Church. 

JOHN M. DOWLIIST, farmer and stock-gi-ower, was born in 
Jeft'erson Township, Greene County, Penn., October 16, 1855, and is 
a son of John and Elma (Bell) Dowlin. His father, who is a native 
of Cumberland Township, is also a farmer and stock-dealer, and re- 
sides in Jefferson Township. He is a Democrat, and was United 
States Revenue Collector for a number of years. John M. Dowlin's 
grandfather was Paul Dowlin, a farmer of English descent. Mr. 
Dowlin is the only son in a family of six children. He was 
reared on the farm and attended the common school. He makes a 
business of farming and raising fine cattle and sheep, and superin- 
tends the home farm, consisting of 400 acres of most valuable land. 
He was married in Washington County, Penn., February 1, 1875, to 
Miss Rebecca J., daughter of Simon and Mary (Reynolds) Moredock. 
Their children are — Dessie L., Albert L. (deceased), John, Gertrude, 
Simon E. and Charles B. In politics Mr. Dowlin is a Democrat. 
He and Mrs. Dowlin are prominent members of the Cumberland 
Presbyterian Church. 

J. F. EICHER, who was born in Fayette County, Penn., Febru- 
ary 23, 1820, is a foundryman and manufacturer and dealer in farm- 
ing implements. His parents, Abraham and Mary (Freeman) Eiclier, 
wei-e natives of Pennsylvania, and of Irish and English descent. His 
father's family consisted of twelve children, of whom Mr. Eicher was 
the ninth. When eighteen years of age lie went to Pittsburgh to 
school. He learned the moulder's trade at Connellsville, Penn., 
serving an apprenticeship of three years. He then lived for seven 
years at Uniontown, Fayette County, and in 1850 came to Car- 
michaels, where he has since been engaged in his present business, 
and has met with unusual success. Mr. Eicher was married at Con- 
nellsville, February 14, 1842, to Miss Rosa A., daughter of William 
Glendenning. They are the parents of ten children, six of whom 
are living, viz; George, Emma, Wallace B., Robert, Sarepta and 
Anna M. Mr. Eicher has been an ardent Republican ever since the 
organization of the party. Mr. and Mrs. Eicher are faithful members 
of the M. E. Church. 

WILLIAM C. ELLIOTT, blacksmith, was born in Washington 
County, Penn., April 26, 1848, and is a son of Samuel and Susannah 
(Bane) Elliott. His mother was born in Yirginia, and his father, 
who was a veterinary surgeon, was a native of Washington County, 
Penn. William C. is the seventh of a family of nine children. .He 



IIISTOKY OF GREENE COUNTY. 617 

was reared in his native county, where he owns a fine farm. He at- 
tended the graded schools, and early in life learned the hlacksmith 
trade, which he has followed ever since. In 1882 he married Miss 
Margaret Armstrong, and they have one child — Anna Mary. Mr. 
Elliott carae to Greene County in 18S.3. In politics he is a Demo- 
crat, and he is a member of the I. O. O. F. Mr. and Mrs. Elliott 
are leading members of the Presbyterian Church. 

WILLIAM ELENNIKEN, farmer and stock grower, was born 
March 25, 1808, on the farm where he now resides in Cumberland 
Township. He is a son of John, and grandson of James Flenniken, 
who came from east of tlie mountains to (Ireene Ccfunty, and engaged 
in farming in Cumberland Township. William's mother's maiden 
name was Mary McClelland; her parents were of tiie Scotch-Irish 
descent. His father was born in Cumberland Township in 1774, and 
died in 1855. Of his nine children William is the fourth, and was 
reared on the farm with his jiarents. He attended subscription school 
taught in one of the old log school houses of that day, and afterwards 
engaged in farming as his life work. Lie has met with unusual 
success, and now owns the fine farm of 140 acres where he resides. 
His wife was Miss Isabella, daughter of (leorge C. and Isabella (Mc- 
Clelland) Seaton, natives of Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Flenniken have 
four children — George (\, a farmer in the West; Mary A., William 
F., who is at present on the home farm; and Laura J., wife of Oscar 
Hartley. In politics Mr. Flenniken is a Republican; his wife is a 
faithful member of the Presbyterian Church. 

WILLIAM FLENNIKEN. meat merchant, who was born in 
Cumberland Township, July 30, 1838, is a son of John W. and 
Hettie (Wright) Flenniken. His mother was born in Buck»-County, 
Penn., and his father was a native of Greene County. They were of 
Scotch-Irish descent. Mr. Flenniken's ancestors were among the 
early settlers of Pennsylvania, coming to Greene County as early as 
1767. His father was a fanner; his family consisted of seven child- 
ren — four sons and three daughters. William was fifth in the family, 
and was reared on the farm in Greene County, where he remained 
until 1886. He then came to Carmichaels, where he has since resided. 
In 1863 he married Eliza A., daughter of William and Achsah 
(Smith) Hartman. Mr. aiad Mrs. Flenniken are prominent members 
of the Presbyterian Church, in which Mr. Flenniken has served as 
trustee. 

ALFRED FROST, deceased, was among the most prominent mer- 
chants of Greene County, and was born in Pennsylvania, April 5, 1802. 
He was a son of William and Mary (Murphey) Frost, natives of 
Washington County. Mr. Frost was reared on the farm and attended 
the common schools. He chose farming as his vocation; but after 
his father's death he was obliged to work as a hired farm hand until 



618 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

lie accumulated eiioiigli to begin business for himself. By dint of 
industry and economy he succeeded in acquiring a very fair share of 
this world's goods. In early manhood he engaged in the mercantile 
business, and for years owned a store in Carmichaels. He was united 
in marriage, January 23, 1830, with Mary, daughter of Henry and 
Elizabeth (Stairs) Sharpnack, of German origin. Mr. and Mrs. Frost 
were the parents of three children — Mary E., now living in Car- 
michael's at the old home; William H. (deceased), late of Kansas 
City, Missouri, who married Caroline Fair, of Leavenworth City 
Kansas; Elizabeth, who is the wife of George D. D. Mustard, and 
the mother of the following children — John, Mary S., Charles, William 
D., James A.' and George D. Mr. and Mrs. Frost were prominent 
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

GEORGE T. GEEGG, farmer and stock grower, was born in 
Cumberland Township, Greene County, July 12, 1852. He is a son 
of Joseph and Kebecca (Minor) Gregg, natives of this county, where 
they were married in 1844. Mr. Gregg's grandfather, Joseph Gregg, 
was born in Delaware, and was one of the early settlers of Greene 
County, Fenn. , He was a farmer and miller by trade. Mrs. Gregg's 
ancestors were of English descent, and also among the early settlers 
of the county. George T. Gregg's father, also of English descent, was 
born in Greene Township, and was a farmer and stock dealer until the 
time of his death. George's grandfather, John P. Minor, was a soldier 
in the war of 1812. Mr. Gregg is the third in a family of six children, 
three of whom are now living. He was reared in this county, attend- 
ing the common schools and Greene Academy at Carmichaels, Fenn. 
He was united in marriage, September 30, 1870, to Miss Pratt, 
daughter of James and Milly (Mt. Joy) Pratt, who were natives of 
Fayette County, Penn., and of English descent. Mr. and Mrs. Gregg 
have four children — Flora B., Joseph Charles, Myrta Rebecca and 
Orplia Ethel. Their mother is a faithful member of the Baptist 
Church. In politics Mr. Gregg is a Republican. Financially, he has 
been very successful, having 300 acres of land under his present 
control, and owing a fine farm of 114 acres where he now resides. 

GENEALOGY OF THE MINOR FAMILY IN AMERICA.— 
The following genealogical record will be of interest to all the 
Minor family: The first member of the family who came to America 
was Thomas Minor, who was born in England in 1608, and came to 
this country in 1630. In 1634, he married Frances Palmer. Clement, 
son of Thomas and Frances Minor, married Frances Wilej' in 1662. 
Their son William, who represents the third generation of the Minor 
family in America, married Anna Lyle in 1691. Stephen, son of 
William and Anna Minor, who married Ohalia Updike, was born 
in 1705, and was the eight son of the fourth generation. Samuel 
Minor was the fourth son in the fifth generation. He was married, 



IIISTOKY OF GUEKNE COUNTY. 019 

and his oldest son was Abia Minor. Abia was the fatherof John P. 
Minor, who married lliildah McCleUand. Hebeeca is the fourth of 
nine children and is the fourtli of the eiglit generation. She is the 
wife of Joseph Gregg, of (ireene County, Pennsylvania, who is the 
father of the suljject of the preceeding sketch. 

WILLIAM GROOMS, retired blacksinitli, was born in Carini- 
chaels, Penn., August 14, 1828. His jDarents were Benjamin and 
Isabella (Kerr) Grooms, natives of Maryland and Pennsylvania re- 
spectively, and of English and Scotch descent. His grandfather, 
William Grooms, was one of the early settlers of Greene County. 
His father was a farmer and carpenter, and had a family of six children, 
of whom William is the second of the three living. He was reared 
in Carmiciiaels, attended the common schools and (-rrecne Academy, 
and in early life learned the blacksmith trade, in which he engaged 
for a number of years. In 18-46 Mr. Grooms married Malinda, daugh- 
ter of Moses and* Susan (Vankirk) Mcllvaine. They have six child- 
ren — Susan, wife of James Lincoln; Elizabeth, wife of George 
Demain; Arabella, wife of Levi Taylor; William and B. F., black- 
smiths; and Eliza Jane, a teacher. In politics Mr. Grooms is a Pe- 
publican. In 1861 he enlisted in Company I, Eight Pennsylvania 
Volunteers and served three years. He re-enlisted in Company B, 
Fifty-seventh Volunteer Infantry and served till the close of the war. 
He has been road commissioner, and was postmaster at Carmiciiaels 
for a number of years. Mr. and Mrs. Grooms are members of the 
Metliodist Episcopal Church, and he is a member of the G. A. R. 
Post. 

JOSIAII GWYNN, farmer and stock-grower, who was born 
near where he resides, October 20, 1812, is a son of Joseph and 
Martha (Dowlin) Gwynn. His grandparents on the maternal side 
were natives of Montgomery County, Penn., and were of AVelsh 
origin. Mr. Gwynn's grandfather, Joseph Gwynn, came from Lon- 
don, England, to what is now Greene County, and was among the 
early settlers in this part of Pennsylvania. His grandfather (rwynn 
came to this county before the Revolutionary war. and settled on the 
farm which Josiah noM- occupies. This was then an Indian settlement — 
or rather, an Indian neighborhood, and he took what was then called 
" tomahawk claim-" He left tiiis country with the intention of re- 
turning to London, but got no farther than the Island of Cuba, and 
there he engaged in a sugar plantation, and on his return he found other 
parties had settled on two of his claims. He served as county com- 
missioner in what is now Washington and Greene counties. Josiah 
Gwynn's father farmed on the home place tliroughout his life. He 
was drafted in the war of 1812, and died in 1864. at the age of se\-- 
enty-five. Josiah is the oldest of a family of eight children. lie 
attended school on his own farm, in the old-fashioned log school- 



620 ' HISTOKT OF GREENE COUNTY. 

house, which he has since seen replaced by one of hewn logs, that by 
a frame building, and the frame ready to be superseded by a sub- 
stantial brick. Mr. Gwynn has made farming the business of his 
life, and owns 200 acres of the original entry made by his grand- 
father. He was married March 28, 1841, to Lydia, daughter of 
George W. and Susannah (Myers) Phillips. Mrs. Gwynn was born 
in Chester County, Penn., in 1824. Her father was a farmer and 
butcher, of English descent. Mr. and Mrs. Gwynn have eight chil- 
dren, six living — Martha L., wife of Wilson Huston; Joseph C, 
George W., E. E., wife of Lacy Craft; John II. and J. F. AH are 
members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, in which Mr. 
Gwynn is elder and superintendent of the Sabbath-school. He has 
always been a liberal high-minded gentleman, and highly resjjected 
in the community. 

J. F. GWYNN, merchant, who was born in Cumberland Town- 
ship,September 2, 1842,is asonof John Gwynn. His great-grandfather, 
Joseph Gwynn, Sr., came from London, England, settled in Greene 
County, and served in the Revolutionary war. Mr. Gwynn's father 
was born December 25, 1818, on the farm taken up by Joseph 
Gwynn, Sr., when he first came to this county. He was married in 
the fall of 1840 to Elizabeth, daughter of Jesse and Mary (Wright) 
Eea, who were of English descent. J. F. Gwynn is the elder of 
two children. He received his education in Greene Academy and 
Waynesburg College. In 1862 he enlisted in Company F, Fifteenth 
Pennsylvania Cavalry, but was transferred to the U. S. Signal Corps, 
where he served till the close of the war. He was in many engage- 
ments, among others, Stone Piver, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge and 
around Atlanta, etc. At the close of the war he returned to his native 
town and engaged in the mercantile business in which he has met 
with success. Mr. Gwynn was united in marriage January 24, 1868, 
with Elizabeth, daughter of William Hartnian. They have three 
children — William, John and Anna. Mr. Gwynn is a Republican. 
He has served as school director, is a member of the G. A. R., and 
is adjutant of Carmichaels Post 265. He and his wife are zealous 
members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. 

WILLIAM HARTMAN, born in Jefferson, Greene County, 
Penn., February 14, 1817, is a son of Adam and Elizabeth (Stickels) 
Hartman. His parents were of German descent, his mother being a 
native of Pennsylvania and his father of Ohio. His father's family 
consisted of eight children, of whom William is the fifth. He at- 
tended the schools of Greene County and learned the cabinet-maker's 
trade, in connection with which he has devoted considerable time to 
contracting and building. He was united in marriage November 8, 
1838, with Acsah, daughter of Daniel Smith. Their children are — ■ 
Ann, wife of William F. Flennikeu; and Elizabeth, wife of J. F. 



IIISTOUY OF GREENE COUNTY. 621 

Gwynn. Mr. Ilartman is a Republican, and was elected justice of 
tlie peace in 1858. He lias also been a member of the town council 
and burgess of Carmicliaels. Mr. and Mrs. Hartman are members 
of the Cumberland Tresbyterian Church, in which he has been 
superintendent of the Sabbath-school and served as elder for many 
years. 

J. W. HATHAWAY, deceased, who was a merchant in Carmich- 
aels for many years, was born in JetFcrson Township, this county. May 
19, 1821, and was a son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Estel) Hathaway. 
His motlier was born in New Jersey and liis father in Pennsylvania, 
and they were of English and Dutch descent. When Mr. Hathaway 
was only one year old his father died, and he was reared by his 
grandfather, Matthias Estel, who sent him to school and induced 
him to learn a trade. He chose the chair-maker's trade, served a 
regular apprenticeship, and worked at the business for a time at 
jS'ewtown. There he began business as a clerk in a store at the age 
of sixteen. At nineteen years of age he went to Carmichaels as 
clerk. He was for many years junior member in the firm of Carson 
& Hathaway, merchants; afterwards buying his partner's interest 
he became sole owner of the large merchandising establishment 
there. He was an energetic, careful and thrifty manager of busi- 
ness, always exercising the keenest tact in his ventures and invest- 
ments, yet conducting the same with a motive of honesty and fair 
dealing toward all, bearing the respect of everybody. Years ago 
when Carmicliaels was the business center of Greene County Mr. 
Hathaway— added to a continued large retail trade — did consider- 
able business at wholesale. He also dealt quite extensively in stock 
and real estate, and at the time of his death was the owner (jf 550 
acres of valuable land. He was united in marriage January 1, 1840, 
with Miss Ary, daughter of William and Keziah (Wiley) Anderson, 
who were of Scotch-Irish descent. Pier father was a millwright, 
and she liad two brothers in the war of 1812. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Hathaway a family of ten children were born, six of whom, together 
with Mrs. Hathaway, survive the deceased. The children are — 
Charles, Samuel, William, Jacob and Lawrence, of Carmichaels; and 
Mrs. Mary McGinnis, of Lincoln, 111. Mr. Hathaway was well 
known and was regarded as a man of great business ability, sound 
judgment and sterling integrity. He had been a member of the 
Cumberland Presbyterian Church for over forty-tive years, and was 
a ruling elder in that church for thirty-two years. He was without 
question a true Christian. 

JOSEPH HAMILTON, deceased, was a farmer and stock- 
grower and a successful business man. He was a self-made man, 
and by reason of his industry, economy and business ability, suc- 
ceeded in accumulating a goodly share of this world's possessions. 



622 HISTORY OF greene county. 

He died in 1871, leaving to his wife and children over 400 acres of 
valuable fanning land near Carmicliaels, Penn. Mr. Hamilton was 
born in the State of Pennsylvania in 1808, was a son of Joseph 
Hamilton, and was of Scotch-Irish origin. His father was a 
manufacturer of boots and shoes. Mr. Hamilton received 
a common school education; he came to Greene County in 
1859 and settled in Cumberland Township. His wife, whom he 
married in Fayette County, Penn., was Miss Catharine Coursin. Of 
their eight cliildreu, seven are now living — William, Elizabeth, wife 
of Eichard Moffett; Mary, Sarah, Catharine JSIoah and J>fancy J. 
Mr. Hamilton was known throughout his life as a staunch Democrat 
and a strict adherent of the Presbyterian Church. 

1. R. JACKSON, retired carpenter and contractor, was born in 
Cumberland Township, Greene County, Penn., April 19, 1824. He 
is a son of Stephen and Hannah (Miller) Jackson, natives of this 
county. His grandfather, a pioneer farmer, was born in Maryland. 
Mr. Jackson, whose father was a millwright and carpenter, was the 
third in a family of five children. He learned the carpenter trade, 
in which he engaged in Cumberland Township for a period of thirty- 
five years. He was united in marriage April 12, 1846, with Mary 
A., daughter of B. M. and Martha (Murdock) Horner. Mrs. Jack- 
son's parents were among the early settlers of the county. Of the 
seven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Jackson, only one survives — 
Emma C. The deceased are: James J., Mary Ann, Louisa J., Alice 
L., Stephen T. and Mai-garet A., who was the wife of William 
Grooms and mother of two children, one of which, James A. Grooms, 
is still living. Mr. Jackson is a Democrat, and has served as burgess 
of Carmichaels Borough. He and his wife are devoted members of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

WILLIAM KERR, manufacturer of saddle-trees, was born in 
Washington County, Penn., September 12, 1803, and is a son of 
James and Elizabeth (Boke) Kerr, also natives of Washington Coun- 
ty, and of Irish descent. His father was a blacksmith, and reared a 
family of eight children. William was the third and received a 
common school education. He learned the saddle-tree trade, and 
has made it the business of his life, most of which he has spent in 
Cumberland Township, where he was married in January, 1824. 
His Mdfe was Elizabeth, daughter of James Curl. Mr. and Mrs. 
Kerr are the parents of ten children, eight of whom are living. 
They are: Mary A., wife of Elias Flenniken, of Greensboro, Penn.; 
Rachel, wife of James Elenniken; John C, of Carmichaels; Lettie 
J., wife of Thomas Lucas; Elizabeth M., wife of William H. Sharp- 
nack; Sarah E., wife of Thomas Nntt; Hiram A. and William W. 
Mrs. Kerr died August 29, 1874, a consistent member of the 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 623 

Methodist Episcopal Church, to which Mr. Kerr also belongs, and 
has been steward and class-leader. In politics he is a Democrat. 

JAMES KERE, farmer and stock-grower, Carmichaels, Penn., 
was 1)orn in Washington, Washington County, Penn., March 81, 
1808, and is a son ot Archibald and Mai-y (Huston) Kerr, who were 
of Irish and English descent. His mother was a native of Washing- 
ton County, and departed this life in Greene County, Penn., in her 
eighty- seventh year, and his father, a farmer and hotel-keeper, was 
born in Ireland and died in Virginia in his eighty-fourth year. lie 
had a family of eight children, of whom James was the tourth, and 
was reared on the farm in Cumberland Township. He attended the 
common school and chose farming as a business, working by the day 
and month to get his start in life. He drove hogs from Greene 
County to Baltimore for twenty-five cents and two meals a day. 
He has ever practiced the most careful economy and strict integrity 
in all his dealings, and is now the owner of a valuable farm of 375 
acres. Mr. Kerr was united in marriage August 29, 1833, with 
Miss Ellen, daughter of George and Betsey (Lowery) Davis. Mrs. 
Kerr was born in Greene County, April 1, 1813. Her parents were 
natives of Pennsylvania and of German descent. Mr. and Mrs. Kerr 
have eight children, five living — David, Elizalieth, wife of Captain 
H. PI. Cree; Alexander, Huston and Archibald. The deceased are 
George, James and AV^illie. In politics ]\Ir. Kerr is a Democrat. 
He has served as school director in the township. They are 
prominent members of the Presbyterian Church. 

JOHN C. KEIiR, manufacturer of saddle-trees, was born in 
Carmichaels, Penn., December 28, 1832. He is a son of William 
and Elizabeth (Curl) Kerr, being the third in their family of eight 
children. He was reared in Greene County, and early in life learned 
his trade with his father, who still resides near Carmichaels, where 
John C. has worked for many years. In 1859 Mr. Kerr married 
Caroline, daughter of Amos Horner. They were tlie parents of two 
children — Mary Ellen, wife of John Bell, and Margaret, wife of 
John Mossburg. Their mother died in 1865. Mr. Kerr was a second 
time united in marriage, February 9, 1869, with Elizabeth, daughter 
of Henry and Elizabeth (Pice) Sharpnack. Her parents were of 
Welsh and English descent. Mr. and Mrs. Kerr have four children, 
all boys — William Henry, George S., Robert O. and Jesse F. Mr. 
and Mrs. Kerr are devoted members of the Cumberland Presbyterian 
Church. In politics Mr. Kerr is a Republican, and has been a mem- 
ber of the town council of Carmichaels, where he has resided for 
over twenty-five years. 

ARCHIBALD KERR, of the firm of Kerr Brothers, furniture 
dealers and funeral directors, Carmichaels, Penn., was born in Cnml)er- 
land Township, September 22, 1851. He is a son of James and 



624 HISTORY OF GEEENE COUWTT. 

Eleanor (Davis) Kerr, natives of Greene County, and of Irish descent. 
His father is one of the prominent farmers of Cumberland Townsliip. 
Archibald is the seventh in a family of eight children. He received 
a common-school education, and early in life learned the cabinet- 
maker's trade. He worked by the day and job for eight years in 
Virginia and Pennsylvania, and in 1876 engaged in his present busi- 
ness at Garard's Fort, Penn., where lie remained for two years. He 
then came to Carmichaels, where he has always had the reputation 
of doing lirst-class work. In 1873 Mr. Kerr married Frances, daugh- 
ter of James Clawson. Mi's. Kerr is of English descent. They 
have a family of live children — Charles Edward, Lida E., Jesse, Alex- 
ander and Harry. Mr. Kerr is a leading member of the M. E. 
Church, and his wife is a Cumberland Presbyterian. In politics Mr. 
Kerr is a Democrat. He is a member of the town council, and be- 
longs to the I. 0. O. F. Lodge at Carmichaels, Penn. 

JSfORVAL LAIDLEY'was born in Cumberland Township, this 
county, May 4, 1829. He is a son of T. H. and Sarah (Barclay) 
Laidley, being the oldest in their family of twelve children. He was 
I'eared in Carmichaels, receiving his education in the old Greene 
Academy. Early in life he learned the saddler's trade, serving an 
apprenticeship at Carmichaels, where he soon engaged in the busi- 
ness for liim self and continued therein for twelve years. He after- 
wards started a general store in company with his younger brother, 
A. D. Laidley, to whom he sold his interest in 1876 and left him 
sole proprietor of their merchandising establishment. 

J. B. LAIDLEY, physician and surgeon, Carmichaels, Penn. — 
Among the best known physicians in Greene County is the gentle- 
man whose name heads this sketch. He is a son of Dr. Thomas H. 
and Sarah (Barclay) Laidley, and was born in Carmichaels, August 
21, 1830. The Doctor's father was also a prominent physician, and 
practiced in Carmichaels and vicinity for over half a century. His 
grandfather, Thomas Laidley, was a soldier in the Pevolutionary 
war, and his maternal grandfather, Hon. tlugh Barclay, was a mem- 
ber of the Pennsylvania State Legislature in 1804. The Doctor is 
the second in a family of twelve children, ten of whom are now 
living. He received his education at Greene Academy, and subse- 
quently studied medicine at the medical department of the University 
of Wooster, at Cleveland, Ohio, where he graduated March 1, 1856. 
He then returned to Carmichaels, where he has practiced continuously 
except during a part of the years 1861-'62, when he served as Sur- 
geon of the Eighty-fifth Eegiraent Pennsylvania Volunteers. In 
1859 he was united in marriage with Mary E., daughter of William 
Galbi'aith, who was for many years a prominent physician of Jeffer- 
son, in this county, where Mrs. Laidley was born. They have three 
living children — William Galbraith, Edmund Wirt and John Collier. 



HISTORY OP GREENE COUNTY. 625 

Dr. and Mrs. Laidley are members of the M. E. Church, in which he 
has been an official member since he united witli the church. He 
has been school director for thirty years, and has been known as a 
friend ef education. He is a member of the G. A. R., Post -No. 
265, of Carinichaels, Penn. 

PION. T. H. LAIDLEY was horn in Carmichaels, Penn. He is 
a son of Dr. T. LI. Laidley, who was among the most prominent 
physicians of Greene County. Mr. Laidley was the seventh in a 
family of eleven cliildren. He was reared in Carmichaels, attending 
the Greene Academy. He learned the trade of a tinner and followed 
it as an occupation for eigiit years. He subsequently clerked on a 
boat on the Monoiigaliela River for a period of eight years. He 
married Sarah W., daughter of John W. Flenniken. Her father was 
a descendant of the early pioneers of this county. Mr. Laidley is the 
father of three children — Ilettie, Thomas IL, Jr., and Albert. Mr. 
Laidley is a Democrat, and has taken considerable interest in the 
politics of his county. He served as county auditor tor several 
terms. He also represented his county in the State Legislature two 
terms, at tlie close of which he engaged in the mercantile business. 
He is a Presbyterian, of which church his deceased wife was also a 
member. She died in 1885. 

Tl. S. LONG, stock dealer, faruier and stock grower. — The sub- 
ject of this sketch was born in Greene County, Penn., October 24, 
1835. He is a son of Jerry and Lucretia (Stephens) Long,, who 
were natives of this county and of English origin. His father was 
reared on a farm where he spent the early part of his life. He after- 
wards made a specialty of stock-growing, in which he dealt cpiite 
extensively in the West, and succeeded in accumulating a handsome 
fortune, being at the time of his death, in 1803, tlie owner of 1,300 
acres of well-improved laud in Greene County, and extensive stock 
interests in the West. He was married in his native county, and all 
of his six children were l)orn in Cumberland Township. The}' are 
as follows; Milton, Elizabeth, wife of Corbly Garard; Mary, IL S., 
W. S., Sarah A., wife of James Stephens, and Nancy V., wife of 
Wallace Eicher. Richard was reared on the farm and attended the 
common school. In business he has very closely followed the ex- 
ample of his father, and has met with about the same success. At 
the age of twenty-two he went west and engaged in buying stock, of 
which he made heavy shipments from Iowa to Chicago. He deals 
principally in sheep and cattle, and of the latter owns at present 
UOO head, in company with others in the West. His home farm con- 
sists of 2C>1 acres of land, well stocked and improved. Lie was mar- 
ried, Deceml)er 4, 1801, to Miss Pluebe C, daughter of J. K. Bailey, 
and they are the parcTits of three children — J. C. D. Annie Laurie 
and Lucretia V. Nellie. In politics Mr. Long is a Republican, and 



626 HISTORY OF GREENE COtJlSTTY. 

he and wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, in 
which he is one of the leading officers. 

MILTON LONG, farmer and stock-grower, P. O. Xhedive, was 
born in Cumberland Township, January 29, 1838. He is a son of 
Jerry and Lucretia (Stephens) Long, also natives of this county. He 
comes of a long line of farmers, of whom his father was one of the 
most prominent, and also eminently successful as a cattle-dealer in 
the West. Mr. Long is the third in a family of six children; lie 
attended the common school of his district, remaining on the farm 
until 1861, when he enlisted in Company F, First Pennsylvania Cav- 
alry and served his country three years. He passed through the en- 
gagements of Gettysburg and Fredericksburg, and was also in the 
battle of the Wilderness. WJien he came home from the army he went 
to Page County, Iowa, and engaged in buying and shipping stock to 
Chicago, Illinois. After remaining there for a period of eight years, he 
returned to Cumberland Township, where he has since been engaged 
in his present occupation, and owns 330 acres of well improved land. 
In 1872 he married Mary E., daughter of Robert McClelland, who 
died in 1859. Her mother's maiden name was Elizabeth Weaver; 
she was of German and English descent. Mr. and Mrs. Long have 
one child — Mabel. In politics Mr. Long is a Republican, he is a 
member of the G. A. R., and he and his wife are members of the 
Cumberland Presbyterian Church. 

JAMES MURDOCK, retired tailor, was born in Cumberland 
Township, this county, August 3, 1811, and is a son of Charles and 
Ann (Campbell) Murdock. Mr. Murdock's grandfather was one of 
the eai'liest settlers of Greene County, coming here among the In- 
dians. His mother was born in Ireland. His father, who was of 
Scotch origin, was born in Greene County, Penn., in 1789. His 
family consisted of eight children — six sons and two daughters, of 
whom James was the oldest. He was united in marriage in 1838 
with Amanda, daiighter of William Bailey. Mrs. Murdock was 
born in this county in 1816, and is of English descent. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Murdock were born six children — Zillah, Anna E., William M., 
Mary (deceased), Ellis B. and Ellen. Mr. Murdock is a Republican. 
He has been school director, was for two years burgess of Car- 
michaels, and served as justice of the peace for a period of ten years. 
Both are faitliful members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. 
Tliey are among the oldest and most highly respected citizens of 
Carmichaels. 

WILLIAM M. MURDOCK, merchant-tailor, was born in Car- 
michaels, August 28, 1844, and is a son of James and Amanda 
(Bailey) Murdock, natives of Greene County. Mr. Murdock is the 
third of a family of six children. He was reared in Carmichaels and 
learned the tailor's trade with his father. His iirst work was for the 



lUSTOHY OF GREENE COUNTY. tj27 

CTOvernineiit. In 1862, wlien eighteen years of age, he enlisted as a 
soldier in Company K, Fifteenth Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry, 
and served until IbGS. He was at the battle of Stone Iliver and in 
several other engagements and skirmishes. At the close of the war 
he came home and worked at his trade with his father. In 1870 he 
engaged with his brother in the merchant tailoring business, in 
which they have continued quite successfully ever since. In 1806 
he married Emma, daughter of William and Mary (Williams) Arm- 
strong. They have four children — Augustus L., Mary, wife of F. 
Davidson; Louise and Lottie. Mr. Murdock is a member of the 
G. A. li. Post; and both are leading members in the Cumberland 
Presbyterian Church. 

SIMON MOKEDOCK, retired farmer and stock-grower, born 
in Jefferson Township, Greene County, Penn., is a son of George 
and Priscilla (Anderson] Moredock. His grandfatlier, James Ander- 
son, was of Irish descent. Mr. Moredock's father, who was a 
farmer, had a family of twelve children, ten of whom grew to 
maturity. Simon is the fourth child, was reared in Jefferson Town- 
ship, and received his education in the old stone school-house of 
the district. Early in life he engaged in the distillery business 
which he followed for ten years. He then bought a farm and has 
since devoted himself wholly to agricultural pursuits. In 1848 lie 
was united in marriage with Mary J., daughter of John and Jane 
(Kincaidj Reynolds, who were of Welsh and Dutch descent. Mr. 
and Mrs. Moredock have six children — Sarah, wife of B. Sharpnack; 
George W., M. A., Rebecca J., Daniel and Minerva. Mr. Moredock 
is a Democrat; and both are members of the Cumberland Presby- 
terian Church, in which he has served as elder. 

REV. JOHN McCLINTOCK, pastor of the New Providence 
Presbyterian Church, in Cumberland Township, Greene County, 
Penn., was born in AVashington, Penn., November 10, 1808, and 
is a son of William and Mary (lUcGowanj McClintock. His mother 
M'as a native of Pennsylvania and of Scotch-Irish descent. His 
father was born in County Donegal, Ireland; but when quite a young 
man, came with his two brothers, to America and settled in W^ash- 
ington, Penn., where they spent the rest of their lives, all dying 
within nine months. Mr. McClintock is one of live children. He 
received his early education in the subscription school; then learned 
the weaver's trade, serving a regular apprenticeship of live years. 
When he reached his majority he entered Washington College, Penn., 
and graduated in the regular classical course with the class of 1830, 
Having chosen the ministry as his profession, he subsequently 
entered the Western Theological Seminary, at Allegheny, Penn., and 
was licensed to preach in April, 1837. He seized every opportunity 
of preparing himself for the high calling which he had chosen, and 



628 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

accepted as his first work the cause of missions, the field being 
Smyrna,-in Asia. In July, 1839, he came to Greene Countj'- and 
accepted his present charge, in which capacity he still continues, hav- 
ing oiitlived all but three members of his original congregation. By 
reason of his most earnest, eflicient work, Eev. McClintock's is 
among the largest congregations in Greene County. He has also 
been instrumental in doing great good outside of his own church, 
having baptized 261 persons and performed 207 marriage ceremonies. 
Pie was married, in Washington, Fenn., April 17, 1834:, to Miss 
Mary, daughter of James and Margaret (Hawkins) Orr. Mrs. Mc- 
Clintock was also a native of Washington, Penn., born December 
11, 1803, and of Scotch-Irish descent. Her grandparents came from 
Ireland; her father was a magisti'ate for many years, and among the 
prominent men of Washington County, where he settled in 1800. 
Mrs. McClintock is a lady of great piety and motherly kindness, and 
is most highly respected by those who know her best. Few have as 
many friends as this aged couple who have worked side by side in 
the vineyard of the Lord for more than fifty years. Their union has 
been blessed with six children — Margaret E., Mary, John C, a min- 
ister; and Ann, living; and James and William, deceased. Their 
family is highly respected, and they have a prosperous, happy home 
near Carmichaels, Penn., where they now reside. 

EEY. DR. JOHN McMILLAJSI was born at Fagg's Manor, 
Chester County, Penn., JSTovember 11, 1752. His parents, William 
and Margaret (Rea) McMillan, emigrated to America in 1742. They 
were Scotch-Irish, and devout Presbyterians. They had eighteen 
children. Their three sons who attained maturity were Thomas, 
William, and John, the yoimgest, whose name heads this sketch. 
It was his father's wish that John should be a minister of the gospel. 
He received a classical education at Princeton College, was first 
licensed to preach October 26, 1774, and was among the pioneer 
preachers of Washington and Greene counties. He was a sti-ong 
man, and engaged in physical as well as mental labor. Early in life 
he formed the habit of writing and committing all his sermons. He 
was always greatly interested in his work, and has given account of 
revival meetings in which he frequently labored through a whole 
night. Soon after the Revolutionary war, about the year 1778, he 
removed with his family to Washington County, Penn., where he 
was the founder of Jefferson College, now known as Washington and 
Jefferson College, and was president of the institution at the time of 
his death. He was married by the Rev. Mr. Carmichaels, August 
6, 1777, to Miss Catharine, daughter of William Brown. Seven 
children were born to them, viz: William, John, Samuel, Jane, Mar- 
garet, Mary and Catharine. Jane, the oldest daughter, was twice 
maiTied, her first husband being the Rev. Mr. Morehead. She was 



lIlSTOliY OF GREENE COUNTY. 629 

afterwards united in marriage with Samuel Harper, a merchant and 
farmer, who was born and raised near Philadelphia. He sjDent most 
of his business life in Greene County, Penn., and was one of its 
most prominent citizens. He was an elder in the Presbyterian Church 
for many years, and served one term as sheriff of the county. Samuel 
Harper was twice married and had ten cliildren, the youngest of 
whom is H. Harper, now a prominent citizen of Carmichaels, Penn. 
He was born in Cumberland Township, this county, September 29, 
1819, was reared on the farm and attended school at Greene Academy, 
but devoted himself principally to farming, and met witli great suc- 
cess. In 1862 Mr. Harper married Tiebecca M., daughter of Will- 
iam and Rebecca (Norris) Johnson. Her parents were natives of 
Chester County, Penn., and of English descent. They were mem- 
bers of the Society of Friends. Mr. Harper is liepublican in poli- 
tics. He and Mrs. Harper are prominent members of the M. E. 
Church. Having i-etired from the more active duties of life, they 
now reside in Carmichaels, where they have a neat, substantial resi- 
dence. Mr. Harper's brother, John McMillan Harper, was born in 
1812, in Greene County, where he grew to manhood. He was edu- 
cated at Greene Academy. His vocation was that of farming, for 
which he seemed especially adapted, being a powerful man, si.x feet 
and two inches in height, always strong and robust and in the enjoy- 
ment of excellent health. He was married in Jefferson Township, 
this county, to Miss Isabella Hughes, and they had one child, Mar- 
garet Jane, who is the wife of E. C. Stone, of Brownsville, Penn. 
During the late war Mrs. Stone's father, John Harper, raised a com- 
pany of cavalry, of which he was soon elected Major, but by some 
means was defrauded out of his command. While at home, buying 
hoi-ses for the regiment, at which time he succeeded in getting GOO, 
another was installed Major in his place. He then resigned and re- 
turned home, spending the remainder of his life on the farm, where 
he died in 1878, honored and respected by all who knew him. 

PROF. W. M. jSTICKESON, principal of the Carmichaels High 
School, was born in Washington, Washington County, Penn., August 
28, 1839. His parents, Solomon and Phoebe (Watson) Nickeson, 
were also natives of Washington County, and of Scotch and German 
origin. His father, who is a larmer and stock-grower, worked at the 
cooper's trade in early life. The Professor is a member of a family 
of thirteen children — five girls and eight boys. He was with his 
parents on the farm xmtil eighteen years of age, and attended the 
public schools of Washington County. He subsequently entered 
Waynesburg College, where he completed the regular course of 
study and afterwards received the degree of Master of Arts. After 
teaching in Greene and Washington counties for ten years, he re- 
turned to Washington, studied law, and was admitted to practice in 



630 IIISTOr.Y OP GREEKE COUNTY. 

1867. He resumed his teaching, however, and had been engaged 
therein for twenty-four years, when he was elected superintendent of 
schools in Greene County in 1881, and served a term of three years. 
Since then he has been principal of the schools of Carmichaels, 
making in all thirty-one years that he has been connected with the 
schools of this and Washington counties. In 1866 Mr. Nickeson 
married Anna S., daughter of "William Gass, who is of Irish and 
German descent, and a resident of Clarksville, Fenn. Mr. and Mrs. 
Nickeson have two children — Frances M. and William Edmon. Mr. 
ISfickeson has served as burgess of Carmichaels, also as justice of the 
peace for one term. He is a prominent member of the I. O. O. F., 
and he and wife are active members of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, in which he is trustee, and superintendent of the Sabbath- 
school. 

I. B. PATTEESON, farmer and stock-grower, P. O. Carmichaels, 
Penn., was born on Rnif's Creek, in Greene County, September 28, 
1834. His parents, Thomas and Dorcas (Bell) Patterson, were 
natives of Pennsylvania. His father was a farmer and drover, and 
often sold stock in the Baltimore market on commission for the citi- 
zens of Greene County. lie was the father of eight children, of 
whom I. B. is next to the youngest. He was educated in the com- 
mon schools of the county, chose farming and stock-growing for his 
business, and owns 355 acres of valuable land in the county. In 
1858 he married Mary E., daughter of James Barns, whose portrait 
appears in this volume. It is said that Mr. Barns brought the first 
steam engine into Greene County, and was also founder of its first 
woolen-mill. He departed this life in 1883, at the advanced age of 
ninety-three years. Mr. and Mrs. Patterson are the parents of seven 
children — William B., Thomas, James L., Isaac N.,- John L., Minnie 
and Franklin M. Mr. Patterson is a Democrat. Mr. and Mrs. Pat- 
terson are prominent members of the Carmichaels Cumberland Pres- 
byterian Church, in which they have ever been faithful, earnest 
workers. 

J. G. PATTERSON was born in Franklin Township, Fayette 
County, Penn., August 23, 1830. He is a son of James and Jane 
(Smith) Patterson, who were born near Philadelphia, and of Scotch- 
Irish descent. Mr. Patterson's father was a farmer, his family con- 
sisting of nine children, of whom J. G. is the seventh. He was 
reared in Fayette County, Penn., attending Madison College at Union- 
town, and Greene Academy at Carmichaels, Penn. He studied medi- 
cine with Dr. W. L. LafFerty, of Brownsville, Penn., and practiced 
one year at Havana, Mason County, Illinois. He then engaged in 
the drug business in Pittsburgh, Penn., for a period of eleven years. 
In 1854 he married Miss jSfancy J., daughter of John McAllister, 
and they are the parents of two children — Julian S., who is a physi- 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 631 

cian at Carlisle, Penn., and Anna, wife of George L. Denney, of 
Fajette County, Penn. In 1862 Mr. Patterson enlisted in the One 
Hundred and Sixty-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. When 
the company was organized he was elected First Lieutenant. In 
1863 he resigned on account of ill-health, returned to Greene County 
and engaged in the oil business, and subsequently in mechanical pur- 
suits. In politics Mr. Patterson is a Democrat, in religion a Presby- 
terian. His wife is a devoted member of the M. E. Church. 

J. H. KEA, farmer and stock-grower, P. O. Carmichaels, was 
born in Cumberland Township, August 26, 1881, and is a son of John 
and Margaret (Dowlin) Ilea, who were of Scotch-Irish descent. His 
motlier was a native of Pennsylvania, and his father, who was a 
blacksmith, was born in New Jersey and came to Greene County in 
1808, and died November 25, 1847. Of their ten children, nine 
grew to maturity, the youngest of whom is the subject of this sketch. 
He has lived all his life on a farm, with the exception of two years, 
spent in the army. He owns the farm of 106 acres where he now 
resides. He was united in marriage, August 26, 1852, with Miss 
Orpha, daughter of Benjamin and Mary (Long) Worthington. Mrs. 
Pea is of English origin. Their family consists of seven children — 
Calvin B., Margaret Alice, wife of James Craig; Frank L., a stock- 
dealer in the West; Mary ]\I., Walter G., Anna V. and John Linn. 
They are all members of the Presbyterian Church, in which Mr. Ilea 
has been elder, trustee, and superintendent of the Sabbath-school. 
Mr. Pea takes a great interest in educational matters, has served as 
school director, and iilled most of the important offices of his town- 
ship. In 1861 he enlisted as a private in Company F, First Penn- 
sylvania Cavalry. At the regular organization of this company at 
Ilarrisburgh, August 17, 1861, he was elected Captain, and was pro- 
moted to tlie office of Major, November 14, of the same year. He 
was discharged for disability, January 12, 1863, and was carried 
home on a stretcher, in what was then thought to be a dying condi- 
tion. He is a member of the G. A. P. Post. 

SAMUEL W. EEA, farmer and stock-grower, Carmichaels, 
Penn., was born in the township where he resides, February 2, 1829. 
He is a son of Jesse and Mary (Wright) Eca, natives of Mont- 
gomery County, Penn. His parents were of Scotch-Irish origin, 
and came to Greene County in May, 1828, where Mr. Pea, who was 
a farmer all his life, died in 1870. Samuel W. was the only son in 
a family of four children. Lie was with his parents on the farm 
imtil he attained his majority, and attended the district school in the 
township and Greene Academy at Carmichaels. He has devoted his 
time to farming and the growing of line stock, and has met with more 
tlian averacre success. lie owns a line farm of 360 acres in Cumber- 
land Township. Mr. Ilea was united in marriage, in 1848, to Miss 



632 IIISTOKY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

Ruth Ann, daughter of William and Zillah (Johnson) Bailey. Their 
children are — Jesse L., Amanda Jane, wife of H. Kerr, lias one 
daughter, Ruth E. Kerr; L. M., who married Josejihine Hewitt, and 
is the father of one child, Anna Mary; Jolm M., M. Zillah, E. F., C. 
Albert and Calvin W. William B., Hannah Frances, James W. and 
Nettie are deceased. In politics Mr. Rea is a Republican. He has been 
school director in his township, and filled important offices in Oar- 
michael's Cumberland Presbyterian Church, of which his family are 
all members. 

JOSEPH REEVES, fanner and stock-grower, was born in 
Cumberland Township, Greene County, Penn., November 23, 1816, 
and is a son of John B. and Sarah (Luse) Reeves, natives of Penn- 
sylvania. His father was a farmer, and lived to be eighty- five years 
of age. His family consisted of twelve children — six sous and six 
daughters. Joseph was the sixth in the family, received his educa- 
tion in the common schools, and chose farming as his business, which 
he has followed all his life. He started out in the world with 
nothing bu.t a willing mind and strong muscle, first working by the 
day and month. He has met with mai'ked success, and is now the 
owner of 550 acres of well improved land where he resides. In 1840 
he married Miss Rebecca, daughter of Phineas and Hannah (Ross) 
Clawson, who were of English descent. Mr. and Mrs. Reeves were 
the parents of six children, five living — Hannah J., wife of Wesley 
Evans; Sarah Ellen, wife of J. B. Sharp; Eliza M., wife of James 
Cliafen ; Phineas C. and John L. Their mother was a faithful mem- 
ber of the Baptist Church. Mr. Reeves' first son, Phineas C, is a 
farmer and at present resides with his parents. He was born in 
Greene Township, January 9, 1850, and received a common school 
education. In 1875 he was united in marriage with Miss Anna 
Davis. They have five children — Charles R., Rosa Pearl, Ernest J., 
Joseph B. and F. A. In politics their father is a Republican, and is a 
leading member in the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

DANIEL RICH, farmer and stock-grower, Khedive, Penn., was 
born in Cumberland Township, Greene County, April 25, 1830, and 
is a son of David and Margaret (Morrison) Rich. His parents were 
also natives of Greene County, and of German and English ancestry. 
His father and grandfather were both farmers and among the early 
settlers of the county. Daniel is the ninth in a family of thirteen 
children, twelve of whom grew to maturity. He was reared on the 
farm, attending school in the township, and also graded school in 
Virginia. He chose farming as his occupation and is now the owner 
of 360 acres of valuable land in Cumberland Township, where he 
resides arid is regarded as one of the leading men of Greene County. 
He lived foxir years in Monroe County, Ohio, where he was united 
in marriage, October 8, 1858, with Miss Lany, daughter of Levi 



histoi:y of grekne county. (j38 

Stephens, a native of Greene County, Peiin., and of Gerinau origin. 
They have two children — A. L., born in Monroe County, Ohio, 
August 13, 1859, and Phtebe C, who is the wife of Columbus Scott 
Their sou, A. L., was reared on their present farm, in Cumberland. 
Township, to which his parents returned soon after his birth. lie 
was married, October 8, 1882, to Miss Kate, daughter of C. C. Harry; 
and they liave one child — Stephen Harry, an interesting boy of five 
years. In politics Mr. Daniel Rich is a Republican, and was elected 
justice of the peace in 1880, also in 1885. He is energetic and 
successful in his business, and has always held the coniidence of his 
neighbors. lie has settled up fifteen estates for heirs in the 
neij^hborhood, to the entire satisfaction of the parties concerned. 
His family are all members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 
in which he has served as trustee and superintendent of the Sabbath- 
school. 

ALBERT M. RICIIEY, now a resident of Iowa, was born in 
Fayette County, Penn., February 10, 1810. His parents were Sam- 
uel and Elizabeth (Humbert) Richey, natives of Pennsylvania and of 
German and English ancestry. His father was a soldier in the war 
of 1812. Leaving his native county at the age of twenty-one, 
Albert came to Greene County, after having learned cabinet-making, 
in Fayette County, Penn., and carried on business until 1878. At 
that time he went AVest and engaged in the same business at In- 
dianola, Iowa, where he still resides. His family consists of seven 
children. His oldest and only child in Greene County is Miss Enie- 
line Richey, of Carmichaels, Penn., where she is owner and pro- 
prietor of a large dry-goods and dress emporium. Miss Richey is 
deserving of special mention, her life having been so much out of the 
range of most of her sex. She was reared in Carmichaels and at- 
tended Greene Academy until 1854, when she was employed by J. 
W. Hathaway, as clerk in his store. Here she displayed such e.K- 
cellent taste and good judgment in the selection and purchase of 
goods, and such business ability, that Mr. Hathaway soon trusted her 
to do all the buying in the East, and gave her complete control of 
the store during the last few years she remained with him. In the 
fifteen years she was with him Mr. Hatliaway's business was far 
more prosperous than ever before. Miss Richey has met with the 
same success in her own store, which she opened in 1869. She has 
a good trade in dry-goods and millinery, and also makes a specialty 
of line dress-making, receiving the patronage of many prominent 
ladies for miles around Carmichaels. She is always prompt and 
obliging, conducts her business in a business-like way and has met 
with marked success in all her undertakings. 

THOMAS RINEHART, retired farmer and stock-grower, Cey- 
lon, Penn., was born in Greene County, February 14, 1802. His 



63i HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

parents, John and Peggy (Inghrara) Rinehart, were of Irisli and 
German descent. His ancestors were among the earliest settlers of 
the county, in which many descendants of both families now reside, 
some of them having held prominent positions therein. The present 
President Judge of Greene County is a nephew of Thomas JRinehart, 
the the subject of our sketch. Mr. Rinehart's father was a farmer 
all his life. Thomas was his second son and was reared in Greene 
County, attending the subscription schools. He manifested ex- 
cellent busiiress proclivities early in life, and was untiring in his 
zeal to make the best of every opportunity, as a result of wiiich he 
now owns a fine farm of 200 acres, where he lives in Cumberland 
Township. Here he was married and is the father of two children — 
Thonias Franklin and Margaret Ann. Mr. Rinehart is a Democrat, 
and he and his wife are consistent members of church. 

THOMAS W. ROGERS, photographer, who was horn in Bealls- 
ville, Washington County, Penn., July 17, 1846, is a son of James R. 
and Sarah (McLean) Rogers, also natives of Washington County. 
Mrs. Sarah Rogers died in 1854. Mr. Rogers, Avho is a carpenter 
and contractor, now resides in the State of Indiana. His family con- 
sists of seven children now living — live sons and tvi^o daughters 
(five dead). Thomas, who is the third son, was reared in Washington 
County on the farm, and attended school at Beallsville. In 1861 he 
learned photogi*aphy, at which he worked for over three years before 
he opened his establishment in Carmichaels, where he has been a 
very popular and successful photographer. In 1869 Mr. Rogers 
married Miss Belle, daughter of Joseph Daugherty. They are the 
parents of five children, viz. — Oily, Velina, Wilber, Ina and Fred. 
Mr. Rogei's is modest and unassuming but industrious and energetic 
in his business, and has always had the respect and confidence of the 
community, from which he has received a liberal patronage. In pol- 
itics he is a Republican; and he and Mrs. Rogers are among the 
most faithful and prominent members of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. 

A. J. SHARPNACK, farmer and stock-grower, of Cumberland 
Township, Greene County, Penn.', was born August 25, 1847, on the 
farm where he now resides. He is a son of Henry and Elizabeth 
(Rice) Sharpnack. Mr. Sharpnack's father, who died in 1879, made 
farming the business of his life. Mr. Sharpnack is the youngest of 
nine children, live of whom are living. He was reared in Cumber- 
land Township on the farm witli his parents, where he attended the 
district school. He wisely chose his father's occupation — that of 
stock-growing and farming. He owns an improved and well stocked 
farm. In 1868 he married Caroline M. Rinehart. They have two 
sons — Levi and Henry. Their mother died and Mr. Sharpnack was 
again united in marriage with Martha, daughter of David Bowser. 



HISTORY OK GKEKNE COUNTY. 635 

Their clnldreii are — Lora, Malinda, Chester A. Arthur, Elizabeth 
Ann, Lilian Dell, and James G. Blaine. Mrs. Shari^iack is a de- 
voted member of the Baptist Church. 

LEVI A. SHAIIPNACK, farmer and stock-raiser, Carmichaels, 
Peun., was born in Cumberland Township, Greene County, Decem- 
ber 24, 1850. He is a sou of John and Sarah (Antrain) Sharpnack, 
who were natives of Pennsylvania, and of German and English ori- 
gin. Ilis father was an industrious and energetic farmer and stock- 
raiser until his death, April 8, 1858. His family consisted of eleven 
children, seven living, of whom Levi is tlie youngest and the only 
son. He was reared on the farm and received a common school edu- 
cation; has made choice of farming as his occupation through life, 
and meets with great siiccess. He owns ninety-two acres of valu- 
able laud where he now resides. In 1874 he married Elizabeth, 
daughter of William and Snsan (Curl) Armstrong. Mr. Sharpnack 
is of Irish descent. Their children are: Linton, Chauncey, Ora, 
Charles and Launa. Mr. Sharpnack is a strong Democrat, and one 
of the most intluential citizens of his township. 

THOMAS L. STEWART, deceased, was born in Dunkard Town- 
ship, Greene County, in the year 1813. His parents, Leonard 
and Elizabeth (Ferrell) Stewart, were of English descent, and among 
the early settlers of the county. His father was a farmer. Thomas 
L. was reared in Dunkard Township, and followed farming as his 
occupation. In 1842 he married Miss Eliza, daughter of John and 
Elizabeth (Ilopton) Johnson. They are the parents of three chil- 
dren: Joseph, Mary E. and Johnson, who married Sarah Durr,and is 
the father of two children — Charles and G. Pearl. Joseph, their 
oldest son, was born in Cumberland Township, Greene County, Octo- 
ber 24, 1844, and received a common school education. In 1882 he 
married Miss Amanda, daughter of E. Y. Cowell. Mrs. Joseph 
Stewart was a member of the Baptist Church. She died in 1884, 
leaving one child, Mary. Mr. Stewart and his sons are strict adher- 
ents to the Republican party. 

ELI AS STONE, deceased, who was a farmer and stock grower, 
was born in Greensboro, Greene County, Penn., September 22,1808. 
He was a son of James and Nancy (Sedgewick) Stone, who were na- 
tives of Greene County, and descended from its earliest settlers. The 
history of the family on both sides shows them to have been farmers 
usually, and of Irish descent. Mr. Stone was the second in a family 
of eight children. He was reared in Monongahela Township, this 
county, where he attended the subscription schools. He devoted his 
business life to farming and the growing of tine stock. In 1833 he- 
married Mary, daughter of Samuel and Nancy (Lackey) Huston. 
Her parents were natives of Pennsylvania and of Irish descent. Mr. 
and Mrs. Stone were the parents of three children. Lizzie, Nan and 



636 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

Fannie. Their mother died in 1843. Mr. Stone was Eepublicau in 
politics, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was 
twice married, and his widow and two children, Frank and Amanda, 
survive him. He died in 1872. 

D. C. STEPHEJSTSOlSr, farmer and stock grower, was born in 
Greene Township, Greene County, Penn., June 5, 1826. liis par- 
ents, Alexander and Rachel (Jones) Stephenson, were natives of this 
county, and of Welsh and Scotch-Irish descent. BLis grandfather 
and great-grandfather were liugh and Daniel Stephenson, who were 
farmers and soldiers in the Revolutionary war; they came to Greeiie 
County soon after its close. His father served as justice of the 
peace in Greene County for a period of fifteen years. The history 
of the Stephenson family gives farming as their usual occupation. 
Mr. Stephenson's grandfather was born in Greene County, where he 
spent all his life. He died in 1857 in his eighty-second year. Mr. 
StephcTison is the oldest in a family of four children — two sons and 
two daughters. He was reared on the farm in this county, where he 
attended the district school. In 1861 he came to Cumberland Town- 
ship and engaged in farming until 1869, when he came to Ceylon 
and kept store for a period of sixteen years. He was united in mar- 
riage, in IIeni*y County, Iowa, with Miss Martha, daughter of Isaac 
and Mary (Barclay) Johnson. Mrs. Stephenson is a great grand- 
daughter of the Hon. Hugh Barclay. Her grandfather was also 
Hugh Barclay, and her grandfather Johnson's name was William. 
Mr. and Mrs. Stephenson have eight children — Mary E., wife of 
Noah M. Hartley; Alexander M., a farmer; Fannie, Hugh C, of 
Iowa; J. W., a teacher, Anna M., Flora M. and I. T. (de- 
ceased). In politics Mr. Stephenson is a Democrat, and has served 
as postmaster in Greene County for fifteen years. He has made his 
own way in the world, and by means of his energy and untiring zeal 
in his business has become one of the most prosperous farmers in 
the county and highly respected by all who know him. 

JOHNSON TOPPIN, retired farmer, Carmichaels, Penn., was 
born in Maryland February 25, 1808, and is a son of John and Re- 
becca (Johnson) Toppin. They were members of the Society of 
Friends, and of English descent. His father was a farmer and car- 
penter through life. Johnson was one of three sons and three daiigh- 
ters, and spent most of his life in Greene County, Penn., where he 
also attended school. He learned the gunsmith trade, in which he 
engaged for a time, then followed ship carpentering as a business. 
Fie also ran on the river as captain on a keel boat for nineteen 
years. He afterwards bought a farm in Cumberland Township, 
where he lived until 1885 — the date of his retirement. In 1883 he 
was united in marriage with Miss Harriet, daughter of John and 
Jane Dalby. Mrs. Toppin was born in 1813 and is also a native of 



HISTOKY OF GRP:ENE COUNTY. 637 

Pennsylvania. Of their five children, three are living — two in Iowa. 
They are all married: Matilda, wife of William GasS; Rebecca Ann, 
wife of J. K. Parshall, and Alniira, wife of Thomas W. Linch. Mr. 
Toppin is a Democrat; and his wife is a faithful memljer of the 
Methodist Church. 

T. r. WAIiNE, farmer and stock-grower, Carmichaels, rcnn., 
was born in Carroll Township, Washinj^ton County, Penn., January 
20, 1847. He is a son of Joseph and Elizabetli (Irwin) Warne. His 
father and mother were natives of Washington and Chester counties 
respectively, and were of English and Irish descent. His father, 
who has met with marked success as a farmer, still resides on the old 
home farm in Carroll Township, Washington County, and also owns 
a tine farm of 250 acres in Cumberland Township, Greene County. 
Mr. T. P. Warne, who is the second in a family of seven children, 
attended school at Monongahela City, where he started in business 
as a coal merchant and remained there for a period of nine years. In 
1882 he sold out his coal interests, and came to this county in 1885 and 
has since been engaged in farming in Cumberland Township. Mr. 
Warne was united in marriage, April 21, 1887, with Anna E. Long. 
Her parents were James and Mary (McClelland) Long, of English 
and Irish ancestry. Mrs. Warne is third in their family of si.\ chil- 
dren; and is a faithful member of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. 
Warne is a Democrat, and one of the leading citizens of his commu- 
nity. 

LEM H. WILEY, musician, Peoria 111., was born in Greene 
County, Penn., April 17, 1844. He acrjuired a common school edu- 
cation, and worked at the blacksmiths trade with his father. In 1862 
he went to Peoria County, 111., and in the fall he enlisted in the Seventy- 
seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteers, as chief musician, being then 
only eighteen years of age. This position he tilled faithfully until the 
regiment was mustered out of service at the close of the war. Upon 
returning home, Mr. Wiley became a member of the celebrated Light 
Guards Band of Peoria, with which he remained nine years, during 
which time he also opened a music business. In 1872 he was one ot 
the twenty-four cornetists at P. S. Gilmore's World's Peace Jubilee at 
Boston; and has been a member and leader of a number of the noted 
bands in the United States. He was married, August 17, 1872, to 
Miss Alta, daughter of Levi Wilson, of Peoria, 111.' In 1880 he be- 
came a leader in Haverly's Original Mastodon Minstrels, organized in 
Chicago, and remained with them five years, during which time he 
played in all the large cities in the United States and most of the 
principal cities in the old world. In January, 1885, he became man- 
ager of the new Grand Opera House in Peoria, 111., a position he still 
holds. Mr. Wiley is considered by the world a thorough musician and 
remarkable cornetist. 



638 HISTORY OF greene county. 

A. J. YOUNG, farmer and stock grower, Eice's Landing, Penn., 
was bora in Washington County, February 7, 1831, and is a son of 
Abraham and Hannah (Rose) Young. His parents were natives of 
Washington and Greene counties, respecti t^ely, and of German and 
English ancestry. Mi-. Young is the seventh in a family of ten children. 
He was reared in West Bethlehem Township, Washington County, and 
acquired his education from the common schools of his neighborhood. 
He chose farming as his occupation, and owns 165 acres of well im- 
proved land in Cumberland Township, Greene County, where he took 
up his abode in 1854. In the same year lie was united in marriage 
with Miss Rachel, daughter of Josepli and Sarah (Swan) Ailes. The 
former was a native of Washington County, and the latter of Greene 
County, and a descendant of one of its earliests settlers. Mrs. 
Young's great-grandfather, John Swan, settled on the farm now 
owned by A. J. Y^oung, in 1767, and had to build a fort to protect 
himself from the Indians. Mr. and Mrs. Y^oung are devoted members 
of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, the former ruling elder of ' 
the church. Mr. and Mrs. Young are tlie parents of two children — 
Amy H., who died when four years old; and William A., a carpen- 
ter and farmer, residing on the home tarm. He was united in mar- 
riage in 1884 with Miss Maggie M., daughter of Jacob and Rachel 
Braden, and they have one child, Walter B. 

MORGAN" YOUNG, farmer and stock grower, Rice's Landing, 
Penn., was born in Washington County, February 8, 1829, and is a 
son of Abraliara and Hannah (Rose) -Young. His parents were of 
Scotch-Irish and Dutch descent. His mother was a native of Greene 
County and his father, who was a farmer and stock raiser during his 
life-time, was burn in Washington County, Penn. Both died on the 
same day in January, 1853, his wife surviving him just four hours. 
They had a family of ten children. Morgan, who was the sixth, was 
reared on the farm, attended the common school, and has made farm- 
ing the business of his life. He is the owner of a well improved 
farm consisting of two hundred and seventeen acres well stocked and 
kept in good condition. Mr. Young has been twice married; first, 
in 1850, to Harriet, daughter of Thomas M. and Maria (Phillips) 
Norris. Mrs. Young was of Dutch descent. They had four chil- 
dren — A. L., a teaclier and farmer in Ohio; Amy M., wife of T. O. 
Bradbury; Mary Ellen and James E. Their mother died in June, 
1876. Mr. Young's second wife was Miss Emma, daughter of Aaron 
and Sarah (McCullongh) Bradbury, who were of English descent. 
Mrs. Young's fathei-, now a farmer of this county, was for many years 
a farmer and tanner of Washington County, Penn. Mr. and Mrs. 
Young have one child, Harry H. B. In politics Mr. Young was a 
Democrat until 1884, since which time he lias been a strong Pro- 
hibitionist, and has filled various important offices in his township. 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 639 

He was justice of the peace for a period of ten years. They were 
both members of the Shepherds Methodist Episcopal Church, in which 
botli were stewards, and Mr. Young has been trustee, superintendent 
of the Sabbath-school, and class leader for thirty years, until two 
years ago, when they united with the Methodist Episcopal Church at 
Iiice''s Landing. 



DUNKARD TOWNSHIP. 

EMANUEL BE ALL, overseer of the poor of Greene County, 
Penn., was born in Monongahela Township, this county, December 
31, 1819, and is a son of Thomas and Marian (Engales) Beall. His 
father was a native of Loudoun County, Va., and his mother was 
born in Greene County, Tenn. They were of English and German 
extraction. Emanuel's grandfather, William Beall, was a pioneer 
settler of Greene County, and his maternal grandfather was a soldier 
in the Revolutionary war. The subject of this sketch is next to the 
oldest in a family of eleven children. 'He remained on the farm 
witli his parents until he was near twenty-four years of age, then 
located in Monongalia County, W. Va., where he engaged in farm- 
ing and stock-raising. Mr. Beall has made his own way in the world, 
and at present is the owner of 500 acres of land. He owned at one 
time over 900 acres. Mr. Beall is a Democrat in politics, and at 
present is overseer of the poor of this county. He takes an active 
interest in the public schools, and has served a number of years as 
school director. In 1869 he returned to his native county and set- 
tled in Dunkard Township, where he still resides. He has made the 
raising of fine sheep a specialty, and has met with great success in 
his business. Mr. Beall has been thre6 times married, and is the 
father of eleven children, viz: John T., Bertha J., wife of Daniel 
Morris; William J., Charlotte, Martha, Barnet, Nancy, (rcorge W., 
Andrew J., Miriam and Columbus. Mr. Beall is a faithful member 
of the Baptist Church, of which he is clerk. 

THORNTON COALBANK, a farmer and stock-grower, born in 
West Virginia in 1821, is a son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Everly) 
Coalbank, who were also natives of West Virginia, and of Welsh 
and English extraction. His father was a farmer all his life. Thorn- 
ton, the iifth in a family of eleven children, remained on the farm 
with his parents until he reached his majority. He received his edu- 
cation in the district schools of West Virginia, and Greene County, 



640 HISTORY OP GREENE COUNTT. 

Penn., where he has resided since 1842. Early in life he learned the 
shoemaker's trade, which, in connection with farming, he has fol- 
lowed through life, and has met with financial success, being at 
present the owner of a valuable farm lying along the Monongahela 
iiiver. Mr. Coalbauk has been twice married, first in Greene County 
in 1846, to Miss Sarah Hartly, who died in 1875. By this marriage 
Mr. Coalbank was the father of eleven children, most of whom grew 
to maturity. Ten years later he married Miss Agnes, daughter of 
John and Susannah (Bright) Davis. Mr. and Mrs. Coalbank are 
leading members in the Baptist Church. 

AMBROSE DILLINEE,, retired farmer and stock-grower, was 
born in Dunkard Township, Greene County, Penn., September 14, 
1815. He is a son of George and Sarah (Ramsey) Dilliner, who 
were natives of this county, and of Irish and German origin. His 
grandfather, Augustine Dilliner, came to Greene County more than 
a hundred years ago, and settled above the mouth of Dunkard Creek, 
in Dunkard Township, where he spent the remaining portion of his 
life. George Dilliner died in 1824, leaving a family of twelve chil- 
dren, of whom Ambrose is the youngest son. He was reared on his 
father's farm and received a common-school education. Mr. Dilliner 
learned the millwright business in early life, and engaged therein for 
ten years. He owned and operated a saw-mill in this township from 
1867 till 1881. He has bee'n quite an extensive lumber dealer, but 
has made farming his chief occupation, and owns a farm of 130 acres 
lyino- along the Monongaliela River. Mr. Dilliner was nnited in 
marriage, March 23, 1857, with Miss Elizabeth, daughter of William 
and Sarah (McKee) Griflin. Her parents were natives of Delaware, 
but have resided in Dunkard Township, this county, for about three- 
quarters of a centnry. To Mr. and Mrs. Dilliner have been born 
seven children, only three of whom are living — Sarah, wife of Jacob 
Kemp; Lydia F., wife of J. E. Sturgis, and W. L. The deceased 
are Caroline, Elizabeth, George S. and Walter. W. L., the youngest 
child living, has charge of the home farm, where he was born April 
27, 1850. In 1877 he married Miss M., daughter of David and 
Jemima (Evans) Rich, and they have three children — Emma, Mamie 
and Walter S. Mr. and Mrs. Dilliner are members of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, in which lie has been an official member for forty- 
six years, and has served as Sabbath-school superintendent. Mr. 
Dilliner is a Republican, and a member of the Masonic fraternity. 

IRA D. KNOTTS, physician and surgeon, was born in Dunkard 
Township, this county, March 9, 1857. He is a son of William and 
Ruth (South) Knotts, who were also natives of this county, and of 
German and Scotch descent. His father is a farmer and stock-grower 
by occupation, and resides in Dunkard Township, where the Doctor 
is in successful practice. The Doctor is a grandson of Jonathan 



HISTORY OP GREENE COUNTY. 641 

Knotts, who was born in this county in 1797, and was a soldier in 
the war of 1812. He died in Fayette County, Penn., having lived 
to the advanced age of ninety years. Dr. Knotts is the fourth in a 
family of seven children. He was reared on a farm in Perry Town- . 
ship, and his early education was obtained in the district school and 
Monongahela College at Jefferson, Penn. He subsequently went to 
Mount Union College, Ohio, and took the regular course up to the 
senior year, when he left for the purpose of studying medicine. He 
took the regular medical course in the University of Philadelphia, 
graduating with high honors in 1887. The Doctor was a diligent 
student, ambitious to acquire all possible knowledge in his profession. 
He pursued his studies with unabated zeal, and was awarded the $75 
prize offered to his class for the best examination in hygiene. This 
trophy of honor is a fine microscope, which he finds of great value 
in his practice. He is a man of more than ordinary energy, and liis 
professional skill and gentlemanly demeanor have won for him a 
liberal patronage where he is located, in Dunkard, Greene County, 
Penn. The Doctor, Sejitember 15, 1884, in a competitive examina- 
tion in Latin Physics and English Composition, passed the best ex- 
amination, and obtained as his reward for the same a scholarship for 
three years in the University of Philadelphia, Penn. 

JOHN B. MASON, farmer and stock-grower, who was born in 
Perry Township, Greene County, Penn., July 22, 1816, is a son of 
Peter and Naomi (Jones) Mason. His father, who was born in Cum- 
berland County in 1793, was the son of John E. Mason, one of the 
first shoemakers in Dunkard Township. Peter Mason was a farmer 
by occupation, and died January 1, 1888, leaving a family of eleven 
children. Mrs. Naomi Mason was a confirmed invalid for twenty-one 
years, and died August 28, 1870. John B., the second son, was 
reared in Whiteley Township, where he attended the district schools. 
He has spent a long life in his chosen occupation, and is one of the 
most successful and Ijest known citizens in his township. He is the 
owner of a well-improved farm wherehe resides, near Davistown, Penn. 
After his mother's death Mr. Mason took care of his aged father until 
his death. In 1840 John B. Mason married Miss Hannah, daughter of 
John and Margaret (Wilson) Phillips. They are faithful members of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which Mr. Mason has served as 
class-leader for over forty years. He is also actively interested in 
the Sabbath-school, and has been superintendent for many years. 

GEORGE G. MILLER, farmer and and stock-grower, was l)orn 
in Dunkard Township, this county, December 30, 1836, and is a son 
of Daniel and Rebecca (Garrison) Miller, who were natives of Penn- 
sylvania, and of German and Irish extraction. Mr. Miller's father and 
Jonathan Miller, his grandfather, were farmers and millers by occu- 
pation. The farm where the subject of this sketch now resides is a part 



642 HISTORY OF GKEENE COUNTY. 

of a 700-acre tract of land purchased by his grandfather in 1808. Mr. 
Miller's grandfather died in 1849, and his father in 1887, in his 
seventy-seventh year. George G. was an only child. He was reared 
on the home farm and received a, common-school education. He also 
attended Greene Academy, and Allegheny and Waynesburg Colleges, 
and subsequently taught school for several years. On September 22, 
1862, Mr. Miller enlisted in Company E, Fourteenth Pennsylvania 
Volunteer Cavalry. He was orderly sergeant of the company, and 
passed through many severe battles. He was with General Averill 
on his famous raids to White Sulphur Springs, Lewisburg, and 
Salem. The U. S. Government showed its appreciation of the ser- 
vices rendered by the latter expedition by issuing to evei'y man who 
returned from Salem a complete outfit of clothing free of cost. Ke- 
turning home at the close of tlie war, he again engaged in teaching 
for a time, and always took an active interest in the teachers' insti- 
tute of the county. For the past few years Mr. Miller has devoted 
his time and talent wholly to farming and stock-growing, and his 
farm consists of 230 acres of well improved land. Mr. Miller has 
been twice married: First, in Washington County, to Miss Margery, 
daughter of John and Jane (Gregg) Hopkins. She was of Irish 
lineage, and died in 1874. Their children were — Laura, Ellen (de- 
ceased), Estelle and Charles. In 1877 Mr. Miller married Miss Eliza- 
beth McCorniick, daughter of Joseph and Mary (Watson) McCormick, 
of Dunkard Township, and they are the parents of four children, 
viz., Wayne, Warren I)., Peri and James Clifton. Mrs. Miller is a 
member of the Methodist Protestant Church. Mr. Miller is a Re- 
publican, and a prominent member of the G. A. R. 

ASA MILLER, retired miller, farmer and wool-carder, was born 
in Dunkard Township, this county, May 24, 1812. His parents were 
of German ancestry and natives of Frederick County, Maryland. 
His father, Jonathan Miller, was born February 10, 1774, and his 
mother, Susannah (Tombs) Miller, was born January 7, 1773. They 
were united in marriage August 8, 1799, and came to Greene County, 
Penn., in 1802, Avhere he bought a large tract of land and water- 
mill on Ci'ooks Run. He immediately put in steam power, by bring- 
ing the fii'st engine into the county. The old mill burned in 1856, 
and was rebuilt by our subject in 1858, and he is now using the en- 
gine he first purchased for the old mill. Jonathan and wife were 
the parents of eight children, five sons and three daughters, and 
their liome was a welcome to the poor and needy. Both were mem- 
bers of the Dunkard Church. He died in December, 1849, and she 
in August, 1852. The Millers are remarkable for longevity, sagac- 
ity and uprightness of character. Of the eight children the young- 
est was seventy-one before any died. Jacob, the oldest, died in 1885, 
aged eighty-five years. Asa Miller, our subject, received a good edu- 



HISTORY OF GRKENE COUNTY. 643 

cation, attended Washington and Jeiferson Colleges in Washington, 
Penn. He spent his early life as miller, a business he has been con- 
nected with through life. He has had success as a farmer and gen- 
eral biisiness man, and owns a mill and over 200 acres of land 
within one mile of his birth-jilace in Dunkard Township. He was 
united in marriage in Monongalia County, West Virginia, Septem- 
ber 21, 1837, with Mary, daughter of Owen and Elizabeth (Mc- 
Vicker) John. The former was of English and the latter of German 
descent. Mr. and Mrs. Miller are the parents of the following children 
— Susan E., wife of E. McElroy; William L., Jesse F., Amanda K., 
wife of John Keener; Henry J., an eminent surgeon and physician 
of Tennessee. The deceased are: J. Q. and Mary V. Mrs. Miller is 
a devoted member of the Dunkard Church. 

I. A. MORRIS, retired farmer and stock-grower, was born Sep- 
tember 22, 1811, on a farm near Union town, Fayette County, Penn., 
and is a son of Griffith and Hannah (Springer) Morris. His parents 
were natives of Pennsylvania, and of Welsh and Irish origin. His 
father came to Greene County in 1824, locating in Dunkard Town- 
ship, where he spent the remaining portion of his life. His family 
consisted of eight children, of whom the subject of this sketch is 
the second. He was reared on the farm and received his early edu- 
cation in the district schools. He very naturally chose farming as 
an occupation, and engaged therein successfully iintil he retired from 
the cares of his more active life. His farm is well improved and 
consists of 200 acres, where he resides in Duiikard Townshij). Mr. 
Morris was united in marriage May 4, 1837, with Miss Nancy, 
daughter of Samuel and Retilda (Bright) Everly. Her father was 
born in Virginia, and her mother was a native of Delaware. Tliey 
were of Irish lineage. Mr. and Mrs. Morris have a family of eight 
children — Martha J., wife of Josiah Hall; Clarinda, wife of William 
Hord; Clark, a stonemason; (Tcorge W., a farmer; Loranda, wife of 
Isaac Courtwright; Samuel, a merchant at Uniontown, Penn.; Delia, 
wife of James Sargent, and Single. Mr. and Mrs. Morris are mem- 
bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he has been a 
class-leader and superintendent of the Sabbath-school. 

JAMES McCLURE, deceased, was born in Perry Township, 
Greene County, Pennsylvania, February 24, 1816, and was the son of 
William and Jane (King) McClure. His father was born in Ireland, 
and his mother in Perry Township, this county. James McClure 
was a farmer and stock-gi'ower during his lifetime and at the time of 
his death, in 1886, was the owner of 400 acres of valuable land in 
Greene County. He was a self-made man, having no educational 
advantages except such as were afforded by the subscription schools. 
His success in life was due largely to his great industry and unfail- 
ing determination to succeed. In politics Mr. McClure was a Demo- 



644 HISTORY OF GREENE COUISTTY. 

crat, and served as assessor and school director in his township. He 
was united in the holy bonds of matrimony, February 22, 1838, with 
Miss Susan, daughter of Reuben and Rebecca (Johns) Brown. Her 
father was of Irish and English origin. Her mother was of Welsh 
extraction. To Mi', and Mrs. McClure were born twelve children, 
eleven of whom are living, viz: Owen, a farmer; Mary J., wife of 
William Hatfield, of Morgan Townshiij; William L., a gold miner 
in California; Reuben M., a farmer in Iowa; Anna, Emma, Isabella, 
wife of Charles Haver; Miranda, Minerva, Josephine, James M., 
and Rebecca (deceased), who was the wife of Alfred Jamison. Their 
mother is a faithful member of the Goshen Baptist Church. 

THOMAS B. ROBERTS, a farmer and stock-grower, who was 
born in Dunkard Township, this county, July 9, 1840, is a son of David 
and Mary (Jamison) Roberts. His parents were also natives of this 
township, and of Irish and English extraction. His father was a 
farmer, drover and stock-grower, and spent his life in Dunkard 
Township. Thomas B. is the youngest of a family of four children, 
and attended the district schools of the neighboi'hood. He has dili- 
gently followed his occupation of farming and stock-growing, and 
owns sixty acres of good land where he resides, near Davistown, 
Penn. Mr. Roberts was united in marriage in this county, Novem- 
ber 17, 1863, with Miss Lucretia, daughter of Hiram and Elizabeth 
(Hunt) Stephens, and they have a family of seven children, viz: 
Louisa, wife of M. Donley; Mary A., Lucretia B., William Albert, 
Jesse Jamison, Pleasant E. and John M. Mr. Roberts is a Republi- 
can, and has served as school director of his township. He and Mrs. 
Roberts are prominent members of the Methodist Episcopal Chiirch. 

DAYID STEELE. — Among the representative farmers of Dunk- 
ard Township we mention David Steele, who was born October 16, 
1838. His parents, Jesse and Rachel (Zook) Steele, were natives of 
Greene County, and of Dntch and Irish extraction. They were des- 
cendants of the earliest settlers of the county. David's father was 
a farmer in Dunkard Township, and for many years resided on the 
farm which David now owns. He reared a family of eight children, 
of whom David is the fourth. He was reared on the farm with his 
parents, and attended the district schools. He wisely chose his fa- 
ther's occupation, and has met with moderate success. In 1870 
David Steele married Melissa, daughter of George Stoops. Their 
children are: George Lee, Edward W., Dora E., Alfred Moss and 
Jesse. Mr. Steele is a Democrat in politics, and one of the most 
highly respected citizens in the township. 

THOMAS B. STEELE, of Dunkard Township, Greene County, 
Penn., was born March 1, 1841, on the farm where he .now resides. 
He is the son of John and Nancy (Bowen) Steele, who were natives 
of Pennsylvania, and of Irish and English ancestry. His grand- 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 645 

father, John Steele, who was a farmer and drover, died in 1862, hav- 
ing reached the advanced age of ninety -four years. Thomas Steele's 
father was born in 1797 and lived to be eiglity-two years of age. He 
was a farmer and stock-grower, and spent most of his life inDuidcard 
Township. His family consisted of eleven children, who all grew to 
maturity. Thomas, the tenth child, was reared on the home farm, at- 
tended the district school and has Ijeen an industrious farmer all his 
ife. He was united in marriage, January 13,1864, with Miss Rebecca, 
daughter of John Stevenson. Mrs. Steele is a native of Greene 
County, and of English and German descent. They are the parents 
of five children, viz.: John M., Artie B., Sadie L., K. B. and Nannie. 
In politics Mr. Steele is a Democrat. He and wife are leading mem- 
bers of the Baptist Church. 

ABRAHAM STERLING, farmer and stock-grower, T. O. 
Greensboro, Penn., was born in Fayette County, Penn., March 12, 
1837. Ilis parents, Andrew and Julia Ann (Mosier) Sterling, were 
also natives of Fayette County, and of German ancestry. His father 
spent his life as a farmer and stock-grower in Fayette County, and 
reared a family of six children. Abraham is the second in the fam- 
ily. He chose forming as his occupation and has engaged tlierein 
all his life, with the exception of the time spent in building roads 
and bridges. Mr. Sterling is a natural mechanic. He has taken 
several contracts for building roads and bridges, and has always com- 
pleted his work satisfactorily. Mr. Sterling was united in marriage 
in Greene County with Miss Jemima, daughter of Asa Miller, and 
they had one son — Asa. Mrs. Sterling died in IBliO. In politics 
Mr. Sterling is a Democrat. He and his brother own a fine farm of 
280 acres situated in Dunkard Township. 

JOSEPH SOUTH, farmer and stock-grower, who was born 
September 5, 1822, is a son of Elijah and Nancy (Johnson) South, 
who were natives of Greene County, and descendants of its early 
settlers. Joseph South's grandfather, Elijah South, Sr., came from 
New Jersey to Greene Count}', Penn., in the spring of 1796. He 
took up a tract of several hundred acres of land, a part of which is 
the farm now owned by the subject of this sketch. It contains 108 
acres of valuable land. The Souths have usually been farmers. In 
1852 Mr. South married Miss Melissa, daughter of Amos Wright, 
who was of English lineage. Mr. and Mrs. South have three chil- 
dren, viz.: John C, principal of Schools at Wichita, Kan.; Rachel 
M. and Dora Alice. The family are all members of the Baptist 
Church, in whicli Mr. South takes an active interest, and has served 
as deacon and superintendent of the Sabbath-school. 

REV. FRANK SOUTH, Wiley, Penn., was born in Dunkard 
Township, Greene County, Penn., August 22, 1858. He is a son of 
Nicholas and Margaret (Lucas) Soutli, who were also natives of this 



646 HISTORY OF GKEENE COUNTY. 

county. liis ancestors were among the earliest English and Dutch 
settlers in this part of the State, and the history of the family shows 
them to have been farmers, usually, and enterprising people. The 
subject of this sketch was reared on the farm in Dunkard Township, 
and received his early education in the district schools. In 1877 he 
united with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was licensed to 
preach in 1884. He now has charge of the Methodist Episcopal 
Churches at Davistown and New Geneva, Penn. Mr. South was on 
the farm with his parents until he reached his majority, and has 
since been in the employ of an oil company in Dunkard Township, 
and has proven himself faithful to the duties he has assumed. In 
1886 Mr. South was united in the holy bonds of matrimony with 
Miss Ellen, daughter of Lewis Dowlin, who was born in Cumber- 
land Township, this county, December 1, 1818. He was the son of 
John and Elizabeth (Gwynn) Dowlin, who came from Bucks County, 
and were of Scotch and English ancestry. Ellen was the tenth in 
their family, and is a devoted member of the Baptist Church. 

L. G. VANVOORHIS, a farmer and stock-grower, born in 
Washington County, Penn., June 2, 1810, is a son of Daniel and 
Mary (Fry) Vanvoorhis. They were born and reared in Washing- 
ton County, and were of German origin. His father, who was a 
contractor and builder, also dealt largely in live stock, and was at 
one time owner of a grist-mill, oil-mill and saw-mill. He died in 
Washington County, Penn., leaving a family of eleven children, of 
whom ten are living. The subject of this sketch is the second child, 
and was reared on the home farm, where he attended the common 
schools. He has been a farmer most of his life, and has resided in 
Greene County since 1838. Mr. Vanvoorhis has met with marked 
success in his business. His present farm consists of 170 acres of 
good land, and he has given 400 acres to his children. He was 
united in marriage in Washington County, November 15, 1832, with 
Essie, daughter of Luke and Mary (West) Fry. Her parents were 
natives of Washington County, and of Dutch extraction. Mr. and 
Mrs. Vanvoorhis are the parents of eight childi'en: Jane, wife of 
Joseph Ross; Isaac, a wealthy farmer and drover of this "county; 
Mary, wife of E. S. Taylor; Minerva C, widow of John Long; 
G. Jerome, Daniel F., Laura, and Dora, wife of Joseph Call. Mr. 
and Mrs. Yanvooi'his are members of the Baptist Church, in which 
he has served as deacon for a number of years. He has taken an ac- 
tive interest in the educational affairs of his township, and lias been 
a member of the school board. 

ISAAC VANVOOPJIIS, a farmer and stock-grower of Dunk- 
ard township, was born ill Washington country, Pennsylvania, Jan- 
uary 15, 1836. He is the oldest son of L. G. and Essie (Fry) Van- 
voorhis who were also natives of Washington County, and of German 



IIISTOKY OF GUEENE COUNTY. 647 

extraction. His fathei', who for many years has been a proniineiit 
farmer, is now a resident of Greene County. Isaac Vanvoorhis was 
reared on the farm in Dnnkard Township, where he attended the 
district school. During his early life he remained with his parents 
on the farm, where he commenced dealing in stock and has since 
spent most of his time in that business. lie buys large lotsof cattle 
in the Chicago markets, ships them to Greene County for pasture 
and sells numbers of them to the citizens of the county. Mr. Van- 
voorhis has met with great financial success in the stock business, 
and also owns one of the most valuable farms in Greene County. It 
consists of about 500 acres of land, on which are good buildings and 
improvements. In 1858 Mr. Vanvoorhis married Miss Ross, a 
daughter of Bowen and Ann (Gantz) Ross. Mrs. Vanvoorhis is a 
native of this county, and is of German and Irish origin. Their 
children are — Anna, wife of E. J. Moore; Martin, Cora, Charles II. 
and A. L. (deceased). Mrs. Vanvoorhis is a faithful member of the 
Baptist Church, iter husband is a Republican in politics, and has 
served on the school board of his township. 



FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP AND WAYNES- 
BURG BOROUGH 

THOMAS ADAMSON, retired farmer and stock-grower, was 
born in Morgan Township, Greene County, Penn., November 9, 
1819. His parents were Charles and Sarah (Hatfield) Adamson, 
natives of this county, and of Irish and English extraction. The 
Adamson family came to America many years ago, and four brothers 
settled in Bucks County, Penn., where they engaged in farming. 
They were all members of the Society of Friends. One of these 
brothers was the grandfather of Thomas Adamson, also named 
Thomas, who came to Greene County among the early settlers. He 
died on the farm where Charles Adamson, who died in 1868, was 
born and raised. Thomas is one of a family of eight children, only 
four of whom are now living. Early in life he learned the carpen- 
ter's trade, which he followed for six years, then engaged in farming. 
In 1845 Mr. Adamson had saved enough money, through industiy 
and economy, to enable him to buy the farm of 120 acres where he 
and family reside. He has at different times added to that pui'chase 
until he now owns 220 acres of well-improved laud. He was united 



648 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

in marriage, in 1843, witli Sarah, daughter of John Hoge, and they 
are the parents of four children — Caroline, wife 'of Freeman Smith; 
Mary, wife of B. F. Bell ; Stephen C. and John H. Mrs. Adamson 
died in 1874. The following year Mr. Adamson married Elizabeth 
BLoge, a coiisin of his first wife. In politics Mr. Adamson is a 
Democrat. 

C YKUS ADAMSON , farmer and stock-grower, who was born in 
Greene County, Penn., April 19, 1826, is a son of James and Mar- 
garet (Smith) Adamson. His parents were natives of this county, 
and of English lineage. BLis father was an industrious and success- 
ful farmer through life. Of his ten children, Cyrus is the eighth. 
Having been reared on the farm, he naturally took to the occupation 
of farming, in which he has met with success. His farm near Waynes- 
burg, Penn., contains 224 acres of valuable land. Mr. Adamson was 
united in the holy bonds of matrimony, in February of 1851, with 
Esther, daughter of John Hoge. Her ancestors were among the 
earliest settlers of the county. To Mr. and Mrs. Adamson have been 
born four children — Margaret M., John F., James M. and Albert T. 
John F., the oldest son, married Margaret, daughter of Neal ZoUars, 
and they have two children — Harry N. and Howard C. Cyrus Adam- 
son is a Democrat. His wife is a zealous member of the Baptist 
Church. 

J. P. ALLUM, proprietor of the AUum House, Waynesburg, 
Penn., was born in Kichhill Township, this county, February 2, 1842, 
and is a son of James and Eveline (Gregory) Allum. His father, 
who was a farmer, was killed by a threshing machine, Febniary 14, 
1850. Of a family of ten children, Mr. J. P. Allum was the fifth. 
He was reared on the farm in Richhill Township, where he attended 
the common schools. In 1861 he enlisted in Company B, First West 
Virginia Cavalry, as a private. He was promoted to Second Lieuten- 
ant and served during the whole of the war, being enlisted a part of 
the time under the famous Gen. Custer. Mr. Allum was present at 
the suri'ender of Gen. Lee to Gen. Grant, April 9, 1865. In 1877 
he came to Waynesburg, where he opened a hotel. He is a man well 
qualified for the business he has chosen. He was married in 1866 
to Miss Jennie R., daughter of William Carroll. Mrs. Allum is a 
native of Greene County, and of German extraction. They have 
but one child living — Anna. Mr. and Mrs. Allum are members of 
the Disciple Church. Mr. Allum, who is a Democrat, served as 
jury commissioner from 1886 to 1888, and served in the council of 
Waynesburg one term. He is a member of the I. 0. O. F. 

A. I. ANKEOM, farmer and stock-grower, Waynesburg, Penn., 
was born on the farm where he resides, April 21, 1833, and is a son 
of Joseph and Charlotte (Rinehart) Ankrom. His father -was born 
in this county in 1807, and is now a resident of Franklin Township. 



HISTORY OF GKEENE COUNTY. 649 

The subject of tins sketch is the oldest of a fixmily of four children, 
lie received a good English education in his native township, and 
was a successful teacher for a number of years. In later life Mr. 
Ankroni devoted his time wholly to farming and stock-growing, and 
is one of the prosperous citizens of his township. In 185G he mar- 
ried Miss Margaret, daughter of Abner and Eliza (Murdock) For- 
dyce, who is a devoted member of the Methodist Protestant Church. 
Her parents were natives of Greene County, and of Scotch- Irish ex- 
traction. To Mr. and Mrs. Ankrom have been born four daughters, 
viz: R. Anna, Charlotte E., Emma L. and Jeimie Leona. In politics 
Mr. Ankrom is a Republican, and has served one term as United 
States Store-keeper. In early life he was an active member of the 
I. O. O. F. 

II. B. AXTELL, attorney at law, Waynesburg, Penn., was born 
in Morris Township, "Washington County, May 28, 1844. His 
parents, Zenas and Asenath (Patterson) Axtell, were also natives of 
Washington County, where they were married. On April 1, 1852, 
they moved to Morris Township, Greene County, where Mr. Axtell, 
who was born May 25, 1812, dejrarted this life May 25, 1844. Mrs. 
Axtell, who was born June 4, 1818, resides on the old homestead in 
Morris Township. They were the parents of six children, five of 
whom are living, and all reside in this county. H. B. Axtell, Esq., 
the second in the family, was united in marriage, April 2, 1879, with 
Miss Maggie Wdrley, who was born in Wayne Township, this county. 
Her parents were David A. and Minerva (Inghram) Worley, both 
deceased. H. B. Axtell acquired his education in the common 
schools and Waynesburg College. lie remained on the fiirm with 
his parents until twenty-one years of age, then engaged in teaching 
for a period of ten years. In 1874 he began the study of law with 
Messrs. Donley and Inghram, and was admitted to the bar in Octo- 
ber, 1876. Pie commenced the practice of his chosen profession at 
Waynesburg in 1877, and since 1878 has been in partnership with 
J. W. Ray, Esq. In politics he is a Republican. 

WILLIAM II. BARB, attorney at law, was born in Monongalia 
County, W. Va., September 28, 1850, and is a son of Gideon and 
Sarah (Webb) Barb. His parents were natives of Virginia, and of 
German and English extraction. His father was a farmer all his 
life, and died February 5, 1885. Of his family of nine children, W. 
H. Barb is the sixth. He was reared on the farm, where he attended 
the district school. In 1866 his pai-ents moved to Greene County, 
and Mr. Barb entered Waynesburg College. At the age of eighteen 
he began teaching, and thus was enabled to pay his own expenses 
through school. He began the study of law with Messrs. Wyly and 
I^uchanan, and completed his studies in the ofBce of Messrs. Donley 
and Inghram. Mr. Barb was admitted to the bar October 1, 



'650 IIISTOKY O;^' GBEENE COUNTY. 

1877, and lias since devoted liis entire time to tlie practice of his 
profession. He is a Democrat in politics, and was elected District 
Attorney in 1881, holding the office for a period of three years. He 
has also been for several j'ears an efficient member of the school board 
of Waynesbiirg. On May 9, 1877, Mr. Barb married Miss .Buena 
Vista, daughter of P. A. Myers, Esq., of Greene Township, this 
county, where Mrs. Barb was born. They have two children — James 
A. and Frank. 

JASOJSr M. BELL, farmer and stock-grower, Waynesburg, Penn., 
was born in Morris Township, Greene County, Pennsylvania, May 
21, 1807. Pie is a son of Jasou and Sallie (Noel) Bell, who were 
natives of Winchester, Virginia, and of English descent. His father, 
who was a farmer, came to Greene County in 1795 and settled in 
Franklin Township. He reared a family of eight children — four 
sons and four daughters. Jason was reared on the home farm in 
Morris Township. He has successfully followed the occupation of 
farming through life. Mr. Bell was united in marriage, in 1833, 
with Cassandra, daughter of William Inghram, and they are the 
parents of five children — Thomas, Eliza, Maria, Alice and Harriet. 
In politics Mr. Bell is a Eepublican. He is one of the oldest and 
most highly respected citizens of this township. 

DR. STEPHEN L. BLACHLY, so remarkable for his medical 
qualifications, was born in Sparta, Washington County, Penn., De- 
cember 11, 1815, and has spent all his professional life in the locality 
where his father so long wore the wreath of medical honor. Having 
completed his preparatory education in Washington College, in his 
native county, he read medicine under the direction of his fathei-, 
and afterwards entered Jefterson Medical College, at Philadelphia, 
from which he received liis degree. He was associated with his 
father in the practice of his profession until the death of the latter, 
in 1849, practiced alone until 1877, and since that time has as- 
sociated with him his son, Dr. Oliver L. Blachly. Dr. S. L. Blachly 
is one of the oldest practitioners in the county, and one of the oldest 
members of the Washington County Medical Society, of. which he 
has been President at various times. He is a member of the State 
Medical Society of Pennsylvania, of which he was elected first Vice- 
President in 1873, and by which he was appointed Censor for the 
eighth district in 1874, which position he has held by annual ap- 
pointnient ever since. His intelligent discharge of his professional 
duties has secured for him the confidence of his neighbors and good 
will of his professional brethren. He has been a member of the 
Upper Ten- Mile Presbyterian Church for over forty years, and has 
been an elder for twenty-five years. Dr. Blachly was married, Jan- 
uary 9, 1840, to Sarah, daughter of Benjamin Lindley, a descendant 
of Francis Lindley who came with his Puritan brethren from Hoi- 



Hl«TOKY OF GUiiliiS'E COa.NTY. 651 

land ill tliL' Maytlovvor. By this marriage there were five children, 
two of whom died in infancy. Those living are — Mary Minerva, 
wife of Stephen Day, a merchant in Sparta, Penn.; Dr. Oliver L. 
and Henry Spencer, a drnggist of AVayiiesburg, who M'as born in 
Washington County, Penn., Jnly 7, 1850. There he was reared and 
attended school, and subsequently attended "Waynesburg College. 
When in the senior year of his college studies he abandoned his study 
and embarked in the drug business, in 1870, in Waynesburg, where 
he is one of the leading business men. He was united in marriage, 
in 1885, with Helena, daughter of Samuel Melvin (deceased), and 
they have one cliild, Stephen S. Blachly. 

HON. C. A. BLACK, attorney and counsellor at law, was born 
in Greene County, Penn., February 6, 1808. His parents, Jacob 
and Margaret (Grinstatf) Black, were natives of Virginia, of English 
and German ancestry, and among the first settlers of Greene County, 
Penn. They reared a family of twelve children. The subject of 
our sketch was reared on a farm and acquired his education in the 
common schools of the county. Very early in life he commenced 
reading law in the office of Eiios Hook, and completed his study in 
the office of Samuel Cleavenger, after which he engaged in the 
practice of his chosen profession. In 1842 he was elected State 
senator and served six years. He filled the office of secretary of 
the commonwealth under Governor Bigler, and served as the first 
State superintendent of public schools of Pennsylvania. Mr. Black 
lias Ijeen a successful practitioner and has enjoyed an extensive 
2:)ractice. In 1872 he was elected a member of the constitutional 
convention at Philadelphia, Penn. In 1844, Mr. Black married 
Miss Maria, daughter of William Allison. Their union was blessed 
with two children — Mary, wife of Hon. James Inghram, and Albert 
of AVashington, D. C. Mrs. Black departed this life in 1871. She 
was the idol of her family, and a general favorite among a large 
circle of acquaintances. She was a Christian of deep and earnest 
religious convictions, and a member of the Cumlierlaud Presbyterian 
Church. 

WILLIAM BLAIR, county commissioner of Greene County, 
Penn., was born in Franklin Township, March 7, 1839. He is a son 
of John and Margaret (Orndoff) Blair, who were natives of this coun- 
ty, and of Eiiglisli descent. The Blairs, who were among the earliest 
settlers of the county, came from New Jerse}' and settled in Frank- 
lin T.ownshijj. William Blair's father engaged in the business of 
stone-masonry for many years. His grandfather, W. J. Orndoff, 
was a soldier in the revolutionary war. The farm of 125 acres, 
where William resides, has been in the possession of the family for 
more than a quarter of a century. In ISGl Mr. Blair married Catli- 
arine, daughter of John T. Hook, and sister of W. A. Hook, an at- 



652 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

torney at Waviiesbiirg. Mr. and Mrs. Blair are the parents of seven 
children — F. L., Jesse, Agnes, Lizzie, John C, Maggie and Ida PI. 
Tliree of their children belong to the Disciple Church, of which 
Mr. and Mrs. Blair are prominent members. He has served as 
deacon for fifteen years and as Sabbatli- school superintendent for 
twenty years. Mr. Blair is a Democrat and a member of the I. O. 
O. F. He takes an active interest in the edneation of his children, 
and has served two terms as school director. 

JAMES BOYD, farmer and stock-grower, Waynesburg, Penn., 
was born on Ruft's Creek, March 12, 1850. His parents, James and 
Martha (Camp) Boyd, were natives of this county, and of German 
origin. James is the fifth in a family of nine children, eight of whom 
grew to maturity. He was reared on the home farm, attending the 
district school, and has engaged in farming as his chief occupation. 
He is the owner of a fine farm of 120 acres where he resides in 
Franklin Township. In 1874 Mr. Boyd was united in marriage with 
Miss Anna, daughter of Abraham and Harriet (Watson) Arnold, 
and they have an interesting family of five children — Gertrnde, 
Wilbert, Seymour, Emery and Martha. Mr. and Mrs. Boyd are 
prominent members of the Baptist Church. 

E. E. BEOCK, M. D., read medicine with his cousins, Drs. 
Hugh W. and Luther S. Brock, at Morgantown, W. Va. Graduated 
at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, March 3, '79. Has 
been engaged in continuous practice at Waynesburg, Penn., since 
that time. 

C. E. BOWEE, superintendent of the W. & W. Eailroad, was 
born at Fredericktown, Washington County, Penn'., April 11, 1849. 
He is a son of Charles W. and Charlotte (Hook) Bower, natives of 
Pennsylvania, and of German descent. His father was a steam en- 
gineer, and died in Waynesburg in 1885. The subject of our sketch 
was reared in Waynesburg, where he attended the college. During 
the war he and his father were engineers on a United States 
steamer in the Government service on the Tennessee River. At 
the close of the war C. E. went into the oil business in Dunkard 
Township. He subsequently engaged in the iron business at Waynes- 
burg, where he still owns one-half interest in the foundry. In 1872 
Mr. Bower was united in marriage with Miss Josephine, daughter 
of Godfrey Gordon, and they are the parents of two childern — Gerome 
and Oliver. He has been superintendent of the W. & W. R. R. 
since 1881. 

JAMES A. J. BUCHANAN, attorney at law, was born in Greene 
County, Penn., February 8, 1824, and is a son of Andrew and Rhoda 
(Stephenson) Buchanan. His mother was born in New Jersey -and 
his father in Chester County, Penn. They were of Scotch- Irish ex- 
traction. His father, who was a prominent attorney, came to 



IIISTOUY OK GKEENE COUNTY. 653 

Waynesbury in 1803, where he practiced hiw until his death in 
1848. In 1832 and '33 he was a member of the State Legishiture; 
and from 1836 to 1839 he served as a member of Congress. lie 
served as county commissioner of Greene County wlien he received 
tifteen dollars for his services. The subject of this sketch was ne.xt 
to the youngest in a tamily of eleven children. He was educated in 
the Greene Academy at Carmichaels and at Washington College. 
At the age of twenty he commenced the study of law in his father's 
othce, and in 1845 was admitted to the Greene Count}' I)ar. In 
1855 he was admitted to practice in the Supreme Courts of Pennsyl- 
vania. Mr. Buchanan, who is a Democrat, is a member of the I. O. 
O. F., and a Sir Knight Templar in the Masonic fraternity. IJe 
was married in this county to Miss Mary A., daughter of Daniel 
Borfer. Mrs. Buchanan is of Scotch origin. Of their six children 
only two are living — Harriet, wife of William T. Lantz, casiiier of 
the Farmers' and Drovers' Bank of Waynesburg; and Mary A., wife 
of Daniel S. Walton, Esq., attorney at law of Waynesburg. 

HARVEY CALL, merchant, Waynesburg, renn., was born in 
Oak Forest, Center Township, and is the son of James and Martha 
Call. His mother -was born in Ohio and his father in Pennsylvania. 
They wei'e of German and Irish descent. His father was a farmer 
and merchant in early life, and kept a general store at Oak Forest. 
Mr. Call is the oldest in a family of six children. He was reared 
on the farm, attended the district schools, and farmed until he was 
twenty-one years old. In 1872 he began clerking in a store, and in 
1873 went to Fairbury, 111., whei'e he was employed as a salesman 
until 1875. He then returned to his native county and was again 
employed as a clerk in Waynesburg for a short time, and then en- 
gaged in the mercantile business for himself in the year 187tj, and 
has since been very successful. In 1875 Mr. Call married Martha 
A., daughter of Captain John Morris, of Rogersville, Penn. They 
have one child — Clyde Morris Call. Mr. Call is a Republican. His 
wife is a member of the Disciple Church. 

JOHN CALL, agent for mill works, was born in Oak Forest, 
Greene County, Penn., September 21, 1833. He is a son of James 
and Sarah (Iloge) Call, also natives of this county, and of Scotch 
lineage. His father was a farmer and miller. He owned and 
operated a mill at Oak Forest for over forty years. He died in 
1872. His family consisted of eight children, of whom the subject 
of our sketch is next to the youngest. He was reared at Oak Forest, 
attended the common school, and early in life learned the miller's 
trade with his father; in 1851 commenced working at millwrighting; 
in 1875 commenced contracting and Iniilding in Waynesburg, fol- 
lowed that business for eight years, during which time built the jail 
and sheriff's house. He afterwards learned the new milling process, 



654 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

and contracts .for and builds roller mills. lie also takes contracts 
for other buildings. Since 1884: he has been engaged with the Roller 
Mill Company of Waynesbnrg. In 1855 Mr. Call married Miss 
Elizabeth, daughter of William Fry. Mrs. Call was born in Center 
Township, this county, and is of German origin. They have four 
children, viz: William W., Mattie E. (deceased), Emma S. and La- 
fayette C. Mr. and Mrs. Call are members of the Baptist Church. 
He moved to Waynesbnrg in the year 1871. 

G. W. CHAPMAN, of the firm of Lemley & Chapman, livery- 
men, Waynesbnrg, Penn., was born in Greene Couut^', Penn., July 
15, 1851, and is a son of John and Sarah (Leraley) Chapman. His 
parents were also natives of this county, and of English lineage. 
His father was a fanner and engineer by occupation. The subject 
of our sketch is the oldest in a family of four children. "He was 
reared in his native county and received his education in the district 
schools. He started out in life working by the month as a farm 
hand, and subsequently worked at the blacksmith's trade in Waynes- 
bnrg for a time. Mr. Chapman then bought a team and engaged in 
hauling and farming until 1887, when he began the livery business 
in partnership with his uncle. He was united in marriage in 1880 
with Lucinda, daughter of James Bradford. Mrs. Chapman is a 
native of Greene County and of English extraction. Their children 
are — Hattie E. and Emma L. Mr. Chapman is a Democrat. He 
and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

A. I. COOKE, agent for the Adams Express Company, was born 
in Waynesbnrg May 7, 1853. He is a son of Joseph and Sarah 
(Bowman) Cooke, the former a native of JSIew Jersey and the latter 
of Pennsylvania. His father, a journalist by profession, was engaged 
in the newspaper business in New Jersey, and after coming to 
Pennsylvania was an editor until the breaking out of the war. He 
was the owner of the Coinmonwealth, a paper published at Washing- 
ton, Penn. In 1853 he came to Waynesbnrg, where he edited and 
published the Eagle, Avhich paper siibsequently merged into the 
Republican. At the breaking out of the Rebellion Mr. Cooke 
promptly enlisted in Company A, Eigliteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, 
and was elected Commissary Sergeant of his company. He was 
wounded three times, was taken prisoner, and suffered all the horrors 
of Andersonville and Libby prisons. At the close of the war he 
was discharged and returned to Waynesbnrg, where he was appointed 
postmaster, and held the position for twenty years. He is now liv- 
ing a retired life in Waynesbnrg. His familj' consists of six chil- 
dren, four of whom are now living. They are George A. B., an 
editor at Three Elvers, Mich.; Mary A., widow of Charles B. Brad- 
ley; Henry, a soldier killed in the battle of Winchester; Winfield 
Scott, Leslie (deceased), and A. I. All the sons, except A. I. and 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 655 

Leslie, served as privates in tlie Union army. The subject of tliis 
sketch, Mr. A. I. Cooke, was assistant postmaster in Waynesburg 
for twenty-one years. Since 1874 he has been express agent, and is 
now running a freight and omnibus line at Waynesburg. lie was 
married in 1875 to Arabella Blackmore Adams, a daughter of Major 
Dawson Adams. Mrs. Cooke was born in Waynesburg. Iler father 
was a tanner by trade, and was of English extraction. Mr. and Mrs. 
Cooke's children are Sallie A., Ilobert A. and Jessie B. Mr. Cooke 
Cooke is a liepublican, and is a prominent member of the I. O. O. 
F., in M'hich order he has taken many degrees. He is also a mem- 
ber of Encampment JSo. 111). 

JACOB COLE, ex-county commissioner, farmer and stock- 
grower, Avas born in Morris Township, Greene County, Penn., Oc- 
tol)er 28, 1823. He is a son of John T. and Mary (Crodinger) Cole, 
wlio were of Englisli and Dutch extraction. They came to Oreene 
County and settled in Morris Township in 1815, on a farm near 
JViiieveli, resided there until 1835, then removed to Wayne Town- 
ship, and spent -the balance of their lives. Five of their eight cliil- 
dren grew to maturity, and all reside in this county. Jacob, the 
fourth member of the family, was from liis youth engaged in agri- 
cultural pursuits. He attended the common school, and subsequently 
bought a farm in Wayne Township and engaged iu farming and 
stock-raising. Ilis farm in Franklin Township contains 100 acres. 
In 1879 Mr. Cole retired from the active work of the farm, and lias 
since resided in Waynesburg. The same year he was elected county 
commissioner and served one term. In 1845 he was united in mar- 
riage with Frances, daughter of Abraham and Mary (Hamilton) 
Tustin. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Cole has been blessed with 
eight children, seven of whom grew to maturity — Mary J., deceased, 
who was the wife of Israel Shriver; Isaac S., a farmer; Elizabeth, 
wife of Jesse Knight; Caroline, wife of Miner Carpenter; J. T., 
Abijah and William. In politics Mr. Cole is a Democrat. He is 
ever interested in school aftairs, and has been school director in liis 
township. He took an active interest in the Granger movement, 
and served as treasurer of the society for several j'ears in AV^ayne 
Township. 

DAVID CRAWFORD, deceased, was one of tlie prominent at- 
torneys of Waynesburg, where he practiced his chosen profession for 
many years. He was born in Greensboro, Greene County, Penn., 
June 18, 1825, and was a son of David Crawford, one of the early 
settlers of the county. Mr. Crawford was the only son in a large 
family, and at the time of his deatli, which occurred in March, 1880, 
he had but three sisters living, viz., Mrs. Margaret Ilager, of Rock- 
ford, Illinois; Mrs. Mary Barrickman, of Virginia; and Mrs. Dr. 
James Way, of Waynesburg. Mr. Crawford's earlier education was 



656 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

acquired in the rude log school-houses of Greene County. When 
twelve years of age he was employed to carry the Waynesburg Mes- 
senger, and in 1841 he walked to Wheeling, W. Va. After arriving 
in that city he worked in a chair factory for some time, then re- 
turned to Waynesburg and went to work in a saddle and harness 
shop kept by Amos Cleaveuger. He improved all his leisure hours 
in study and his industry attracted the attention of Hon. Jesse 
Lazear, who was one of the prominent men of Waynesburg and 
cashier of the Farmers' and Drovers' Bank. Mr. Lazear gave him a 
position as clerk in the bank, and as all his time was not taken up 
with his duties there, he was enabled to attend Waynesburg College 
at the same time. He took an active interest in the literary society 
of which he was a member, and was debater for the Union society in 
its first contest with the Philoraathean, in 1852. His opponent in 
this contest was Lorenzo Danford, who was afterwards elected mem- 
ber of Congress from Ohio. After Mr. Crawford had finished his 
education he read law in the office of John C. Flenniken, and was 
admitted to practice in 1853. Lie practiced law until he received 
the appointment of chief clerk of the Indian Bureau at Washington, 
D. C, which office he held during the administration of Pierce and 
Buchanan. He was a member of the Board of Commission and was 
sent to conclude a treaty witli the Chippewas. Lie succeeded in 
settling without war, and so attracted the fancy of an Indian chief 
that he presented him with a saddle and bridle handsomely or- 
namented with beads and trinkets. After the expiration of his term 
of office, Mr. Ci'awford resumed his law practice and succeeded in ac- 
cumulating a fair share of this world's goods. He served as cashier 
of the Farmers' and Drovers' Bank for a period of twelve years. 
Mr. Crawford took an active interest in the Democratic party in 
Pennsylvania and other States. He was a iiseful member in the 
Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and a strong advocate of 
temperance. He was united in marriage, February 5, 1857, with 
Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Major Eemerabrance H. Lindsey. 

A. G. CEOSS, physician and surgeon, was born at Waynesburg, 
Greene County, Penn., July 23, 1823. He is a son of Pobert and 
Mary (Syphers) Cross, natives of this State. Llis father was among 
the early settlers of this county. Dr. Cross was the youngest in a 
family of thirteen children. He was reared on the farm near 
Waynesburg and received his literary education in Waynesburg 
College. He studied medicine under Dr. Inghram of Waynesburg, 
and began the practice of his profession in 1857. The Doctor has 
had quite an extensive practice and is one of the oldest physicians in 
Waynesburg. He has also written considerably for the press. His 
writings, which have been mostly on theological subjects and open 
letters to Robert G. Ingersoll, have been widely read and extensively 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 657 

copied. Ill 1848 Dr. Cross married Miss Harriet, daughter of 
Jesse Rinehart, and they have a family of five cliildren — Wilber F., 
Robert I., Jesse R., Marietta and Walter L. The Doctor and wife 
are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he has 
served as local preacher, class leader, steward, trustee and superin- 
tendant of the Sabbath scliool. He is a Democrat, and served one 
term as county treasurer. He is a Sir Knight Templar in the Ma- 
sonic Fraternity. 

WILLIAM G. W. DAY was born in Waynesburg, this county, 
the 28th day of January, 1828, in a log house that stood on tlie lot 
adjoining the ground on which the Cumberland Presbyterian Church 
now stands. His father was Aaron D. Day, once well known in tlie 
county. He was a brick-maker liy trade, carried on the business for 
many years, and many buildings, public and private, stand as motiu- 
ments to his skill and industry. He was born in New Jersey and 
came to Pennsylvania, with his father, when a small boy and settled 
wiih the family in Morris Township, Washington County, and died 
in Waynesburg in June, 1863, aged seventy-five years. The pater- 
nal grandfather of the subject of this sketch, whose name was Moses 
Day, was born in Wales, and was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, 
serving seven years, lacking three months, when at home on a fur- 
lough on account of a wound received at the battle of Bunker Hill. 
The subject of tliis notice spent his early life in the country home, 
where he attended tlie subscription school three months in the year, 
and later on was a student at AVaynesburg College a part of two ses- 
sions; but bad health compelled him to abandon study and gave up 
his purpose of a college course and pursue a different life for the 
time. His first active Inisiness in life was in riding as constable for 
over two years, being re-elected to the ofiice. He was among tlie 
first officers appointed under the Internal Revenue law, holding the 
position of storekeeper and ganger for about three years, having re- 
ceived his appointment in the winter of 1866. After this he was 
twice elected a member of the Town Council of the borough of 
Waynesburg, and for a number of years was a member of the board 
of trustees of Waynesburg College and one of the Imilding commit- 
tee of the new Imilding. In 1870 he purchased the Waynesburg 
Republ'can newspaper, organ of the Republican party of Greene 
County, and was editor and proprietor of tlie same for fifteen suc- 
cessive years thereafter, making a success in his new venture, and 
publishing, as admitted by all parties, the best newspaper ever before 
edited in the county. It was his paper that introduced the propriety 
and said the first word in favor of building a narrow-gauge railroad 
to Waynesburg; and alone, without encouragement and through 
much ridicule, he persisted for months in writing up the enterprise, 
and in personal efforts, until finally friends enlisted in the cause and 



(358 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

the road was built. Mr. Day married Jane M., daughter of L. L. 
Miner, Esq., once one of the leading attorneys at the Waynesburg 
bar, and three children Avas the result of this union — a daughter. 
Marguerite, and two sons, Lawrence Minor and Lewis Edwin 
Mr. Day is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 
and a trustee of the church property at Waynesburg. 

HARVEY DAY, a farmer and stock-grower of Franklin Town- 
ship, was born in Greene County, Penn., June 17, 1831. He is a 
son of Benjamin and Sarah (Tharp) Day, who were natives of New 
Jersey, and of German origin. His father, who was a successful 
farmer, came among the early settlers to this county, where he spent 
the remaining portion of his life. He died in 1861.. Harvey is the 
sixth in a family of eight children. Having been reared on a farm, 
he naturally engaged in farming as bis life work, and is now the 
owner of a well iinproved farm of 275 acres. Mr. Day is a self- 
made man, having started out in life with very little means. He at 
one time met with a heavy loss by fire, in which his house and other 
buildings were completely destroyed. He did not yield to this dis- 
couragement, however, but soon replaced them with neat substantial 
buildings. In 1852 Mr. Day married Miss Louise, daughter of 
Nathan and Hannah (Carter) Bane, who were natives of Washington 
County, Penn. Mr. and Mrs. Day's children are: Sarah E., wife of 
J. A. Maple; Hannah J., wife of E. C. Kelsey; Nancy A.., wife of 
Elias Piatt; May E. and Charles Benton. Their parents are mem- 
bers of the Baptist Church at Ruff's Creek, I'enn. Mr. Day is a 
Democrat, and has served as county auditor and school director of his 
township. He takes a great interest in thoroughbred stock and has done 
much to improve the stock in Greene County. He is a man of strong 
will power and unusual energy, to which his success in life may be 
largely attributed. ■ 

B. B. W. DENNY, hardware merchant, was born four miles 
west of "Waynesburg, October 29, 1852. He is a son of M. "VV. and 
Jane (Luse) Denny, natives of Pennsylvania, and of English extrac- 
tion. His grandparents came from England to Ohio, then moved to 
Pennsylvania and were among the early settlers of Greene County. 
Mr. Denny's father, who died in 1875, was the owner of 800 acres 
of land, and was an extensive dealer in stock. His family consisted 
of four children, B. B. W. being the second. He was reared on a 
farm in Center and Jefferson townships, and received his education 
in Waynesburg College. He has been engaged in farming and 
stock-growing, and, in partnership with his brother, owns a liardware 
store in Waynesburg. He was united in marriage January 3, 1882, 
with Miss Alice, daughter of Samuel Melvin. 

HON. J. B. DONLEY, an attorney of Waynesburg, Penn., was 
born at Mount Morris, this county, October 10, 1838. He is a son 



HISTORY OF ORERNE COUNTY. 659 

of Hon. Patrick and Margaret (Morris) Donley also natives of this 
conntj. Ilis ancestors were among the earliest settlers of Greene 
County, and have usually been fanners. Mr. Donley's great-grand- 
father was a captain in the lievolutionary war, and his grandfather 
Morris was a soldier in the war of 1812. Ilis father was a fanner 
and merchant, and was a member of the State Legislature in 1861 
and 1862, serving two terms. At the age of eighty-four years he 
still resides at Mount Morris, where he has spent many years of his 
life. Of his family of eight children Hon. J. IJ. Donley is the fourth. 
He graduated at Waynesburg College in 1859, when he went West 
and located in Abingdon, Illinois, having obtained a position as 
principal of schools. In 1860 he became protessor in Abingdon 
College. When the war broke out Prof. Donley promptly enlisted 
under the first call of President Lincoln, but on account of the large 
number offering the company was not received into the service and 
disbanded, and Prof. Donley continued teaching until the summer of 
1862, when he again enlisted and helped raise Company I of the 
Eighty-third Volunteer Infantry. When the company was organ- 
ized he was elected captain, being the j'oungest captain in the regi- 
ment. It was the Eighty-third Illinois Infantry that fought the 
rebels alone at. the second battle of Fort Donnelson. This regiment 
was distinguished for the great number of large men within its 
ranks, and was among the best regiments organized in the State. 
Captain Donley was discharged in July, 1865, when he returned to 
his native county, and went to Albany, New York, and in 1866 
graduated from the law depai'tnient of the Albany University. In 
1867 he was admitted to practice at the Waynesbuag bar, and was 
appointed register in bankruptcy during the same year, holding the 
position until 1869, when he became a member of the Forty-first 
Congress, having been elected thereto in 1868. He votes the Re- 
publican ticket, casting his first vote for President for Abraham 
Lincoln in 1860. He is president of the board of trustees of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is a member. Lie is also 
assistant superintendent in the Sabbath-school. Captain Donley is 
president of the Waynesburg Park Company. He is a prominent 
member of the Knights of Honor, and a Master Mason in the 
Masonic fraternity. He also belongs to the G. A. R. Post of 
Waynesburg. Captain Donley was married in this county, in 1871, 
to Miss Ellen W., daughter of Col. John II. Wells, a retired attorney 
of Waynesburg. They have three children — Nellie W., Grace E. 
and Patrick. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. 

THOMAS E. DOUGAL, farmer, stock-grower and speculator, 
Waynesburg, Penn., was born in Washington County, Penn., May 
23, 1845, and is a son of David and Elizabeth (Porter) Dougal. Ilis 



660 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

mother was a native of Peiinsjlvania. His father, who was born in 
England, was a teacher by profession, to which he devoted most of 
his life, engaging a short time in farming and merchandising. 
Thomas was the oldest son in a family of eleven children, and enjoyed 
the advantages of a good education, lie attended the schools in his 
native county, also the high school at Uniontown, Penn. He very 
naturally took up his father's profession, aud engaged in teaching for 
ten years. He then engaged in farmiug and stock dealing; has made 
a success of the business and owns 178 acres of land. Mr. Dougal 
has been a resident of Greene County since 1865 — the year he was 
married. His wife's maiden name was Clarissa Wanee. Her par- 
ents were Thomas and Elizabeth Wanee, natives of Pennsylvania. 
Mr. and Mrs. Dougal were the parents of ten children — Elizabeth 
E., Isabella I., Thomas A., John S., David W., Anna L., Dora B., 
Ai'chibald and Mary, twins, and Yiola. Mr. Dougal is a Republican 
in politics, in religion a Presbyterian. Mrs. Dougal is a zealous 
member of the Methodist Church. 

E. F. DOWNEY, attorney and counsellor at law, was born in 
Waynesburg, Penn., May 18, 1849. He is a son of Kobinson and 
Catharine (Inghram) Downey, who were of Scotch-Irish descent. 
His father came to Waynesburg in 1837 and studied law. He was 
admitted to the bar in 1839, and was a successful practitioner and 
bnsiness man. He dealt largely in real estate, having erected many 
of the best buildings in Waynesburg. He died in 1874. Mr.' 
Downey was a member of the Baptist Church, of which he was a 
liberal supporter. For many years he edited a paper in Waynesburg. 
He was one of the earliest and strongest friends of AVaynesburg Col- 
lege, never neglecting an opportunity to further the interests of that 
institution. His children were all students in the college and, with 
oire exception, are graduates of the school. Mr. Downey was one of 
the most respected and best beloved of Greene County's citizens. His 
children are R. F., John J., who died in the army, Emma (deceased), 
F. W. and Kate. R. F. Downey, the subject of this sketch, was 
reared in Waynesburg and educated in the college, wliere he gradu- 
ated in 1867. He then studied law with his father, and was admit- 
ted to the bar in 1871. He has been a successful practitioner, devot- 
ing his entire time to his profession. 

J. W. ELY, pliysician, Waynesburg, Penn., was born in Whiteley 
Township, this connty, September 24, 1855. He is a son of George 
and Mary (Warrick) Ely, wlio were natives of Washington County 
and moved to Greene County in 1840. Mrs. Ely departed this life 
December 30, 1887. Dr. Ely remained on the farm with his parents 
until he was eighteen years of age, at which time he began teaching 
school through the winter, and going to school during tlie summer 
months. lie accpiired his education in the select schools and 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 601 

Waynesburg College. The Doctor was married, June 23, 1878, to 
Lucy, daughter of Godfrey (rordou, of Waynesburg. Mrs. Ely was 
born August 9, 1S57. They have one child, Mary ii., born August 
11, 1880. In August, 1878, Dr. Ely opened a store at Garard's 
Fort, and in April of the next year he moved his store to JS'ewtown, 
Peun., where he received a large patronage. On June 22, lS7y, his 
store and entire property was destroyed by fire; but not being easily 
discouraged, he began the study of medicine with Dr. Shei bino, of 
Waynesburg, and graduated at the Medical College of Cincinnati, 
Ohio, in 1882 with high honors. He then returned to Waynesburg, 
and took Dr. Sherl_)ino's place in the practice and has secured a lib- 
eral patronage in the county, being its only homeopathic ph^'sician. 
He is a Eej)ublican, and a member of the ]V[ethodi.st Episcopal 
Churcli. 

JONAS ELY, farmer and stock-grower, Waynesburg, Penn., 
was born in Washington County, Penn., August 28, 1823. He 
is a son of Jonas and Euphen (Wilson) Ely, who were of Ger- 
man and Scotch extraction. His mother was also a native of 
Washington County. His father, who was a farmer and stock- 
grower, was born in Berks County, Penn., and came to Greene 
County in 1848.^ He settled near Waynesburg on the farm now- 
owned by J. A. J. Puchanan, Esq. Mr. Ely reared a family 
seven children, of whom Jonas is the sixth. He received a com- 
mon school education in AVashington County, wliere he remained on 
the farm with his parents until their death. His father died in 1863 
and his mother in 18(50. Mr. Ely has been successful as a farmer, 
and is the 'owner of 384 acres of land. Li 1870 he bought his 
present farm, to wliich he moved in 1875. The following year 
he erected one of the finest liouses in Franklin Township, where 
he now resides. Mr. Ely was united in marriage in Greene 
County, in 1845, with Miss Elizabeth, daughter of William and 
Margaret (Milligan) Hill, who were of English and L'ish origin. 
Mrs. Ely's father was born in Franklin Township in 1798. To 
Mr. and Mrs. Ely have been born three children — William and 
Jonas, farmers; and Belle, who is the wife of Jonathan Funk, Esq., 
of Waynesburg, Penn. Tlieir mother is a consistent member of 
the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Mr. Ely takes great interest 
in the schools of the county, and has served seventeen years as 
school director. He has also been for sevei-al years secretary of 
the Green County Agricultural Society. In politics he is a liepub- 
lican. Jonas, his second son, was born October 15, 1848, and is a 
successful farmer. In 1878 he married Miss Alice, daughter of 
Madison Saunders, of Wajnicsburg, Penn. 

W. W. EVANS, of the firm of Kagan & Evans, editors and 
proprietors of the Wayneshurg Independent, was born in Marshall 



662 HISTORY OF GREENE COtJNTY. 

County, W. Va., February 8, 1851. His parents were Walter and 
Sarah (Roberts) Evans. His father was of Welsh extraction and 
born in Baltimore, Maryland. Mr. and Mrs. Evans were married 
in Marshall County, where they remained a short time and then 
moved to Iowa. Here Mrs. Evans' health began to fail and they re- 
turned to Virginia, where she died in 1854. When an infant Mr. 
Evans was carried on horseback by his parents from Baltimore to 
Marshall County, W. Va. Mr. Evans' second wife was Susannah 
Plutchinson (iiee Francis). She is still living. Mr. Evans died 
January 3, 1882. He was the father of fourteen childi-en, twelve of 
whom are living. W. W. Evans, the subject of our sketch, was uni- 
ted in marriage, April 29, 1874, with Miss Mary, daughter of W. T. 
E. and Mary (Stull) Webb. Pier father was a native of Wheeling, 
W. Va., and her mother of Louisville, Ky. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Evans have been born three children — Wilbert W., Erma, and Jesse 
(deceased). Mr. Evans remained on a farm until twelve years of 
age, when he went with his parents to Moundsville, W. Va., his 
father having been elected to the ofiice of recorder of Marshall 
County. At the age of fifteen he began learning the printer's trade 
and has since been engaged in that business. In 1872 he pui'chased 
the 3£ou7ids'viUe Meporter, which he owned for a period of seven 
years. He came to Waynesburg in 1880, and purchased a half inter- 
■ est in the newspaper of which he is now associate editor and pro- 
prietor. Mr. Evans is a member of the Knights of Honor and the 
Iloyal Arcanum. When sixteen years of age he united with the M. 
E. Church, of which his wife is also a member. 

J. M. FUNK, lumber dealer, Waynesbiirg, Penn., was born in 
Richhill Township, this county, February 5, 1846. He is a son 
of Jacob and Mary (McGlumphy) Funk, of German and Irish de- 
scent, the former a native of Maryland and the latter of Greene 
County, Penn. His father was a farmer, and died in Waynesburg 
in 1884. J. M. Funk is one of a family of three children — all boys. 
He grew to manhood in Waynesburg, and chose farming as his chief 
pursuit. When twenty years of age, however, he learned the carpen- 
ter's trade, serving the regular apprenticeship of three years. In 
1872 he established hiurself in business in Waynesburg and, although 
he met with a serious loss by fire. May 25, 1881, which amounted to 
some ten thousand dollars, he immediately rebuilt and is now owner 
and proprietor of a planing-mill, in which a large number of men are 
employed the year round. He does contracting and building, and 
has a number of substantial residences in Waynesburg. In 1878 Mr. 
Funk married Miss Belle, daughter of Jonas Ely, a prominent 
farmer of Franklin Township. T\tr. and Mrs. Funk are members of 
the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. IJe is a Democrat, and has 



mSTOKY OF OREKNK COUNTY. 663 

served us a nieinbcr of the town council and of the school board 
in the borough. He is also a inenil>er of the I. O. O. h\ 

J. C. GAIIAIID, Esq., prothonotary, AVaynesburg, Penn., was 
born in Greene County. lie is a son of Justus ancl Enieline 
(Mestrezat) Garard, also natives of this county, and of French and 
English descent. The family were among the eai'liest settlers of the 
county, Mr. Garard's great-grandfather being the Rev. John Corbly, 
one of the pioneer Baptist ministers. His grandfather Garard was 
a farmer, and Justus Garard, his father, was a cabinet-maker and en- 
gaged in that business for years at Mapletown, Penn. The sul)ject 
of our sketch was reared in Monongahela Townsliip, where he re- 
ceived his early education in the common schools. He afterwards 
spent some time in the State Normal School at California, Penn., 
and AVayesburg College. After leaving college he taught school un- 
til 1878, when he was elected clerk of the courts of (-ireene County 
and served si.\ years. Mr. (4arard was elected prothonotary in 1884 
and re-elected in 1887, and has filled that othce very acceptably. In 
politics he is a Democrat. He was married in Fayette County, 
Penn., in 187'J, to Miss A. B. Schroyer, at Masontown, Penn. 

CAPTAIN JOHN ADAM GOPDON, farmer and stock grow- 
er, AVaynesburg, Penn., was born in AVhiteley Township, Greene 
County, June 10, 1810. His parents were Mark and Susan (Shriverj 
Gordon, who were of Irish and German extraction. His father, who 
was a farmer all his life, was a native of A¥est Virginia, came to 
Greene County, Penn., in 1790 and settled in AVhiteley Township. 
His family consisted of ten children. John Adam was reared on the 
home farm where he received his early education, and subsequently 
attended Greene Academy at Carmichaels, Penn. He devoted four 
years of his life exclusively to teaching and also taught about twenty 
winter terms, spending the summer months in farming, which he has 
made his chief pursuit. In 1880 he bouglit liis present farm and 
moved to Franklin Township, where he built a neat and substantial 
residence in 1887. Mr. Gordon has been twice married; first, in 
181:2, to Miss Rebecca, daughter of John Crawford, of Carmichaels, 
Greene County. Mrs. Gordon died in 1853. Of their five children 
only two are living — Rebecca, and Rev. M. L. Gordon, D. D., now 
a missionary in Japan. The deceased are B. Jennings, who died 
wlien a child; John Crawford, who was a prominent physician at 
AVaynesburg; and AVilliam Lynn, a teacher, who died in Michigan in 
1880, he taught in Pennsylvania and AVisconsin and Charleston, S. C, 
and was principal of a college in Austin, Texas at his death. Mr. 
Gordon's second wife was Miss Margaret, daughter of Epliraim 
Crawford, of Fayette County, Penn. They are the parents of five 
sons: Thomas J., a farmer; Solomon, Robert who died in childhood; 
Edgar C. and James R. Mr. Gordon has the distinction of being 



664: HISTORY OF gkeene county. 

the first supei'iiitendent of public scliools in Greene County, to which 
position he was elected in 1856, and was re-elected in 1860. When 
the war of the Eebellion broke out he resigned and assisted in rais- 
ing a company, which formed part of the Eighty-fifth Regiment 
Pennsylvania Volunteers (Col. Howell's). It was Company G, of 
that organization. Mr. Gordon was elected First Lieutenant of said 
company, and served in that cajjacity until Capt. I. M. Abraham was 
promoted to Major of the regiment; was then commissioned Captain 
by Gov. A. I. Curtin, of Pennsylvania, serving in all three. 

SOLOMON GORDON, a retired farmer and-stock grower who 
was born in Whiteley Township, April 2, 1801, is a son of John A. 
and Cassandra (Holland) Gordon. Tiie former was a native of Mary- 
land and the latter of West Virginia, where they were married. 
They were the parents of seven children, the youngest of whom is 
Solomon. His father, who was a farmer, came to Greene County in 
1795 and located in Whiteley Township, where Solomon grew to 
manliood. The subject of this sketch has been for many years a 
successful farmer in Franklin Township. He was united in mar- 
riage the fii'st time, in 1824, with Sarah Inghrara, who was a de- 
scendent of one of the pioneer families in this county, and died in 
1858. They were the parents of five children — Elizabeth, wife of R. 
lluss; W^illiam L, a farmer who owns two, hundred acres of land; 
Adam, superintendent of the poor farm; James, and John who wns 
a soldier in the war of 1861 and died in the army. Mr. Gordon 
married for his second wife the widow of George B. Willison. Her 
maiden name was Sarah Manuell. In politics Mr. Gordon is a 
Democrat. 

HON. BASIL GORDON, Associate Judge of Greene County, 
Penn., was born in Whiteley Township, this county, December 27, 
1822. He is a son of Mark and Susan (Shriver) Gordon.' His 
mother was born in Greene County and his fatlier in Virginia. Both 
were vf German extraction. His father came to Greene County 
when a child, and was a farmer by occupation. Basil was the fourtli 
in a family of ten children. He was reared on a farm in this 
county, and educated in Greene Academy at Carmichaels, Penn. 
Mr. Gordon has made farming his occupation and has been very 
successful. He was united in the holy bonds of matrimony, May 20, 
1847, with Mariar, datighter of Artliur Inghram, and they are the 
parents of five children, viz., John A., a farmer; Susan, Virginia, 
wife of Thomas Montgomery; Josiah and Alice. The Judge is 
trustee in the M. P. Chm-ch. He has served as township auditor, 
superintendent of the poor and school director. 

HON. JOHN B. GORDON, deceased, was born in Whiteley 
Township, Greene County, Penn., December 4, 1798. He was a 
son of John A. and Cassandra (Holland) Gordon, natives of Virginia, 



IIISTOKV OF GKKENE COUNTY. 665 

wliere their inarriage curoinoiiy was performed. Tliey moved to 
Greene County, Penn., about 1795, and remained until tlieir demise. 
Mrs. Gordon departed tliis life in 1805 and her husband in 1816. 
Jolin U. Gordon, the subject of this sketch, was the fifth of a family 
of seven children, of whom only one, Solomon, survives. July 12, 
1847, Mr. Gordon was united in marriage with Miss Delilah 
Inofhram, a native of Franklin Township, this county, where she 
was born April 23, 1821. Mrs. Gordon is a daughter of William 
and Elizabeth (Uineliart) Inghram, who were also natives of this 
county. Mr. Inghram died in 1845 and Mrs. Inghram in 18()4. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Gordon were l)orn live children, four of whom are 
living, viz., Lizzie I., George W., Lucy E. and John B. Tiie de- 
ceased is Carrie L. George W. was united in marriage with Helen 
Scott, and they are the parents of two children — Lucy D. and Carrie 
L. lion. John B. Gordon M-as reared on a farm and received in- 
structions from his fatlier in the art of husbandry, which honoraljle 
occupation — in connection with raising stock for the markets-he 
followed until his death. At that time he owned one thousand acres 
of land in Greene County. lie, in common with many of the in- 
habitants of middle and western Pennsylvania, had a passion for 
military life. He was elected Major of the Forty-sixth Kegiment of 
militia, held the office for seven years and took much pride in dis- 
charging its duties. Mr. Gordon served liis fellow citizens in civil 
as well as in a military capacity. Having been elected to the office 
of county conamissioner in 1825, he served two terms; and was a 
member of the House of Representatives in 1847 and 1848. Mr. 
Gordon departed this life December 28, 1876, and by his death the 
county lost a good citizen, and his family a kind father and husband. 

THOMAS GOODWIN, e.x-treasurer of Greene County, is at 
present a farmer, and was born in Franklin Township, this county, 
September 25, 1807. He is a son of Moses and Elizabeth (llagan) 
Goodwin, natives of Maryland. His father, who lived to an old age, 
was born in 1790 and spent most of his life on a farm in Greene 
County. Of their eight children, only two are living. Thomas was 
the fourth in the family. He was reared on the home farm, attended 
the subscription schools, and has made farming his main occupation. 
He started out in the world with but little means, but by his great 
energy and patient endeavor was enabled to purchase his present 
farm in 1877. Mr. Goodwin is a Democrat in politics. He was 
elected treasurer of the county in 1873, and served one term. In 
1832 he married Miss Catharine, daughter of Jesse Orndoif. Her 
mother's maiden name was Catiiarine Strosnider. Her father was a 
soldier in the war of 1812. 

H. M. GRIMES. — Among the descendants of the pioneers of 
Greene County we mention II. M. Grimes, an enterprisitig farmer of 



666 HISTORY OF geeene county. 

Franklin Township, who now owns and resides on the farm where 
he was born, January 26, 1837. His mouther's maiden name was 
Margaret Muckle. She was a native of this county. His father, 
William Grimes, was born in New Jersey. Of his six children, the 
subject of this sketch is the youngest. He was reared in Franklin 
Township, where he received his education in the district schools. 
Mr. Grimes has been very successful in his chosen pursuit, and is the 
owner of 338 acres of land. In 1861 he married Harriet, daughter 
of Arthur Rinehart. Their children are — William A., J. W., Lucy, 
Mary E., Albert R. and H. C. Mrs. Grimes is a zealous member of 
tlie Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics Mr. Grimes is a 
Democrat. 

D. H. HAIJSTER, freight and ticket agent for the Waynesburg 
and Washington Railroad, at Waynesburg, Fenn., was born in Wash- 
ington County, Penn., October 9, 1845, and is a son of Henry and 
Elizabeth (Riggle) Hainer. His father, who has all his life been a 
farmer, was born in Germany, and came to Washington County, 
Fenn., in 1832, where he lived until he moved to Richland County, 
Ohio, where he now resides. Mr. Hainer is the oldest in a family of 
eight children. He was reared on the farm, attended the common 
schools, and was later a student in the Academy at Savannah, Ohio, 
and Lexington, Ohio, Male and Female Seminary. Early in life he 
taught school for a time. He was then employed as a salesman in 
Lexington, Ohio, for live years, when he was accepted as a full part- 
ner with his former employer. He continued in the mercantile trade 
with him for live years, when he sold out and returned to Washing- 
ton County, and engaged in farming from 1875 until 1879. He then 
came to Waynesburg, where he engaged in business with his uncle 
until 1883, whfen he was appointed to his present position. Mr. 
Hainer was married in Washington County in 1873, to Alice, daugh- 
ter of David S. Walker, and they have one child, a daughter — Adda 
E. The entire family are members of the Fresbyterian Church, in 
which he is an elder and also superintendent of the Sabbath-school. 

SAMUEL HARVEY was born in Center Township, Greene 
County, March 2, 1820, and is a son of Thomas and Anna (FCigin- 
botham) Harvey. His mother was born in Fayette County, and his 
father in Fhiladelphia. They were of English and French descent. 
His father, a farmer by occupation, came to this county in 1807, and 
settled on a tract of land eleven miles west of Waynesburg, known 
as the "Old Harvey Farm," and resided there until his death in 
1876, in the eighty-seventh year of his age. Of his three sons, 
Samuel is the oldest, and was reared on said farm in Center Town- 
ship, where he received an education of the rural district, and chose 
farming as his occupation, at the same time dealing in wool, live- 
stock and real estate. Mr. Elarvey has been a successful business 



IIISTOKY OF GUEKNE COUNTY. 067 

man, and is one of Greene County's self-made men, his success being 
entirely due to liis own efibrts and business ability. In 1881 ho 
moved to Waynesburg, and is still engaged in the wool trade. In 
184(3 Mr. Harvey married Sarah I. Throckmorton. Their children 
are — William C, who enlisted, at the age of seventeen years, in 
Company I, One Hundred and Sixteenth Pennsylvania Volunteers, 
and took part, under Gen. Hancock, in the famous "Battle of the 
AVilderness,'' and died of typhoid fever in 1861; Anna M., M-ife of 
the late Dr. J. S. Barmore, of Chicago; Kate E., wife of Dr. J. T. 
lanis, of Waynesburg; Alice I., and Charles T., a farmer and stock- 
dealer, who still resides on the old Harvey farm in Center Township. 
Mr. and Mrs. Harvey are members of the South Ten-Mile Baptist 
Church, where he has served as deacon and trustee for many years. 

WILLIAM THOMPSON HAYS— Among the early settlers of 
Waynesburg as the county seat of Greene, was William Thompson 
Hays, who was born in Adams County, Penn., April 8, 1775, and who 
died in Waynesburg. June 29, 1810. He was married in Newville, 
Cumberland County, Penn., to Mary McKibben, and in 1804 removed 
to Waynesburg, embarking in the mercantile business on Main street, 
on the corner now known as the " Fisher Building," opposite the 
present F. & D. National Bank. Afterwards, losing his wife by 
death, he married Sarah Wilson, daughter of James Wilson, Esq., 
the first post-master of Waynesburg, who lived and kept the post- 
office opposite the court-house on the site occupied by the Messenger 
building. Mr. Hays was one of the early representatives of his 
adopted county in the State Legislature, he and his brother, Adam 
Hays, who was a bachelor and came with him and made his liome 
in Waynesburg, both having served the people of Greene in that capac- 
ity. Adam Hays was also at one time sheriff of the county, and died 
February 28, 1848, aged about sixty-six. W. T. Hays was also, for 
a period of about twenty years, phrothonotary of Greene County, he 
being successor of John Boreman, Esq., who was the first protho- 
notary of the county. In 1813, while in the mercantile business, 
Mr. Hays brought on to Waynesburg, and was instrumental in 
establishing the Messenger newspaper, with John Baker as editor 
and publisher. The paper was first printed about where the tele- 
graph office now is, just west of the Walton House, Mr. Hays own- 
ing the premises and living in the house adjoining, occupying the 
present site of the Walton House. He had four children who lived 
to reach maturity — two by each wife. By the first, George W., who 
was educated at Cannonsburg College, Penn., studied medicine with 
Dr. Hays, of Sharpsburg, Md., and died with the cholera Mdiile in 
the practice of his profession, at that place, in 1834. Maria C, the 
daughter, was married to Laurence L. Minor, a prominent attorney 
of Waynesburg, who died in that place in 1883, she still surviving. 



668 HISTORY OF greenk county. 

By liis second wife were born Jaines W. and Henrietta. She was 
married to William Campbell, son of Benjamin Campbell, one of 
the early and prominent iiiercliants of Waynesburg, and both lier 
husband and herself, with a large family of children, still live in that 
place. James Wilson Hays was born in Waynesburg, on December 
21, 1817, and received such education as was attainable in his youth 
in the subscription schools of the town. The first business engaged 
in on his own account was as editor and pi-oprietor of the Waynes- 
burg Messenger in abont 1842, as successor to Hon. C. A Black. 
His editorial career at this time included the presidential canvas of 
Polk against Clay, and that of Francis II. Shunk for Governor. At 
a later period Mr. Plays was associated with Col. James S. Jennings 
as co-editor of the Messenger, including the presidential canvas of 
1860, in which Lincoln was elected President. In 1853, daring the 
presidency of Pierce, Mr. Hays received an appointment as clerk in 
the post-office department at Washington City. This position he 
occupied some three years, resigning on account of failing health. 
He held a position, in 1849-50, on the Pennsylvania Canal at 
Pittsbui-g, under appointment by canal commissioners of the State. 
Mr. Hays was married in 1842 to Hannah Minor, daughter of Abia 
Minor, Esq., and grand-daughter of Hon. John Minor, who was one 
of the original, or first associate judges ot Greene County at its 
formation. Mrs. Hays died in 1862. Seven children were born to 
them, who lived to reach maturity, viz. — William Thompson, mar- 
ried to Jennie Jewell; Sarah Sophia, to Ira L. Nickeson; James W., 
to Emma Smith; Frances Henrietta, to James M. Ferrell; Abia 
Minor, to Nannie Huston; Hannah Maria, to James L. Smith, and 
Jesse Lazear, to Sadie Goodwin — all living at this date (1888) ex- 
cept Mrs. Nickeson, who died May 4, 1888. In 1867 Mr. Hays re- 
moved from Waynesburg, where he had been connected with his 
brother-in-law, Hon. William Cotterel, in tlie tanning and leather 
business, to Graysville, Richhill Township, and engaged in merchan- 
dising, from which place his children were all married, and where he 
continued to reside until October, 1887, when he returned to his 
native town, Waynesburg. In 1875 he was elected, on the Dem- 
ocratic ticket, to the senate of Pennsylvania, for the fonrtieth dis- 
trict, embracing the counties of Greene and Fayette, and re-elected 
to a second term on the expiration of the iirst. 

JOSEPH S. HERTIG, dentist, was born in Fayette County, 
Penn., November 28, 1834, and is a son of John G. and Elizabeth 
(Showalter) Hertig. His mother, who was of German extraction, 
was born in Fayette Connty. His father was a native of France, and 
a farmer and school teacher by occupation. Dr. Hertig, the oldest 
of eleven children, was reared on his father's farm, attending the 
district school. He spent his early life as a teacher, having taught 



IIISTOHY OF GREENE COUNTY. OliO 

five terms in Fayette County, Ohio, and subsef|ueut]y in tliis 
cunnty. in 1858 he commenced the study of dentistry at Smith- 
tield, Penn., and began practicing in 1868 in New Holland, Ohio. 
lie subsequently located at Delphos, Allen County, Ohio. Keturn- 
ing to Fayette County in 1862, he remained for four years, then came 
to Waynesburg, M'here his skill and gentlemanly demeanor soon won 
for him a large and lucrative practice among the influential families 
of the town and vicinity. The Doctor is thoroughly posted in all 
the details of his profession, and devotes his time diligently to study. 
He was married in Fayette County, in 1864, to Miss Nancy, daugliter 
of AVilliani Scott. Their children are — Horace and Owen, the hitter 
a graduate of Waynesburg College, and at present a student in the 
Dental College at" Philadelphia, Fenu. Dr. Hertig is a prominent 
member of the Odontological Society of Western Pennsylvania. 

MAJOR B. F. HERPJNGTON, a farmer and stock-grower, 
of Franklin Township, was born in Greene County, Penn.. November 
18, 18-43, and is a son of Thomas and Caroline (Kramer) Herrington. 
His father was a manufacturer of boots and shoes and carried on his 
business for many years in the southern part of Greene County. 
PHs family consisted often cliildren, of Avhom B. F. is the sixth. He 
received his early education in the common schools of his native 
county, and subsequently attended Dufi''s Commercial College at 
Pittsburg, Penn. Mr. Herrington was employed as a clerk in a store 
for a numlier years, and engaged in the mercantile trade at Morris- 
ville, Penn., in 1861. The year following he enlisted, as a private, 
in Company A, Eighteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. When the reg- 
iment was organized, he was elected Second Lieutenant of Company 
G., and was subsequently 'promoted to the position of First Lieutenant 
and then Captain. He was taken captive and suffered the horror of 
prison life for si.xteen months in Libby, Macon, Ga. and Columbia, 
S. C. Major Herrington was one of the six hundred officers who 
were placed under the fire of the Union gun when the Union men 
bombarded Charlestown, S. C. Soon after his return home he was 
commissioned Major of the eighth division of the National Guards 
of Pennsylvania and served five years, was commissioned again with 
same rank and\assigned to duty on the staff of Gen. Gallagher as 
commissary of division. Heagain engaged in the mercantile business 
in Waynesburg, where he had a good trade and liberal patronage. 
The Major was united in marriage, in 1860, with Miss Maggie.Johns. 
She died in 1877, leaving a family of three children — Ella, Herman 
and Daisy. In 1887 he began farming, and was united in marriage, 
the same year, with Nannie (Wisecarver) AVorley. Major Herring- 
ton is a Ilepublican, and a member of the I. O. O. F. He was the 
first Commander of the McCullough G. A. R. Post, No. 1367. 



670 iriSTOIlY OF GKEENE COUNTY. 

JESSE HILL, retired fanner and stock- grower, AVaynesburg, 
I'eiiu., was born November 23, 1814, on the farm he now owns. 
His parents, Samiiel and Elizabeth (Gather) Hill, were natives of 
Greene County, and of Irish and English extraction. His fatlier was 
a farmer all his life; his family consisted of eleven children. Jesse 
is the youngest son. He was reared on his father's farm, educated 
in the old-fashioned log school-house and has made fanning the 
business of his life. He owns 150 acres of good farming land, and 
valuable town property in the borough of Waynesburg. In 1841 
Mr. Hill married Maria, daughter of Thomas Hoskinsou. Of their 
six children live are living — Carrie, wife of Dr. W. S. Tlirockinorton, 
of Nineveli, Penn. ; Thomas B., a physician at Iiufi''s Creek, Penn.-, 
Elizabeth, wife of J. D JNulton; Willie E. and Jesse F., wlio was 
born March 11, 1853, apd has charge of tlie home farm. He was 
married in 1881, to Philena, daughter of Thomas Ross, and they have 
two children — Frank and Willie R. Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Hill, Sr., 
are members of the Baptist Church. Mr. Hill was for fifteen years 
clerk of the county commissioners. 

NORVAL HOGE, by occupation an organ builder, was born in 
Waynesburg, March 8, 1835. He is a son of John and Rebecca 
(Oakes) Iloge, natives of Pennsylvania, and of Scotch-Irish descent. 
His grandfather was a carpenter and came from Winchester, Va. 
The history of the family shows them to have been farmers and 
mechanics, and many of the family have succeeded in accumulating 
a fair share of this world's goods. Mr. Hoge, unlike his ancestors, 
lias turned his attention to study rather than to making money. He 
has given most of his time to organ building, and has also engaged 
in repairing all kinds of machinery, making sun dials, building Hying 
shuttle looms, etc. Mr. Hoge has made twelve organs, and his 
knowledge of almost any kind of complicated machinerj' gives evi- 
dence of unusual mechanical genius. Tlie greater part of his life 
has been spent in Waynesburg. He attended the common-school 
and college, and early in life began to develop a taste for mechanics, 
being able to repair clocks and watches when a mere boy. For sev- 
eral years he was engaged with a Pittsburgh firm, in tuning pianos 
and organs, and from some of the most celebrated musicians of the 
United States his work has received the highest endorsements, among 
which is the following: 

" Me. Noeval Hoge — My Dear Sir: " Allow me to compliment 
you upon the magnificent manner in which you tuned the piano for 
our use. I have never, outside of Boston and New York, met with 
an instrument that stood so splendidly to pitch throughout our entire 
pi-ogramme. It certainly shows the work of an artist. Accept my 
own and company's thanks for your care. Yours, 

" Lem H. Wiley, Waltek Emeeson." 



HISTORY OF GREEN-T; COUNTY. 671 

Mr. Hoge also repairs and runs steam enjjines, and since 1886 
has run the engine at the roller mills at Waynesburg. In 1856 he 
married Catharine M., daughter of Reasin llufi'iuan, and they have 
four children, viz.: Mary Elizabeth, Almira Jane, Minnie May and 
Thomas J. Tlie family are members of the Waynesburg Baptist 
Church. 

ASA P). IIOGE, commercial traveler, was born in Morgan Town- 
ship, Greene County, Penn., September 23, 1841, and is a son of 
Solomon and Rachel (Ilussj Hoge, natives of this State. His father, 
who was a miller and grain speculator, was born in this county in 
1803, and died in AYaynesburg in 1878. Mr. Hoge's grandparents, 
who were natives of Virginia, and of Scotch-Irish extraction, were 
members of the Society of Friends. His father's family consisted of 
eight children, of whom Asa 15. is the lifth. lie was reared in his 
native county and received his education in the old Greene Academy 
at Carmichaels, Penn. Mr. Hoge remained with his parents nntil 
eighteen years of age, when he went to Baltimore, Md., and was for 
two years employed as a clerk in a store. He then went to Pitts- 
burgh, Penn., and was salesman in a large jobbing house for a period 
of twelve years. In 1876 he went to Philadelphia and accepted his 
present position as traveling salesman, visiting the larger towns and 
cities throughout Pennsylvania and Virginia. Mr. Hoge has made 
his own way in the world. • He meets with success in his business, 
and is the owner of valuable pro))erty on Main street in Waynesburg. 
He was nnited in marriage in 1877 with Miss Mary, daughter of 
John and Jane (Walker) Phelan, and sister to Richard Phelan, a 
prominent attorney of the Waynesburg bar. Mr. and Mrs. Hoge 
have a bright and interesting family of two little daughters — Jane 
P. and Mary Frances. 

JAMES M. IIOGE, attorney at law, was born in this county .June 
16, 1853. He is a son of Solomon and Sarah (Overturft') Hoge, na- 
tives of Pennsylvania, and of Scotch- Irish extraction. His father 
was a farmer and also justice of the peace for many years, and 
died December 6, 1874. James M. is the second son in a family 
of twelve children, all but one of whom grew to inatui-ity. His 
paternal ancestors were Quakers and among the pioneer settlers 
of this county. Mr. Hoge received his education in Waynes- 
burg College. He made a special study of surveying, and has 
devoted much of his time to that business. He studied law with 
Hon. C. A. Black, at Wajmesburg, and was admitted to the bar in 
1882. In 1883 he clerked in the prothonary's otfice, and on the death 
of prothonotary, was appointed by Governor Pattison to till unexpired 
term, and in 1885 was appointed notary pulilic, at the same time 
engaging in the jiractice of law. He was married in 1878 to Martiia 
M., daughter of John McNeely. Mrs. Hoge is of Irish descent. 



072 HISTORY OF GUEKNK COfJNTy. 

Tlicy liavc oiiu cliild- Owen Solomon. Mr. and Mrs. Iloge are 
members of the liaptist Church. Ife is a Democrat, and has passed 
all the degrees in subordinate Lodge of I. O. O. F. 

LSAAO JJOOJ'Elt, tobacconist, Waynesburg, Penn., was born in 
Washington County, renn., March 1!J, 1819, is a son of Isaac and 
Mary (Steen) JJooper, natives of Pennsylvania, and of Scotch extrac- 
tion, llis father was a farmer of Washington County. His family 
consisted of six children, of whom Isaac is the youngest. He was 
reared in the borough of Washington, where he attended school and 
early in life learned the cigar maker's trade. In 1842 he came to 
Waynesburg, whei'e he has since engaged in his present business, 
Kclliiig most of his cigars in Greene County. Mr. ]loo])er was mai- 
ried in 1842 to Miss Keliecca, daugliter of Samuel I'rigg. She was 
born in Washington County, and is of (ierman origin. They have 
six children, viz.: Melvina, wife of A. J. Sowers, a |)rominent mer- 
chant of Waynesburg; Sauinnel P., a tobacconist; Mary (deceased), 
Virginia, wife of John Campbell; Margaret, wife of Ilobert Adams; 
and Dora. Mr. and Mrs. Hooper are memljors of the Baptist Church, 
in which he is deacon. He is a liepublican, and a member of the 
I. 0. O. F. 

W. A. IfCCK, Esq., Waynesburg, J'enn., was born October IB, 
1838, and is a son of John T. and Eli;2a (Inghram) Hook. His par- 
ents were descendants of the earliest settlers of Crcene County, and 
of Scotch-Irish origin. Mr. Hook's father was a saddler by trade, 
and died November 3, 1883, at Waynesbui'g, where he had s|)ent his 
life. William A., the oldest son, was reared and educated in Waynes- 
burg. He reached his senior year in college, when on account of 
sickness he was compelled to give up school. He chose the law as liis 
profession, and studied in the office of Wyly & Buchanan, in Waynes- 
bui'g. Mr. Hook was admitted to the bar of this county in 1871, 
and in 1872 was elected district attorney, in which capacity he served 
for six years. He is an activemember of the Democratic party, and 
a successful hiwyer. 

TJIOMAS HOOK, farmer, was born in Waynesburg, Penu., on 
the 27th day of September, 1840. He is a S(;n of John T. and Eliza 
(Ingliram) Hook, also luitives of this county. His ancestors were 
among the early settlers of the county. His father, who was a sol- 
dier in the war of 1812, was a liarness-maker for many years, and in 
later life engaged in farming. Thomas was reared in Waynesburg 
where he remained until twelve years of age, then inovcd with his 
parents to a farm in Franklin Township where lie still resides. Ho 
jittended the common school, and early in life chose farming as his 
chii^f occupation. Mr. Hook has been twice united in nnirriage — 
lirsl, in 1803, witli Miss Sarali, daughter of William Patterson, a 



iriSTOKT OF ORKENE COUNTY. 073 

proiiiiueiit t":iriii(.T of Wliiteley Townsliip. Tlieir cliihlruii are — Ida, 
wife of William Ely, and Jjiicy, a student in Waynesburi>: Collo<re. 
Mrs. Hook died in 1887. Her luisbaiul afterwards married, in 1885, 
Miss Susan, daughter of Uriah Inohram. She is a member of the 
M. E. Church. IMr. llook is a Democrat, and has been school 
director in liis district. 

THOMAS HOSKINSON, who was born in Waynesburg, Penn., 
Jnly 9, 1834:, is a son of (-ieori^e and Sophia (Adams) Hoskinson, who 
were natives of Pennsylvania and of Enolish origin. His father, 
who was a fanner and mercliant, died in 1884. His family consisted 
of eight children, of whom Thomas is the oldest. He was reared in 
Waynesburg, and obtained his education in the graded senools and 
Waynesburg (■ollcge. When he was twelve years old his father 
moved on a farm, where Thomas remained with his parents until he 
was twenty years of age. He then came to Waynesl)urg and clerked 
in a general store. The main part of his business career has been 
spent in the mercantile trade. He was engaged in busijicss in 
Waynesburg from 1864 to 1878, when he closed out his business and 
lias since met with success as a salesman. ]\lr. Hoskinson was mar- 
ried in AVaynesburg, in 1860, to Sarah A., daughter of George V. 
AVolfe. Mrs. Hoskinson is also a native of this county, and of Ger- 
man descent, and a graduate of Waynesburg College. Their children 
are — George Ellsworth, a printer by trade in Pittsburgh, Penn.; 
J.iida, a teacher in Topeka, Kansas; Louise T., Franklin, and Charles 
W., who died at the age of four in 1877. ^fr. and Mrs. Hoskinson 
are prominent members of the Cumberland Presbyterian C^hurch. 
He is a leading member in the organization of Odd Fellows and 
Knights of Honor. 

WILLIAM II. HUGHES, farmer and stock-raiser, M-as born 
August 18, 1851, on the farm where he resides near Wajniesburg, 
Penn. He is a son of Hiram and Sarah A. (Burks) Hughes, who 
were of English extraction. His jnother was a native of V'irginia. 
His father, who was a farmer all his life, was born in Greene Coun- 
ty, and had a fan^ily of four children, two of whom are living. He 
died in 1854. His oldest tlaughter was the wife of A. J. Lippencott, 
a son of William Lijipencott, who is a ])rominent farmer in Frank- 
lin Townsliip. William 11. was reared on the farm and attended the 
district schools and the (!ollege at Wayiiesliurg. He taught school 
for a iiunibcr of years, but has made farming his chief occupation. 
His home farm contains 106 acres of valuable hind. Mr. Hughes 
was united in marriage A])ril 23, 1878, with Miss Anna, daughter 
of Caleb and Sarah (Greene) liigdon. Her parents were English 
and natives of Maryland. Mr. and Mrs. Hughes are tiie parents of 
three children Pertha, Clarence !,. and Ai'thnr E. Their mother 



674 HISTORY OP GEEENE COUNTY. 

is a devoted uiembor of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics 
Mr. Hughes is a Democrat. 

JOHN T. lAMS, M. D., of the firm of lams & Ullom, physicians 
and surgeons, Waynesbnrg, Penn., was born at Mt. Morris, this county, 
March 25, 1846. He is a son of Samuel and Nancy (Grimes) lams. 
His parents are natives of Pennsylvania, and of English extraction. 
His father was a millwright in early life and afterward a farmer. 
He now resides in Center Township, and is over seventyyears of age- 
Dr. lams is the second in a family of seven children. He lived with 
his parents on the farm until he reached his eighteenth year, when 
he entei-ed Waynesburg College, remaining two years. He then 
taught for three years. In 1868 he began the study of medicine in 
the office of Dr. Gi'ay, of Jacksonville, remaining vvith him for one 
year. He then entered Bellvue Medical College at New York, where 
he took the regular course and graduated in 1871. He practiced at 
Jacksonville until 1879, wlien he moved to Waynesburg, where he 
has since resided. Dr. lams is a member of the State and county 
medical societies, and was elected a member of the American Medical 
Association which met in Chicago in 1886., He was United States 
examining surgeon for pensions from 1880 to 1885. He was com- 
missioned first assistant surgeon to the Tenth Regiment, N. C P., 
May, 1888. Dr. lams was married May 16, 1874, to Ivate E., 
daughter of Samuel Harvey, of Waynesburg. Their children are 
Annette and Samuel Harvey. 

FPEDERICK ILLIG, farmer and general dealer, Waynesburg, 
Penn., was born in Germany November 7, 1835. His father, 
Charles Illig, was a brewer, a7id of his five children Fred is the 
oldest. He was the first member of the family to come to America. 
In 1854 he crossed the ocean and settled in Pittsburgh, Penn., where 
he obtained a position as clerk in a store. He has since made four 
trips across the water. Some years later he settled in Washington, 
Washington County, Penn., where he soon became an active dealer 
in grain and cattle. In 1879 he located at Waynesburg, where he 
has since carried on a large business, a principal feature of which is 
his creamery. Mr. Illig succeeded in accumulating a handsome 
competence for himself and family. He owns valuable town prop- 
erty in Waynesburg and a good farm adjoining the borough. He 
also has two farms in Washington County, containing 260 acres. 
Mr. Illig received a liberal education in Germany. His success in 
this country has been due mainly to his own industry and untiring 
energy. He is a Pepublican in politics. He was united in mar- 
riage in Germany, in 1854, with Miss Caroline Claser, also a native 
of Germany. Tlieir children are — Charles, Lxicj, George, Carrie 
afid AVilliam. 



HISTORT OP GREElSrE COUNTY. 675 

WILLIAM INGIIIIAM, a retirecr fanner and stock-grower, was 
born in Franklin Township. (Ireene (Juunty, Penn., July 31, 1822. 
He is a son ot" William and Elizabeth (Kinehart) Inglirani, natives of 
this county, and of Irish and Dutch extraction. His father, who 
was a farmer, had a family of seven children, four daughters and 
three sons, of wliona William is the youngest. lie was reared in his 
native township, received his education in the old log school-house, 
and has been a successful farmer all his life. lie owns a tine farm 
of 4:00 acres. In 1851 Mr. Inghram married Martha, daughter of 
Solomon Iloge, and they were the parents of the following children — 
Frank, Alice, James, a farmer; Elizabeth, wife of John Murdock; 
Emma, Maggie, Jessie and Olive. Their mother died in 1885, a faith- 
ful member of the Methodist Church. Frank, the oldest of the family, 
was born June 14, 1853. lie was reared in Franklin Township, and 
received his education in Waynesburg College. lie started in life 
as a school teacher, but subsequently began farming and dealing in 
cattle, and has been successful in that Inisiness. In 187H he mar- 
ried llebecca, daughter of Uriah Inghram, and they have two in- 
teresting children — Mark and Alice. 

JAMES INGHRAM, President Judge of the Fourteenth Judicial 
District, was born in Waynesburg, Greene County', Penn., Septem- 
ber 12, 1842. He is a son of Arthur and Elizabeth (Cather) Ingh- 
ram, who were natives of this State and of English ancestry. His 
father read medicine and graduated at Jefferson Medical College, 
after which he practiced in Greene County for many years. Dr. 
Arthur Inghram and wife were the parents of five children, of M'hom 
the subject of this sketch is the fourth, and was reared in Waynes- 
burg. He actpiired his education in the common schools and 
Waynesburg College, graduating in the classical course in 1859. 
He then commenced the study of law in the office of Lindsey & 
Buchanan, was admitted to the bar in 1863, and continued in active 
practice until 1883, when he was elected president judge. Judge 
Inghram was united in marriage in 1871 with Miss Mary, daughter 
of the Hon. C. A. Black, a prominent attorney of Waynesburg. 
The Judge is a member of the Masonic fraternity and I. O. O. 1. 
Mrs. Inghram is a consistent member of the Presb^'terian Church. 

COL. JAMES S. JENNINGS was born in Waynesburg, Greene 
County, Penn., August 22, 1829. His father, Benjamin Jennings, 
was a native of New Jersey, born in 1779; in his youth removed 
and located near Carmichaels, Greene County, Penn.; in the year 
1800 removed to and settled in Waynesburg, where he remained 
until his death, which occurred in the year 1861. Benjamin 
Jennings was a carpenter by trade, and many of the early erected 
buildings in Waynesburg and near by were tlie results of his in- 
dustry and skill. He was for many years a justice of the peace in 



676 HISTORY OF geeene county. 

Waynesburg, and served one term as county comiriissioner. He was 
twice married, his last wife being Elizabetli Stockdale, mother to the 
subject of this notice. CoL Jennings received liis education in liis 
native place at the public schools and Waynesburg College. He 
learned the printing business in the Waynesburg Messenger office, 
and was subsequently for many years co-editor and proprietor of 
that paper. In 1858 he was married to Laura E. Weethee, of Athens 
County, Ohio, a native of that State and a graduate of Waynesburg 
College. They have three children — William C, now a citizen of 
Kansas; Charles B., a printer by trade, but at present deputy post- 
master at Waynesburg; and Mary L., who is also an assistant in 
Waynesburg postoffice. In 1863, while connected with the Mes- 
senger office. Colonel J. was elected to, and served one term as treas- 
urer of Greene County. During tlie Cubernatorial term of Governor 
Pollock, of Pennsylvania, Colonel J. was honored by appointment of 
aid on the Governor's staff as Colonel, and the same honor conferred 
on him by Governor Packer. In 1867 Colonel Jennings removed 
to a farm in Athens County, Ohio, where he remained for about 
twelve years. He was there for a time engaged in the land- and 
mineral business, with a view to develop the mineral resources of 
his neighborhood, and w^as, with this view, connected with the con- 
struction of the Ohio Centi-al Hailroad. But the panic of 1873 
coming on, the enterprise that had been so promising failed to 
materialize in time, and his pecuniary interests, as well as those of 
all concerned, severel}'^ sufi'ered. While in Ohio his Democratic 
friends nominated him as their candidate for the State Legislature, 
but being in a district hopelessly Republican, without success. He 
was urged by his Democratic friends in his Congressional District, 
and by the Democratic newspapers therein, to allow his name to be 
used as the Democratic candidate for Congress, hut the Colonel 
persistently declined the nomination. His name was also prominent 
before the State Convention in Oliio as candidate for Governor at 
the time Bishop was nominated and elected. In the year 1879 
Colonel J. removed from Ohio to the State of Kansas to take a fresh 
start and recover from the money losses sustained in his Ohio mineral 
enterprises. But his love for his native county had such hold on 
him that he concluded to return to Waynesburg, and in Januarj', 
1883, lie again took charge of \\\& Messenger on a lease. On the 
election of Cleveland to the Presidency, in 1886, he was by him ap- 
pointed postmaster of Waj'nesburg, which position he holds at the 
present time, Avith his family around him as assistants, except the 
son, who is " growing up with the West." 

WILLIAM Pt. JOHNSON, contractor and builder, was born in 
Cumberland Township, this county, Noveml)er 30, 1834, and is a 
son of Richard and Mary (Smith) Johnson. His parents were natives 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. -677 

of this State. Jonatlian Johnson, liis grandfather, was horn in Cliet.- 
ter County, J^enn., in 179(), and came witli his parents to Greene 
Coiintj when llichard Johnson was but a small boy. Richard was a 
brick-layer, and worked at his trade until his death in 1885. llis 
family consisted of nine children, of whom six are living. William 
K. is the fifth, and was reared in Cumberland Township, on the farm 
witli his parents. At the age of fifteen he learned the brick-layer's 
trade with his father, and has done consideralile business as a con- 
tractor and builder, having erected most of the tine buildings in 
Waynesburg. , Mr. Johnson was united in marriage, in 1S55, with 
Miss Minerva, daughter of Reuben and Susan (^llayes) Fleming. 
Her parents were natives of Virginia, and of Irish descent. Their 
children are — Ida, widow of E. P. Lantz (deceased), and Emma, wife 
of J. A. V. Randolph, Esq. Mr. Johnson is a member of the Ma- 
sonic fraternity. 

REV. C. r. JOEDAN, retired minister of the Methodist Pro- 
testant Church, was born in Greene County, Penn., January 22, 
1827, and is a son of John and Rebecca (West) Jordan. Ilis parents 
were natives of eastern Pennsylvania, and of English and German 
lineage. Ilis i'ather was a mill-wright by occupation. He was 
among the early settlers of this county, and died in 1834:. His 
family consisted of nine children, of whom five grew to be men and 
women, llev. C. P. Jordan is the only surviving member of the 
family. He was reared in Jefferson Township, and in Waynesljurg, 
where he attended school. Early in life he learned the boot and 
shoemakers trade, which he followed as a business for five years. He 
then learned the carpenter's trade, at which he worked until he was 
liceTised to preach and admitted to the Pittsburgh Conference. In 
1856 he accepted his first charge, and for years has devoted his time 
to the ministry in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio. The 
greater part of his ministerial worlc has been in Pennsylvania, and 
largely in his own county. He has been an active member of the 
order of Odd Fellows, and was a charter member of the Sons of 
Temperance society in this county. He has beep actively engaged 
in the mission work of the church, and has organized fifteen Meth- 
odist Protestant churches during his ministry. He was a revivalist 
in the true sense of the word. In 1861 liev. Jordan married Mrs. 
Maria Cunningham. His first wife, whom he married in 1850, was 
Mary, daughter of Nicholas Jolnison. She and her two children 
died in 1854, all within four days. 

HIRAM KENT, of the lirm of Kent & Driscoll, carriage manu- 
facturers, Waynesburg, Penn., was born in Center Township, this 
county, July 27, 1847, and is a son of John and Keziah (Shields) 
Kent. His ancestors were among the early settlers of Greene 
County. His father, a farmer, had a family of thirteen children, of 



678 HISTOKY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

whom Hiram is the eighth, and was reared iu his native township. 
He attended the common schools, and in early life learned the wagon- 
maker's trade, at which he worked until 1880, when he began his 
present business. In 1871 Mr. Kent married Miss Lucy A., daugli- 
ter of Dawson McClelland, and they have three children — Minnie 
E., Nancy Maria and Z. Wilber. Mr. Kent is a Democrat, and a 
prominent member of the I. O. O. F. He is now Noble Grand of 
the Lodge, No. 469, in Waynesbiirg. 

COL. JOHN M. KENT, born in Waynesburg, Penn., February 
29, 1836, is a son of Peter M. and Mary (Hook) Kent, who were of 
English and Irish origin. Flis father, who was a native of Ohio, 
came to Greene County, Penn., when he was a young man, taught 
school for a number of years, and later in life M'orked at the stone- 
mason's tr.ade. He died in 1852. Col. Kent, the third in a family 
of eight cliildren, was reared in Gi-eene County, and received his 
early education in the common schools. He was a plasterer by trade, 
also engaged in contracting and building until the war broke out. 
He enlisted in Company I, Eighth Pennsylvania Reserves, was 
elected First Lieutenant and served in that capacity one year. He 
was then elected Captain for the remainder of his term of service. 
He returned home and raised a company, and was elected Captain of 
the Fifth Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery, in Company K, in which 
position he served until the close of the war. Col. Kent was twice 
wounded, lirst at the battle of Fredericksburg, Va., in December, 
1862, when he was reported as among the killed, having been pro- 
nounced by the physician mortallj' wounded. The second time he 
was wounded at Spottsylvania. He participated in many skirmishes 
and ten regular battles, among which were tlie Seven Days' battle in 
front of Richmond, Bull Run, South Mountain and Antietam, in 
1862, and the Wilderness and Spottsylvania battles in 1864. At the 
close of the war Col. Kent returned to Waynesburg, where for five 
years he engaged in his former business of contracting and building. 
In 1869 he was appointed United States Store-keeper and Ganger, 
which position he held for sixteen years. In 1874 he enlisted in the 
Pennsylvania National Guards, in Company K of the Tenth Regi- 
ment; was elected Captain, and soon after elected Major. lie was 
subsequently elected to the position of Lieutenant-Colonel, in which 
capacity he served until he resigned in 1887. In 1886 he took 
charge of the Hotel Walton, of which lie was proprietor for nearly 
two years, when he removed with his family to Pittsburgh, Penn. 
The Colonel was married September 21, 1871, to Nanna A. Wallace, 
a native of Pittsburgh, Penn., and of Scotch-Irish descent. They 
are the parents of two cliildren — William II. and James W. Mrs. 
Kent is a member of the Presbyterian Church. The Colonel is a 
Repidjlican in politics. He has served as a member of the town 



HISTORY 01"' GREENE COUNTY. 679 

coiiiiL'il, ami us Quarteriiiuster uf the G. A. E. Post at Wuynesbnrjf. 
Ilu was always noted for his energy and zeal in organizing and con- 
ducting militai'y and civic parades and demonstrations in his native 
town. 

CAPT. W. C. KIMBEli, fire insurance agent, was born in Fay- 
ette County, Penn., April 11, 1821. He is a son of Benedict and 
Mary S. (Vernon) Kiniber, natives of Pennsylvania, and of English 
descent. II is father was a glass-blower in early life, but later was 
engaged in boat-making. He owned and operated a number of l)oats, 
and was for many years Captain of a steamboat. The subject of our 
sketch was the oldest of a family of six children, and was reared in 
Brownsville, Penn., where he attended school. When quite a young 
man he went on the river with his father. He subsequently became 
Captain of the steamboat " Empire," one of his father's boats running 
on the Ohio and Mississippi river.s. Capt. Kimber was on the river 
from 1838 to 1885, with tlie exception of fifteen years. A part of 
that time he was engaged in transporting freight across the plains, 
and part of the time in the milling business. In 1859 he was elected 
to the Legislature of Kansas from Doniphan County, serving the 
first term after the organization of the State. He was married at 
IJrownsville, Penn., in 1846, to Miss Dorotha Ann, daughter of Dr. 
Henry W. Stoy. They were the parents of three children, viz: Lewis 
E., book-keeper for the National Transit Company at Oil City, Penn. ; 
Charles E., a miner in ('olorado, and Laura D., who died in Waynes- 
burg in 1878. Mrs. Kimber died at Oil City in 1883. 

I. H. KNOX, editor of tlie AVaynesburg RepuhUcan. was born 
at East Finley, AVashington County, Penn., April 23, 1862. He is 
a son of John S. Knox, who has been a merchant and postmaster at 
East Finley for thirty-five years. His parents were of English and 
Scotch descent. Mr. Knox is one of a family of eight children, four 
of whom are now living. He was reared in Washington County, 
and attended Waynesburg College. When he left Waynesburg Col- 
lege he was a member of the senior class. During a period of three 
years he was a clerk in his father's store at East Finley, and was also 
for some time a salesman in a dry goods store at Pittsburgh; but on 
leaving college turned his attention to journalistic work. In 1884 
he bought one-half interest in the Waynesburg Reptiblican, in com- 
pany with W. G. W. Day. Mr. Day retired in 1885, since which 
time Mr. Knox has edited and had charge of the paper. He is a 
Republican, and edits the only Pepublican newspaper in the county. 
On September 15, 1886, he was married to Miss Theodosia B., daugh- 
ter of G. W. G. and Carrie (Throckmorton) Waddell. Mrs. Knox 
is a graduate of AVaynesburg College, in the class of 1884. She is 
of English descent, and a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian 



(380 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

Church. Mr. Knox is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
in which he is secretary of the board of trustees. 

P. A. KNOX, attorney, Waynesburg, Penu., was born in Bent- 
leys ville, "Washington County, November 17, 1843. He is a son of 
William and Rosannah (Clark) Knox. His parents, who were natives 
of Washington County, Penn., were of Scotch and Irish origin. His 
father was a carpenter and mill-wright by occupation, and spent most 
of bis life in Washington, Allegheny and Greene counties. In 1848 
he went to Allegheny County, and in 1849 removed to Greene 
County and settled in Carmichaels, where he resided until his death, 
June 4, 1884. Pie was the father of three children, of whom P. A. 
Knox is the second. Mr. Knox received his earliest education at the 
public schools and at Greene Academy, and subsequently attended 
Waynesburg College, where he graduated in 1864 in the regular 
classical course. He began teaching school in 1858, when not quite 
sixteen years of age, and taught almost every winter until 1868. In 
1866 he began the study of law with Messrs. Wyly and Buchanan. 
He was admitted to the bar in 1868, and commenced the practice of 
law in Waynesburg the following year. In March, 1869, he was 
a)pointed to succeed Hon. J. B. Donley as register in bankruptcy 
for the twenty-fourth district, which was then composed of Greene, 
Washington, Beaver and Lawrence counties. Mr. Knox, who is a 
Eepublican, holds the ofHce of United States Commissioner by ap 
pointment. He was married in 1868 to Miss Martha H., daughter 
of James P. Parker. Their children are — Luella, William Parker, 
James Albert and John Clark Knox. 

W. T. LANTZ, cashier of the Fanners and Drovers National Bank 
of Waynesburg, is one of the substantial and enterprising citizens of 
Gre3ne County. He was born in Blacksville, West Virginia, Octo- 
ber 25, 1842. His parents, William and Sarah (Thomas) Lantz, 
were also natives of West Virginia. Their family consisted of nine 
children, of whom four are living. Mr. W. T. Lantz is the sixth 
and was reared in Blacksville where he obtained his early education, 
and afterward attended the college in Waynesburg. In 1872 he 
opened a store in Waynesburg, and began taking an active interest 
in the enterprises of the county — among which was the building of 
the Waynesburg & Washington Railroad. Mr. Lantz was a member 
of the building committee with S. W. Scott, Jacob Swart and others, 
and was also a director of the road. These gentlemen are deserving 
of credit for the active interest they manifested in that enterprise. 
Again we iind Mr. Lantz and others taking an active interest in 
building the Waynesburg Roller Mills. In 1876 he was elected 
president of tlie Waynesburg Agricultural Association, and in 1878 
lie was elected to his present position in the Farmers and Drovers 
Bank. He is one of the trustees of the college, and a member of 



msTOIlY OF GKEENE COUNTY. 681 

till' I. O. (). F. Mr. Lantz was luiitcd in marriage in Wayiiesbiirg 
witii Miss Harriet, daughter of James A. Ijuchauan, a prominent 
attorney of tlie Greene County bar. They have one son, an intelli- 
gent and promising young man, named James for his grandfather. 
Mrs. Lantz is a consistent nieml)er of the Presbyterian Church. 

J. S. LEMLEY, sheriti" of Greene County, Penn., was born in 
Spriiighill Township, this county, March 22, 1845. lie is a son of 
Israel and Mazy (White) Lemley, natives of this county, who were 
of German origin. His lather was a farmer, and died at the early 
age of thirty-three. Mr. Lemley was the youngest in a family of 
four children — two boys and two girls. His ancestors were among 
the early farmers of Springhill Township. He was reared on the 
farm, attended the common school, ancf wits a farmer by occupation. 
J\[r. Lemley is a Democrat, and was elected sheriff of the county in 
1885. He was justice of the peace while a resident of AVhitely 
Townshi]). In 1867 Mr. Lemley married Jane, daughter of David 
Lapping. Mrs. Lemley is of Irish descent. They have one child, 
a daughter, Lizzie. Mr. and Mrs. Lemley and their daughter are 
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

MOlvKIS LEVINO, merchant, of the tirm of Levino Brothers, 
was born in Germany, June 20, 1863. His parents, Alexander and 
Fannie (Ilelburn) Levino, were aho natives of Germany. Mr. 
Levino's father was a teacher in Germany, spending his life in that 
profession in which he was very successful. Mr. Morris Levino, the 
youngest in the family of four children, came to America in 1877, 
and clerked for three months in New York City. He then went to 
Lewisburg, Penn., where he was employed as a salesman for a period 
of two years. In 1880 he became the junior member of the firm of 
A. Levino & Brother, of Waynesburg. In 1882 they established a 
branch store at Mercer, Penn., and have been very successful in the 
business. The subject of onr sketch has charge of the Wayneslnirg 
store, where may be found everything usually found in a first-class 
clothing house. Mr. Levino was united in marriage, January 18, 
1888, with Miss Sophie Stern. She was born in New York City, 
February 17, 1868, and is the daughter of Herman Stern, of Alle- 
gheny, Penn. 

HON. JAMES LINDSEY, deceased, was an attorney and 
counselor at law. He was born near Jefferson Borough, November 
21, 1827, and was a son of John and Anne (Collins) Lindsey, who 
were natives of Greene County, and of Scotch-Irish extraction. His 
father was a farmer and subsequently sheriff and prothonotary and 
spent his life in this county. Judge Lindsey was the oldest in a 
family of eleven children, and was reared on a farm in Jefferson 
Township. He was educated at the Greene Academy in Cumber- 
land Township, and studied law in Waynesburg, where he practiced 



682 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

his chosen profession until 1863, when he was elected President 
Judge of the fourteenth judicial district, then composed ot Washing- 
ton, P'ayette and Greene Counties. He was a Peniocrat and a suc- 
cessful business man and was noted for his honesty and integrity as 
well as for his scholarly attainments. In 1855 Judge Lindsey was 
united in marriage with Miss Sarah, daughter of Dr. Arthur 
Inghram, and a sister to tlie President Judge of the fourteenth 
judicial district, Hon. James Inglu-am. He died at the early age of 
thirty- seven years. To Mr. and Mrs. Lindsey were born four chil- 
dren. Arthur I., the oldest, was born at Waynesburg, July 10, 
1856. He was educated in Waynesburg College, and in 1874 began 
clerking in the F. & D. JSTational ]>ank of Waynesburg, in which he 
is now assistant cashier. He is a Democrat, and is among the, most 
prominent young men of the county. The three remaining children 
are William W. and John H., who are in the West, and Annie L. 
Judge Lindsey M^as a Presbyterian, and his widow is a member of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

H. H. LINDSEY, merchant, who was born in Jefferson Borough, 
tbis county, October 27, 1823, is a son of James and Catharine 
(Shroyer) Lindsey. His parents were also natives of Greene County, 
and of Scotch-Irish descent. Mr. Lindsey's grandfather, James 
Lindsey, built the first brick hotel in Jefferson P)Orough, where he 
spent the remainder of his life. Mr. Iliram Lindse,y was the second 
in a fainilj' of three children and was reared in Jefferson where he 
attended school. At tlie age of sixteen he began to clerk in a store 
and was engaged as a salesman till 1850, when he opened a general 
store and continued in that Inisiness for twenty-five years. In 1869 
Mr. Lindsey was elected prothonotary of the county, served one term 
and was re-elected in 1872. In 1876 he removed to Chicago, 
Illinois. Returning to Waynesburg in 1881, he has since been en- 
gaged in the mercantile business. In 1847 Mr. Lindsey married 
Miss Sarah, daughter of Philip Minor. Mrs. Lindsey is a native of 
Greene County, and of Welsh origin. Their children are — William 
L., for the last .twenty-one years with J. V. Earwell & Co., Chicago, 
111. James M. who is a clerk in the United States revenue office 
at Pittsburgh, Penn.; Laura, wife of Robert D. Myers, of Chicago; 
Margaret, wife of L. L. Minor, Esq., of Uniontown, Penn.; Anna, 
and George !>., who is with Earwell & Co., of Chicago. The de- 
ceased are Helen, wife of W. A. Bane, and Jessie. Mr. Lindsey is 
a member of the I. O. O. F. and A. Y. M., and his wife is a faithful 
member of the Presbyterian Church. They are among the repre- 
sentative citizens of Waynesburg, Penn. 

WILLIAM LIPPEiNCOTT, Sk., farmer, Waynesburg, Penn., 
was born in Franklin T<nvnsliip, this county, October 14, 1812. He 
is a son of Uriali and Nancy Lippencott, natives of New Jersey, and 



niSTOKY OF GREENE COUNTY. 683 

of English descent. Mr. William Lippencott's grandfather was 
araung the earliest settlers of Greene County, and engaged in fann- 
ing and stock growing. He gave his son Uriah instructions in the 
art of husbandry — a business he followed all his life, except the tin)e 
he spent in teaching school. His death occurred in 1855. William 
Lippencott ds the fifth in a family of eight children, and was reared 
on the farm where he and his family reside. Like liis ancestors, he 
chose farming and stock growing as a business and has been very 
successful. His home farm contains 400 acres of valuable land. Mr. 
Lippencott was united in marriage, in 1832, with Rachel, daughter 
of George and Margaret (Bowen) Ullom, and they are the parents of 
five children, viz., Uriah, ]\[argaret, Melissa, Martha and Maria. 
Mrs. Lippencott died in 1848. In 1849 IMr. Lippencott married 
liebecca, daughter of Sylvan us and Rachel (Pew) Smith, natives of 
New Jersey, and of Englisli lineage. Their children are — Smith, 
A. J., Elisha, Rachel A., B. V. and Sylvanus L Mr. Lippencott has 
filled the oflices of assessor, director of the poor and school director. 
Mrs. Lippencott is a consistent member of the Methodist Protestant 
Church. 

H. C. LUCAS, druggist, was born at Hopewell, Greene County, 
Penn., August 23, 1850, and is a son of Samuel and Maria (Nicely) 
Lucas. IDs parents were born in Pennsylvania — the former in 
AVashington County, and tlie latter in Greene. They were of 
Scotch- Irish origin. His father was a merchant and carried on 
liusiness in this county for several years. He conducted a general 
mercantile business inWaynesburg, died at Kenton, Ohio in 18()3. Of 
his family of si.x children, ] Tarry C, is the fifth. But three of the 
children are now living. Mr. Lucas, the subject of this sketch, 
spent most of his early life with his grandparents in Ross County, 
Ohio, on the farm where he attended the district schools. He was 
afterwards a student in Waynesburg College for three years. lu 
1876 he went into a store to learn his present business, and was a 
faithful student. In 1882 he accepted a position as prescription 
clerk in a large drug store at Pittsburg, Penn., and remained there 
for two years, closely confining himself to his work. He returned 
to AVaynesburg in 1884 and opened a drug store on Main street. 
As a business man Mr. Lucas is spoken of, by those who know him 
best, as a high-minded, honorable gentleman. He is a Republican, 
and an active member of the Presbyterian Church. 

A. B. MILLER, D. D., LL. U., now president of Waynesburg 
College, was born near Brownsville, Fayette County, Penn., October 
16, 1829. His parents, Moses and Mary (Knight) Miller, were re- 
spectively of German and Englisli descent. The subject of this 
sketch was the fourth of ten children, eight of whom grew up, seven 
being still alive and in active life. His school opportunities in boy- 



684 HISTORY 0?* GREENE COUNTY. 

hood were very meagre, because of a dissension which closed the 
district school for several years, during which his yonth was spent on 
a farm where his parents resided until his father's death in 1859. lu 
1847 he entered Greene Academy, at Canriichaels, Penn., spending 
there three summers, and teaching in the winters, his lirst effort be- 
ing near Greenfield, Washington County, Penn., which pnjved so 
successful as to place at his option four terms in the school of his 
home district. A few months before twenty-one he was licensed to 
preach by Union Presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 
his first field being MasoutowTi, Penn., wliere, within a few months 
he secured the erection of a hoi;se of worship, his first preaching be- 
ing in a school-house. In the autumn of 1851, by earnest entreaty, 
he gained the consent of his presbytery for his return to school, and 
entered Waynesburg College at the very opening of the institution 
in the first building. At his graduation in 1853 he was elected 
Professor of Mathematics in his Alma Mater, and in 1858 was ad- 
vanced to the position of President, which he has occupied continn- 
oiisly. It is perhaps within the bounds of truth and justice to say 
that, all things considered, the success of Waynesburg College has 
been so remarkable as to present few parallels. It has now property 
and endowment fund valued at considerably over $100,000, all ac- 
quired little by little through persistent effort covering many years. 
The new college edifice is capacious, substantial, and a marvel of 
architectural beauty, of whicli the St. Louis Olserver perhaps justly 
says, in referring to Dr. Miller's recent call to a University in Illi- 
nois, that '• all who are acquainted with the facts will agree that this 
building would not have been there but for the untiring labors of 
Dr. Miller." The alumni of the college now number hundreds, 
many of them being jnen and women of distinction in their spheres 
of nseful work. In connection with his college work Dr. Miller 
preached regularly to the Waynesbnrg Cumberland Presbyterian 
Church for ten years, and for several years owned and published the 
Cuiiiberland Presljyterian while preaching twice of Sundays and 
teaching daily six hours in the college, and supplementing all this, 
while largely managing the financial affairs of the college, with an 
immense amount of lecturing for teachers' institutes, on temperance, 
etc., and with all this maintaining such health as to be spoken of as 
" the man who is never sick." In 1855 he married Margaret K. 
Bell, then principal of the female department of Waynesbnrg Col- 
lege, a position she held until her death, in April, 1874, her labors 
being so efficient, and her life so noble, as to leave among the people 
who knew her an admiration that is little short of worship. From 
this marriage came eight children, of whom seven still survive, the 
death of one resulting from an accident in infancy. Tlie oldest is 
the well known Mrs. Lide Simpson, wife of Dr. Theodore P. Simp- 



IIISTOKY 01<' GliKENE COUNTY. (iSS 

soil, of Beaver Kails, Penii. The second daughter, Lucy, is the wife 
of Trof. W. M. ]]each, late president of Odessa College, Missouri, 
now a student in Jetierson Medical College. The oldest son, Lieut. 
Albert B. Miller, is pursuing medical studies, and will enter Jeffer- 
son College in tlie autumn; and the younger children. Miss Haddie, 
Miss Jessie, Howard B. and Alfred Tennyson are at home with their 
father, the home management being now in the hands of Mrs. Jennie 
(Wilson) Miller, wife of Albert B. If success and perseverance are 
evidence of ability, it cannot be doubted that Dr. Miller is a man of 
marked endowment in all his lines of eti'ort, to which he adds that of 
almost boundless capacity to work, which someone has declared to 
he itself genius. While he has certainly not earned the reputation 
of having enriched himself, his long continued and arduous labors 
have enriched many with high qualifications for success and useful 
ness, and will leave the people of Wayiiesburg and Greene Coimify 
the legacy of Waynesburg College. 

ISAAC MITCHELL, retired farmer and resident of Waynesburg, 
was born in "Washington Township, Greene County, Penn., Septem- 
ber 9, 1816. His parents were Shadrick and IVIargaret (Rinehart) 
Mitchell. The former was a native of Maryland and the latter of 
Greene County, Penn. They were of English and German ancestry. 
Mr. Shadrick ]\[itchell was a farmer and stone-mason, and in early 
life followed his trade. He purchased land in what is now Wash- 
ington Township in 17!J9, and settled and remained there until his 
death, which occurred in 18('>3. He was then ninety-seven years old. 
The farm he purchased is still in the possession of the family. He 
was the father of five daughters and five sons, of whom Mr. Isaac 
Mitchell is the youngest. He was reared in Washington Township, 
on the farm that has been in possession of the famil}' for eighty-nine 
years. He made farming his business and has been very successful, 
owning at present 300 acres of fine land besides other property. He 
moved to Waynesburg in 1877, since which time he has been living 
a retired life. Mr. Mitchell's political views are Democratic, and he 
served two terms as overseer of the poor of Greene County. Mr. 
Mitchell was united in marriage October 4, 1838, with Elizabeth 
Barnes, whose parents were Jacob and Ph<ebe (Crayne) Barnes. ]\[r. 
and Mrs. Mitchell are the parents of si.\ childi-en — Margaret P., 
Mary E., Lucy, Thomas, George and Ross. Mrs. Mitchell is a con- 
sistent member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. 

T. P. MOFFETT, merchant tailor, A¥aynesburg, Penn., was born 
at Carmichacls, Penn., December 8, 1854. lie is a son of Richard 
and Rebecca (Jackson) Moffett, who were of kScotch and English ex- 
traction. His motlier was a native of this county. His father, a 
native of Maryland, was a merchant tailor, and for many years car- 
ried on a successful business at Carmichacls. His family consisted 



6S6 HISTORY OB' GUEENE COUNTY. 

(){ four cliildren — all boys — of whom the subject of this sketch is 
the secoud. lie was reared in Carinichaels and educated in Greene 
Academy. He very naturally learned to be a tailor witix his father, 
serving a regular apprenticeship, lie afterwards learned cutting 
with the well known J. B. West, of New York City. Mr. Moffett 
engaged in business in West Elizabeth for a period of three years. 
In 1877 he commenced business in Waynesburg, where he doesHrst- 
class work, keeps good materials and always guarantees satisfaction 
to his many customers. Mr. Moffett was nnited in marriage in 1877 
with Emma R., daiighter of Abner W. Beddell. Mrs. Moffett is a 
native of Allegheny County, Penn., and a member of the Cumber- 
land Presbyterian Church at Waynesburg. They have two children 
— Edwin Pichard and Fannie Blanche. Mr. Moffett is a Pepubli- 
can, and a member of the Knights of Honor. 

JOHN A. MOORE, liveryman, of the firm of Moore & Hill, 
was born in Whiteley Township, this county, June 9, 1848, and is a 
son of Thomas and Rachel (Maple) Moore. His motiier was born 
in Maryland and was of English extraction. His father, who was a 
farmer all his life, was of Irish lineage, and a native of Greene 
County. His family consisted of ten children, eight of whom grew 
to maturity. Mr. Moore attended the district schools of Whiteley 
Township, and worked on a farm until he became of age, then taught 
school. He then began clerking in a general stoi-e, and remained 
there three j'ears. Mr. Moore subsequently engaged in selling bug- 
gies and continued that business for a period of eight years. In 
1885, in company with F. M. Patterson, he engaged in his present 
business in Waynesburg, where they keep a first-class livery stable 
and have a fair share of the patronage. Mr. Patterson, in 1888, sold 
his interest to Mr. S. M.Hill. Mr. Moore was united in marriage, Octo- 
ber 6, 1872, with Miss Eliza M., daughter of Eaton Rose, and they 
have one child — Golda Myrtle. Mr. and Mrs. Moore are members 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. He is a Democrat, and 
a member of the I. O. O. F. 

WILLIAM II. MORRIS, farmer and stock-dealer, AYaynesburg, 
Penn., was born in this county April 23, 1847, and is a son of Jacob 
and Nancy (Jewel) Moriids. His father is an active, energetic busi- 
ness man and prominent farmer of Greene County, and has suc- 
ceeded in accumulating a fair share of this world's goods. His 
family consists of nine children, of whom William H. is next to the 
oldest. He was reared on the farm with liis parents, and after re- 
ceiving a limited education in the district scliools started out in life 
as a huckster. He subsequently started a general store at Holbrook, 
Penn., where he continued in business until 1878, then bought his 
]n-esent farm where he resides in Franklin Township. In 1873 Mr. 
Morris married Miss Sallie, daughter of Benjamin Huffman, and 



niSTORY OF GREENE COITNTY. 68T 

they have seven children, viz: Milton, Eiiiamiel, Jat-ol), Anna, Frank, 
Guy and Nannie. Mr. Monis is a llepnl)lican. His wile is a 
devoted member of the Baptist Church. 

HON. KOBERT A. McCONNELL, attorney at law, Waynes- 
bnrg, Greene County, Penn., was born October 29, 1826, at New 
London, ten miles south of Lynchburg, Virginia. He is the son of 
James and Elizabeth (Liickey) McConnell, who were natives, of 
Franklin County, Penn., and of Scotch-Irish lineage. The subject 
of our sketch came from the pure Celtic stock, his great-grand- 
father, Pobert ]\rcConnell, being a native of County Antrim, Ire- 
Land, and born in 11)95. His ancestors went from Scotland to the 
(Treen Isle in the Sixteenth century. Robert McConnell and wife 
emigrated to the American colonies, settling in Franklin County, 
Penn., wliere he died in 1770. Tiie members of the tamilj^ liave oc- 
cupied many exalted positions and oflices of trust. They have par- 
ticipated in all the wars of America. James McConnell, grandfather 
of Robert A., served as a captain througli the Revolutionarj^ war. 
After the close of the war he returned to Franklin County, where 
he served as justice of the peace and as county commissioner for 
several years. From 1804 to 1806 he was a member of the State 
Legislature of Pennsylvania. Robert A. McConnell's father, James 
McConnell, was born in Franklin County, Penn., October 9, 1784, 
being the fourth son in a family of twelve children. In 1808 he 
was united in marriage wnth Elizabeth Luckey, who was born near 
Winchester, Virginia, April 5, 1785. Their children numl)ered 
eleven, of whom Hon. Robert McConnell is the tenth. The family have 
usually been Presbyterians. James McConnell graduated at Jeifer- 
S(m College, in 1805, and was admitted to the liar in 1810. On ac- 
count oi failing health he had to abandon his profession and 
subsequently engaged in teaching. Having come to Greene County 
in 1828 and resided on a farm in Morris Township, where Robert 
A., the subject of our sketch was reared. He attended the common 
schools and in 1845 entered the West Alexander Academy. He 
subsequently attended Washington College where he graduated in 
1851. He then began the stndy of law at AVaynesburg, in tlic office 
of Hon. C. A. Black and John Phelan. He was admitted to the 
practice in 1854 and was elected district attorney in 1858, serving 
six years. In 1870 he was elected to the State Legislature, where 
lie introduced a number of important bills and was a strong advocate 
of local option. In 1872, when the members of the Legislature made 
the Speaker a present of $500 worth of silverware, Mr. McConnell 
was selected to make the presentation speech. On January 5,1888, 
he was united in marriage w'ith Miss Sallie E. Arrison, of AVayncs- 
burg, Penn. Mr. McConnell is a Democrat, and an elder and useful 
member of the Presl)yterian Church. He is a member of the board 



688 tnsi'oRY OF greene cotrN-ry. 

ut trustees of Wayiiesburg College. Since the deatli of his brotlier, 
Jose^jh L. McConnell, he has been employed in settling np tlie 
estate. 

JOSEPH L. McCOJSTJSTELL (deceased), surveyor and civil en- 
gineer, who was born in Virginia, August 25, 1814, was a son of 
Jamas and Elizabeth (Luckey) McConnell, being the fourth in their 
family of eleven children. Ilis early childhood was spent in Vir- 
ginia, but at the age of fourteen years he came with his parents to 
Greene County, Penn. He received a good English education and 
devoted much of his time to the study of surveying. He first began 
surveying in 1836 and followed that as a business for many years. 
He also made a map of the county which is very cori'ect. Mr. Mc- 
Connell was a very clever and genial man and had a large acquaint- 
ance throughout the county. He was married. May 11, 1859, to 
Miss Anna Lucke}', and died January 31, 1875. He was a Dem- 
ocrat and he and his wife were members of the Presbyterian Church. 

SAMUEL J. McNAY. — Among the prominent and wealtliy 
farmers of Greene County we mention the name of Samuel J. Mc- 
Nay. Mr. McNay was born December 11, 1821, on the farm in 
Franklin Township where he now resides. His parents, James and 
Anna (Dickenson) McKay, were natives of Pennsylvania and were 
among the pioneers of the State. Mr. McNay is the second of a 
family of eleven children — eight sons and three daughters. He was 
reared on the farm and attended the common schools. Early in life 
he chose farming as his business, in which he has met with marked 
success and is the owner of 1,329 acres of land. For a number of 
years he has operated a saw-mill, and has done most of his owu work. 
In 1845 Mr. McNay married Miss Priscilla Motiord and they were 
the parents of six children, only two of whom are living-— Melissn, 
wife of John Baldwin, and Lucy, wife of George Knox. Mrs. McNay 
died in 1875, a faithful, loving wife and devoted mother. Mr. Mc- 
Nay was again united in marriage, in 1882. with Miss Mary J., 
daughter of Jesse Adams, a Cumberland Presbyterian minigter. 
They are the parents of two children — Luella G. and Jessie. Mr. 
and Mrs. McNay are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian 
Church, in which he has been elder for many years. He is a Dem- 
ocrat, and has served as school director in his township. 

JESSE B. ORNDOFF, farmer and stock-grower, Waynesburg, 
Penn., was born in Greene County, Pennsylvania, October 6, 1857, 
and is a son of Jesse and Susan (Wear) Orndoff. His father was 
also a native of this county, and his mother was born in Virginia. 
His father is a prominent farmer of Center Township, where Jesse 
was reared and received his early education. Mr. Orndoff is one of 
the most industrious farmers of Franklin Township, where he owns 
a well improved farm. He was united in marriage, in 1886, with 



ttlSTORY OF C4REENE COUNT'S'. 089 

Miss Mary L., duugliler of Tliomas and Siisannali (Loai') Iluglies. 
Mrs. ( )riidoli' is of Dutcli and Irish ancestry. They have one chihl. 
Mr. Orndoff is a Democrat, and one of the representative young 
men of the county. 

NATHANIEL PAESIIALL deceased, was born in Fayette 
County, Penn., February 12, 1824, and died in 1881. He was a son 
of James and Hannah (Ooldren) ParshalL His father was a farmer 
by occupation, and reared a family of eleven children. Nathaniel 
was the second and was reared in Fayette County, wlierehe attended 
the district schools. When twenty years of age (1844), he came to 
(Ireene County and worked at the cooper's trade, in connection witli 
farming, for a time, but subse<]nently worked at the carpentei-'s 
trade. In 1858 ]\[r. Parshall married iliss Priscilla Delaney, and 
they were the parents of five children — three boys and two girls — 
Charles T., Hannah, wife of Elmer Keenan ; Sarah, wife of Joseph 
Mason; Alpheusand Isaac 8. Mr. and Mrs. Parshall were meml)ers 
of the Baptist Church, in which he served as deacon for thirty years. 
He was a highly respected citizen and his death was mourned hj all 
who knew him. 

W. W. PATTEPtSON, register and recorder of Greene County, 
Penn., was born in Whitelej' Township, this county, September 17, 
1855. He is a son of James and Susan (Groves) Patterson, who 
were of Scotch-Irish descent. His ancestors were among the pioneer 
settlers of Whiteley Township, and were usually farmers. Mr. Pat- 
terson was reared on the farm, attending the common schools in the 
county, and also Waynesbnrg College. For a few years he devoted 
himself to teaching, having taught seven terras in this county. He 
has held his present position in the county for seven years. He is a 
Democrat, and has served on the school board of Waynesburg. In 
1885 Mr. Patterson married Miss Edith N. Meek, a consistent mem- 
ber of the Baptist Church. Mrs. Patterson's father served one term 
as county treasurer, and is a prominent farmer of Jackson Township. 

liEV. ALBERT E. PATTERSON, of the firm of Pinehart & 
Patterson, owners of the Keystone Marble Works at AVaynesbnrg, 
Penn., was born in Center Township, Greene County, Penn., March 
14, 18G0. He is a son of James and Mary J. (Parshall) Patterson, 
who were natives of Pennsylvania, and of Scotch and French origin. 
His father, who was a farmer all his life, was twice married. His 
lirst wife's maiden name was Julia Ann Quick. Of his six children, 
four are children of the first wife and two of the second. Rev. Al- 
bert E. is the youngest. He was reared on the farm and received 
liis education at Monongahela College, with a view of entering the 
ministry. He received a license in 1884, and was for some time a 
supply for the Bates Fork Baptist Church. In 1886 Rev. Patter- 
son was married, near Uniontown, West Virginia, to Miss Elvira 



(590 HISTORY OF GKEENE COUNTY. 

Ci lover. Mr. Patterson expects to devote bis life to the ministry, but 
will for a time engage in his present business, in which lie is very 
successful. 

HON. ALEXANDER PATTON, deceased, was born in Wash- 
ington County, Penn., in 1819, and Was the son of Joseph Patton, a 
native of Ireland. His education was limited, but by energy and 
pluck he was enabled to begin the study of medicine at Cannons- 
burg, where he finally completed his studies. = He began the practice 
of his chosen profession at Waynesburg, remaining there only a few 
years. He then remo^^ed to Clarksville, Penn., where his genial and 
gentlemanly demeanor and ^professional skill soon won for him an 
extensive practice. He remained in Clarksville until 1865, when lie 
moved to Auburn, n^ar Jeiferson, where he died in 1884. He was 
a successful physician, and had many friends in Greene County. 
For many years lie was an acknowledged leader in the Democratic 
party in Greene County, and in 1863 and 1864 he was elected to 
represent the county in the assembly. In 1882 he was elected State 
Senator. He was an active politician, and able to carry almost 
every vote in his township. He was married in Greene County in 
1845 to Miss Ann, daughter of Abraham and Mary (Carter) Burson. 
Mrs. Patton's parents were" of Scotch-Irish descent and natives of 
Bucks County, Penn. Mr. and Mrs. Patton's family consisted of 
nine children. Two of their sons are now residents of Waynes- 
burg; one, Joseph, is an attorney and counselor at law; and the 
other, A. B., is a physician and surgeon. Hon. Mr. Patton was 
one of Greene County's most highly esteemed citizens. 

JOSEPH PATTON, attorney and counselor at law, was born in 
Clarksville, Penn., August 4, 1855. He is a son of Hon. Alexander 
and Ann (Burson) Patton. His mother was a native of this coun- 
ty, and his father was born in Washington, Penn. Mr. Patton, the 
sixth in a family of nine children, was reared on a farm in Jeffer- 
son Township and attended the Monongahela College. He studied 
law at Waynesburg, where he was admitted to the bar in April, 1880. 
He has met with more than average success in the practice of law. 
He was married in January, 1884, to Miss Ellen, daughter of W. 
T. Wel)l), justice of the peace at Waynesburg. Mr. Patton's father 
was born in Waynesburg February 21, 1840, and is the son of W. 
T. E. Webb, Esq., deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Patton have one child — 
William A. Mr. Patton is a Democrat in politics. 

WILLIAM THOMPSON HAYS PAULEY, editor and proprie- 
tor of the Waynesburg Messenger, was born in Youngstown, Ohio, 
February 6, 1820, and is a son of Thomas and Sarah (Hays) Pauley, 
who were of Irish and English descent. His father, who was a 
farmer, was born in Pennsylvania, as was his mother also. Mr. Pauley 
is' the second in a family of three sons. He lived in Youngstown, 



niSTOUY OP GREENK COUNTY. 691 

Ohio, until he was twelve yearg old. IJis father died in 1830, and 
two years later lie came to Wayneshiirg and learned the printer's 
trade, lie has been in the newspaper ijusiness ever since he was 
thirteen years of age, except while at school, and the greater part of 
that time he spent in the Waynesburg Mensenger ottice, where he 
learned his trade, lie went to Oxford, ()hio, to school in 1838, and 
remained four years. In 18-12 he was employed by Major Hays to 
publish the Waynesburg Musseiujer until IS-t-l, when he pureliused 
the paper, which had been established in 1813, by Dr. Duston. Mr. 
Pauley is a Democrat, and his paper has been the supporter of all 
regularly nofiiinated Democratic candidates in the county, state and 
nation. In 1847 ho was elected county treasurer and served one 
term, lie was married in 184-j to Miss Mary Jennings, who died 
September 2, 1887. Their children are — Sarah E., wife of Isaac 
Bell; James J., of the Messeiujer; l>enjamin J., a farmer; John F., 
a printer, and Thomas C. (deceased). Mr. Pauley is a member of the 
Masonic fraternity and a Sir Knight Templar. He has been con- 
nected with the llefiSeHijer in some capacity, with the exception of 
the four years spent in Oxford, ever since tiie 14th day of May, 1833. 

ZADOCK WALKEIi PlIELAN, manufacturer, foundryman and 
machinist, is a member of the firm of liower & Pheian, Waynes- 
burg, Penn., where he was born June 21, 1838. He is a son of John 
and Jane (WTalker) Pheian. His mother was born in Fayette County, 
Penn. His father, a native of Clreene County, wa.'^ an attorney by 
profession, practiced in Waj'uesbnrg for many years and represented 
his county in the State Legislature. His family consists of live sons 
and one daughter. Z. W., the third in the family, was reared in 
AVaynesburg and educated in the college. He learned the cabinet- 
maker's trade and carried on the furniture business in Waynesburg; 
tiien weTit to Kansas and shared the struggles of that youi]g State, 
and in 1884 he began his present business. Mr. Phelan's wife was 
Miss Harriet, daughter of J. Wesley Chambers of Washington 
County, Penn. They have three children — Anna W., John Charles 
and Zadock AValker. Mr. and Mrs. Pheian are members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he has held many important 
positions. He is a strong advocate of tlie temperance cause and 
votes the Prohibition ticket. He was the Urst county chairman of 
the party, and a candidate on the first ticket issued by the party. 

li. II. PHELAN, attorney and counsellor at law, was born at 
Waynesburg, February 21, 1836, and is a son of Hon. John and 
Jane (Walker) Pheian. His mother was a native of Maryland, and 
was or English and Irish descent. His father, who was an attorney, 
was born in this county, of which he was prothonotary for about 
twelve years. He was elected a member of the State Legislature in 
1SG7, and served two terms. He died August 31, 1874. P. II. 



692 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

Phelan is the second in a family of six children. He was reared in 
Waynesburg and attended the common school and college. He went 
to the territory of Kansas in 1854 and remained until 1861, when he 
retm*ned to Waynesburg and subsequently studied law in the office of 
his father and Hon. C. A. Black. He was admitted to the bar in 
1867, and has been in active practice ever since. Mr. Phelan is a 
Democrat. He has been a member of the town council, and is a 
trustree of the Presbyterian Church. His grandfather, liichard H. 
Phelan, was born in Ireland, and case to Greene County, Penn., at 
an early date. He served on the first grand jury in 17U6. R. H. 
Phelan is president of Green Mount Cemetery Company, treasurer 
of the Waynesburg Park Companj^, and a director in the Farmers' 
and Drovers' National Bank of Waynesburg. 

I/' JOHN R. PIPES, clerk of the courts of Greene County, Penn., 
was born in Morrisville, Penn., March 25, 1855, and is a son of James 
and Elvira (Rinehart) Pipes. His parents were natives of Franklin 
Township, and of English extraction. His father, who was a farmer 
all his life, died September 5, 1881. The subject of onr sketch 
was reared in Franklin Township, attended the common school and 
the Monongahela College at Jefierson, Penn. He first engaged in 
teaching as an occu2:)ation, teaching in the winter for five years and 
mining coal in the summer. Mr. Pipes is a Democrat, and was 
elected to his present position in 1881. In 1882 he was united in 
marriage with Miss Melinda, daughter of William Pitcock, one of 
the early pioneers of the county. Mr. and Mrs. Pipes have two 
children — Mary Emma and Daisy. Mr. and Mrs. Pipes are mem- 
bers of the Methodist Protestant Cliurch, in which he lias held many 
offices, and also served as superintendent of the Sabbath-school. He 
is a member of the I. O. O. F. His father was born in 1800 and 
his mothor in 1818. She is still living, making her home with John 
R. in Waynesburg, Penn. 

D. B. PRATT, farmer and stock-grower, Waynesburg, Penn., 
was born in Franklin Township, Greene County, Peun., December 
25, 1838. He is a son of William Pratt, also a prominent farmer 
in this township, M'ho was born in Fayette County, Penn., October 
13, 1814. His parents were James and Sallie (Boner) Pratt, also 
natives of Fayette County, and of English lineage. William Pratt 
owned a well improved farm of 200 acres in Franklin Township, 
where he died in 1874. He was a blacksmith by trade, in which, he 
engaged until 1854 Avlien he began farming. He spent m'ost of his 
life in Gi-eene County, where he was united in marriage, in 1888, with 
Miss Harriet, daughter of Joshua and Catharine (Livengood) Thomas. 
Her father was born near Philadelphia, Pemi., and was of Dutch 
ancestry. Mrs. Pratt was born in Center Townsliip, this county, 
June 2, 1820, and was the seventh in a faniily of fifteen children. D. 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 093 

B. Pratt, the subject of this sketcli, is ;i man of tireless zeal ami 
nniisual energy, by means of which he has been vei'y successful in 
his chosen pursuit, and owns a well improved farm of 175 acres. 
On August 25, 1870, he married Margaret, daughter of William and 
Sarali (Uodkin) Smith, who were of English and Irish lineage. Her 
mother was a native of J^ennsylvania. Her father was born in New 
Jersey, and died in 1874. They were the parents of sixteen children, 
of whom Mrs. Pratt is the youngest. To Mr. and Mrs. Pratt have 
been born two sons — William Harvey and Lindslcy Inghram. Their 
mother is a member of the l^aptist Church. Mr. Pratt is a Demo- 
crat and a inember of the I. O. (). F. He has served as scliool 
director and auditor of his township. 

ANDREW AUMSTKONCI PUliMAN, attorney and counselor 
at law, was born on Short Creek, in Oliio County, Virginia (now 
West Virginia), April 8, 182;i. He is a son of John and Barbara 
(Burns) Purman. His parents were natives of Pennsylvania, and of 
German and Scotch extraction. His father was a farmer and came to 
Greene County in 1833, settling on a farm in Riehhiil Township. 
Later in life lie moved to Shelby County, Indiana, where lie died in 
1838. llis family consisted of nine children, of wiiom the subject of 
this sketch is the third son. A. A. Purman, Esq., the subject of our 
sketch, spent his early life with his parents on the farm, where lie 
iirst went to subscription school. He was afterwards a student in a 
select school in Waynesburg, and at the founding of Waynesburg 
College he entered it as one of its tirst students. lie Ijegan the study 
of law in Waynesljurg in 1847, in tlio office of Hon. Samuel Clea- 
venger, and at the death of Mr. Cleavenger, 1848, finished the course 
with Lewis Roberts, Esi^., and was admitted to the bar in May, 1849. 
He has devoted his life to the practice of his chosen profession. In 
1856 Mr. Purman was elected district attorney, serving three years. 
In 1869 he was elected State Senator from Greene, Fayette and 
Westmoreland counties, and served in the session of 1871 as chair- 
man of the iinance committee. He was elected in the year 1872, on 
the Democratic ticket, a delegate at large to the constitutional con- 
vention of 1872-1873, and served on the committee on legislation and 
corporation. Mr. Purman was a school director for tifteen years, 
and served for several years as a member of the borough council. He 
is a Democrat, and commenced public speaking for the party in 1844, 
for Polk and Dallas, has spoken in every presidential campaign since, 
and was otfered the nomination for Lieutenant-Governor of Pennsyl- 
vania in 1874. In 1865 lie came within one vote of being nomi- 
nated President Judge of the Fourteenth Judicial District. Mr. 
Purman was united in marriage June 26, 1856, with Miss Mary Ann, 
daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Morris) Russell. Of their nine 
children seven are now living. They are Thainas R., John, a physi- 



694 HISTORY Olt' GKJJKNi; COUNTY. 

cian and surgeon; Lida, wife of B. R.. Williams, of Sharon, Peuti.; 
James J., a law student; Alexander E., Elizabeth M. and A. A. Jr. 
Mr. Purman's grandfather, James Burns, was a soldier in the Revo- 
lutionary war. Mr. and Mrs. Purman are members of the Baptist 
Church, in which he has held many official positions. He is and has 
been president of the board of trustees of Monongahela College at 
Jefferson ever since its organization in 1867. 

Z. C. PAGAN, of the firm of Paga-n & Evans, editors and pro- 
prietors of the Waynesburg Independent, was born in Zanesville, 
Ohio, July 14, 1833, and is a son of Joab and Mary (Stull) Pagan. 
His mother was born in Kentucky, and his father in Beaver County, 
Penn. They were of Scotch-Irish descent. His father, who died at 
the early age of thirty-three, was a minister of the Methodist Pro- 
testant Church, and served as president of the conference. He was 
a self-made man and an able linguist, speaking and writing fo\ir 
languages. Z. C. Pagan is an only child. He was brought to 
Waynesburg in 1840, where he was reared, and partially educated in 
Waynesburg College. Early in life he learned the printing business, 
a calling he has followed the greater part of his life. He started a 
paper in Waynesburg in 1872, in company with J. W. Axtell, called 
the Waynesburg Independent, which has a circulation of over 8,000 
copies per week. The financial success of the paper has been largely 
due to Mr. Pagan's untiring efforts. He was for seven years a 
member of the board of trustees in Waynesburg College, and is a 
prominent member of the Knights of Honor. In 1861 he enlisted 
in Company F, Eighty-fifth Pennsylvania Yolunteer Infantry, and 
was discharged in 1864. He served as Sergeant, and had charge of 
his company when it was mustered out. Mr. Pagan was united in 
marriage, in 1858, with Miss Anna M., daughter of Thomas Hill, a 
farmer of Greene County. Their children are — Emma L., a gradu- 
ate of Waynesburg College, and wife of W. S. Pipes; and Minnie 
E., a student in the college. Mrs. Pipes was for three years a teacher 
in Enfield College, Illinois. The family are members of the Cum- 
berland Presbyterian Church, in which Mr. Pagan is an elder, and 
was superintendent of the Sabbath -school over eight years. 

JAMES P. PANDOLPH, a farmer and stock-grower of Frank- 
lin Township, was born in Jefferson Borough, Greene County, Penn., 
April 23, 1832. He is a son of Isaac and Sarah (Adamson) Pan- 
dolph, who came from New Jersey, their native State, and settled in 
Greene County, Penn., in 1795, on a farm where they spent the re- 
mainder of their lives. They reared a family of ten children, eight 
of whom grew to maturity. James P., the third in the familj'-, was 
reared on the farm with his parents, and attended the district school. 
He has successfully' engaged in farming as a- business, and is the 
owner of some fine laud in this county. In 1855 Mr. Pandolph 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTy. 695 

iiianicil Elizabetli, djuiglitcr of Williuin Uniden, wlio is an ex-associ- 
atc judge, and a proiuinent citizen of this county. To M.'. and Mrs. 
Randolph were born eiglit cliildren — Sarah M., wife of Smith Adam- 
son; ]\[ary, wife of Isaiali Gordon; Rachel, wife of Jackson I'ratt; 
Lucy, Isaac L., William, Lizzie and Thomas. Mr. Raudolph is a 
Democrat. He and wife are prominent members of the Cumberland 
Presbyterian Church. 

J. A. F. RANDOLPH, insurance and real estate agent, Waynes- 
burg, Penii., was born in Jefferson Township, this county, March 18, 
1851, and is a son of Abraham F. and Emily A. (Adamson) Ran- 
dolph, also natives of this county. Al)raham F. Randolph was a son 
of James F. Llandolph, a native of Middlesex County, N. J., and 
member of the Society of Friends. lie came to Greene County, 
Penn., in 1795, and remained all his life on the farm where Abraham 
F. was born. The farm is still in possession of the family. Abra- 
ham F. and Emily A. Randolph were married in this connty, June 
18, 1833, where they died, the former December 8, 1860, and the 
latter March 9, 1885. They were the parents of four children, two 
of whom are livitig — William IT. F. and .James A. F. The deceased 
are an infant, and Sarah L., wife of C. C. Strawn. The subject of 
our sketch was united in marriage, January 9, 1888, with Miss 
Emnia F. Johnson, who was born September 26, 1859. She is a 
daughter of William R. and Minerva E. (Fleming) Johnson, the 
former a native of this connty, and the latter of West Virginia. Mr. 
Randolph acquired his education in the common schools and Waynes- 
burg College. He remained at home until twenty-one years of age, 
then tauo-ht school for a period of five years. He first engaged in 
his present business in 1880. He represents some of the best in- 
surance companies of the United States, and also deals extensively in 
real estate. Mr. Randolph is a member of the board of trust of the 
Pennsylvania Synod of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and 
treasurer of the endowment fund for support of Waynesburg College. 
He and his wife are members of tlie Cumberland Presbyterian Church. 
He is at present city clerk. 

JOSEPH W. RAY.— The subject of this sketch, Joseph W. Ray, 
is the eldest son of James E. and Margaret (Leonard) Ray, and was 
born May 25, 1849, in Morris Township, Greene County. His 
father, who is now (July, 1888) in his eightieth year, was born in 
Morris County, JS'. J., and his mother in Trumbull County, Ohio. 
His parents, immediately upon their marriage, settled in Washing- 
ton County, Penn., but removed therefrom April 1, 1849, to a farm 
in Greene County, where they liave ever since resided. They gave 
him the advantage of such educational facilities as the common 
schools of that time and section afforded. At nineteen years of age 
he secured employment as a teacher, a calling to which he devoted 



69(j HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

several years. In 1871 lie became a student of Waynesburg Col- 
lege, and was graduated by that institution in the class of 1874:. 
Abont this time he commenced the study of law, and was admitted 
to the bar of his native county in June, 1876. Two years later, or 
April 1, 1878, having associated himself with H. B. Axtell, Esq., 
they opened an office in Waynesbnrg, under the firm name of Ray 
& Axtell, since which time he has been actively engaged in the prac- 
tice of his profession. He was admitted to practice in the Supreme 
Conrt of the State in 1883. In politics Mr. Eay is a Eepublican. 
lie was chairman, for three years, of the Ilepviblican County Com- 
mittee of Greene County, lie has represented the county in a State 
Convention, and was an alternate delegate to the Republican National 
Convention of 1880. lie has twice been the nominee of his party 
for office. In 1884 he ran for Congress against Hon. Charles E. 
Boyle, the Democratic candidate, in what was then the twenty-first 
district, composed of the counties of Fayette, Greene and West- 
moreland. Althougli defeated by 2,500 votes, this was much the 
smallest Democratic majority the district ever gave, up to that time. 
In 1880 he was nominated for the State Senate, in the fortieth sena- 
tnrhl district, composed of Fayette and Greene counties, having for 
his Democratic competitor lion. Thomas B. Schnatterly. The official 
returns gave Mr. Schnatterly 8,438 votes, and Mr. Ray 8,256 votes, 
a rednction of the usual Democratic majority of more than 2,000 in 
the district to 182. Mr. Ray was married May 18, 1878, to Miss 
Henrietta lams, a daughter of the late Thomas Iams,^of Morris 
Township, Greene County. Since their marriage they have resided 
in Waynesburg, and have four children, two girJs and two boys. 

WILLIAM RHODES, farmer, Waynesburg, Penn., who was born 
in Franklin Township, July 12, 1818, is a son of William and JSIancy 
(Rinehart) Rhodes, who were of German extraction. His father 
was a native of this county, and a farmer all his life. The Rhodes 
family have usually been farmers. William Rhodes is an only 
child. He was born in a house where the poor-house now stands. 
The subject of this sketch received his early education in the district 
schools of Franklin Township. He has been a successful farmer, 
and owns 300 acres of good farming land. He remained on the 
farm with his parents until 1852, when he married Miss Jane, daugh- 
ter of William and Elizabeth (Shull) Shriver. Her parents were 
natives of this county, and of Dutch and Irish lineage. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Rhodes were born seven children — Lizzie, Rettie J., wife of 
Rinehart Gwynn; George F., J?elle II., Ida D., Willie B. and Char- 
ley. Mr. Rhodes is steward in the Methodist Church, is a member 
(if the Masonic fraternity and the I. O. O. F. The following sketch 
nf William Rhodes' grandfatlier will be of interest to many reader.<: 
William Rhodes was born at Newport, R, I,, about. 1759. He went 



IIISTOIIY OK GREENE COUNTY. (VJ? 

to sea at sixteen and reniaincil a sailor for sixteen yeai's. With many 
vicissitndes liis career seems checkered. From liis manuscript jour- 
nals wo find him a prisoner in tlie French prison from 1778 to 1780, 
and on his very next voyage from London in May vpas recaptured, 
but liberated throuo;h the influence of American friends, as an Amer- 
ican citizen. In October of 1780 he sailed for Earbadoes with a 
large fleet of merchant ships, convoyed by ten line of battle ships. 
The next year he was once more captured by the French and again 
liberated. Again he was a prisoner in New York, being captured 
by the English, and exchanged after Ave months' confinement. In 
1784 he was wrecked off Cape Cod, and the following year (1785) 
he heard for the flrst time of the Ohio settlement. About 1787, his 
father dying, William Rhodes' attention was directed to the settle- 
ments west of the Alleghany Mountains, and on the 18th of January, 
1788, reached the old Kcdstone Fort (now Brownsville) in Fayette 
County. After peddling, and keeping store at Jackson's Fort (then 
Washington County), he bought, in 1791, a plantation (where his son, 
James li. lihodes, now resides), married and began farming. In his 
own words: "Settled for life, I hope. Here I began jogging for life 
and family, not in the least discouraged in my new profession." The 
manuscript is rather amusing and interesting, illustrated by draw- 
ings of his own, of ships, scenery, women, men, birds, fishes and 
animals, according to the fancy of this backwoods artist. 

S. S. RINEIIART, merchant, Waynesburg, Penn., son of Samuel 
and Mary (Zook) liinehart, was born in this county February 16, 
1848. His mother was also a native of this county, and his father 
was born in Ohio. They were of German and Irish extraction. His 
father was a farmer and coal miner, and reared a family of nine chil- 
dren, of whom the subject of this sketch is the fourth. He was 
reared in Franklin Township, attended the common schools, and in 
early life learned the harness maker's trade. He engaged in that 
business in Waynesburg until 1872, when he commenced clerking in 
a store. He was employed as a salesman until 1878, when he began 
business for himself at Morrisville, Penn., and has met with success. 
Mr. Rinehart was united in marriage October 7, 1872,. with Mary 
Ella Lippencott, a native of this county. Their children are — Mattie, 
Nettie, Eddie H. and llermon. Mr. Rinehart is a Democrat in 
politics. 

JAMES R. RINEIIART, Pi-ofessor of Languages in Waynesburg 
College, was born at AVoodstield, Monroe County, Ohio, in October, 
1832, and is a son of Simon and Hannah (Morris) Rinehart, natives 
of Greene County, Penn. His fathei- was of German and Irish ex- 
traction. Prof. Rinehart's great-grandfather, who was a farmer, was 
among the early settlers of this county, and was killed by the Indians. 
Ilis grandfather, Rarnett Rinehart, was born September 8, 1777, 



698 IIISTOEY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

in this county. His maternal grandparents were natives of Mon- 
mouth County, New Jersey, and wei'e of Scotch and German descent. 
The Einelaart family have, as a rule, been farmers and very success- 
ful in business. Several members of the family have entered the 
professions and have met with unusual success. Pi'of. Ririehart's 
father was a blacksmith by trade. He was clerk for tlie county 
commissioners for several years, and also served as justice of the 
peace. He reared a family of four children, of whom the Professor 
is the third. He v/as educated in Greene County, graduating in the 
regular classical course at Waynesburg College. He then took up 
the study of law and was admitted to the bar in 1857. He began the 
practice of his profession in Clinton, Illinois, and after a short time 
went to St. Louis, Missouri, where lie remained until 1860, then re- 
turning to Greene County, Penn. In 1887 lie accepted his present 
position as instructor in Waynesburg College, and has filled the same 
continuously since that time. Prof. Riuehart was married in 1873 
to Miss Ida, daughter of Hon. Patrick Donley, of Mt. Morris, Penn. 
Their cliildren are — Patrick Donley and Margaret Morris. The 
Professor is a member of the Masonic Fraternity. 

PROF. A. I. P. RINEHART, superintendent of the public 
schools of Waynesburg, Penn., is among the prominent instructors 
of the county, and a man of marked ability as a teacher. He was 
born in Franklin Township, this county, April 17, 1860, and is the 
son of William and Elizabeth (Porter) Rinehart, who were of Englisli 
and German descent. His parents were natives of Greene County, 
and descendants of its early settlers. His father was a farmer, and 
of his family of nine' children Prof. Rinehart is the oldest. He re- 
ceived his early education in the common schools and afterwards took 
a regular course in the Edinboro State Normal School, graduating in 
1883. He has since engaged in teaching as a pi-ofessiou, and his 
work has been confined to Greene County, with the exception of two 
years that he was principal in the High School at Freeport, Arm- 
strong County, Penn. In 1885 he was elected to his present position 
of principal of schools in Waynesburg. During vacation he has 
frequently instructed other teachers of the county. In 1888 he 
taught a very successful term in Jackson Township, his pupils being 
principally those who had themselves been teachers. Prof. Rinehart 
is a genial, pleasant gentleman, and is held in high esteem by the 
teachers of Greene County. 

J. G. RITCHIE, Chicago, Illinois, was boru in Cumberland 
Township, Greene County, Penn., June 27, 1834. His parents were 
Col. Newton J. and Anna (Gwynn) Ritchie, natives of Pennsylvania, 
both now deceased. They were the parents of four children, of whom 
two are living — Mrs. William Smith and the subject of this sketch. 
He was united in marriage February 10, 1876, with Miss Philiuda 



IIISTOUY OF GREENE COUNTY. 609 

Andrew, who was born in liiehland County, Ohio, April 18, 1847. 
Her parents were William and Mary J. (McConnell) Andrew, tiie 
former a native of AVashington County, Penn., and the latter of Vir- 
ginia. Mr. Andre\\' departed this life in 1850, and his widow in 1SG3. 
They were the parents of tive children, four of whom are living, viz.: 
Elizabeth, wife of Samuel Bonar; Louisa, wife of John Chambers; 
Mary J., widow of Dr. F. M. Denny, and Mrs. J. G. Eitchie. Tiie 
deceased was James A., who was killed in the late war. Mr. and 
Mrs. Ritchie are the parents of one daughter — Anna M., born in 
Waynesburg, Penn., February 19, 1878. Mr. Ritchie acquired his 
education in the common schools and Greene Academy at Carmi- 
chaels, Penn. He subsequently taught for a number of years, then 
read law with E. M. Sayers. After his admission to the bar he 
practiced in partnership with A. A. Purman, Esq. Mr. Ritchie 
served as District Attorney for Greene County, after which he en- 
gaged in the hardware business for five years with his brother-in-law, 
William P. Smith, in Waynesburg. lie next turned his attention 
to the W. & W. R. R. enterprise, in which betook an active interest 
and was one of those most instrumental in procuring the road to 
Waynesburg. He served as first president of the road, was also 
superintendent, and is still one of the directors. In 1887 he went 
to Chicago, and in company with J. S. Wolf, has been engaged in 
the real estate business. He and his wife own property in Greene 
County, Penn., Richland County, Ohio, and in Chicago. They are 
consistent members of the Presbyterian Church, 

MORGAN ROSS, dealer in wagons, carriages and harness, 
Waynesburg, Penn., was born in Center Townsliip, this county, 
February 22, 1844. He is a son of Peabody Atkinson and Maria 
(Matthews) Ross. His parents were natives of Pennsylvania, and of 
Scotch-Irish origin. His father was for some time a manufacturer, 
but devoted most of his life to farming. His family consisted of 
eight children, of whom the subject of this sketch is the oldest living. 
Until he was twenty-one years old Mr. Ross remained on the farm 
with his parents in Center Township, where he attended the district 
school. In 1865 he came to Waynesburg and learned the carriage 
and wagon-maker's trade, subsequently engaging in that business 
until 1883, the year in which his first wife, Maggie Throckmorton 
Ross died. Mr. Ross has one child, Charles, born July 4th, 1879. 
He was married the second time in 1885. Mr. Ross is a Democrat, 
and a member of the I. O. O. F. 

JOSEPH B. ROSS, manufacturer, of the firm of McGlumphy & 
Ross, Waynesburg, Penn., was born in Dunkard Township, Greene 
County, Penn., January 24, 1844. His parents, Thomas and Eliza 
(Bailey) Ross, were natives of Fayette Connty, and of German origin. 
His father was a cabinet-maker by trade, to which he devoted the 



700 niSTOKY OF GKEENIC COUNTY. ■ 

early part of liis life. In later years he retired to the (juiet of the 
farm, wliere he spent the i-eniainiiig' portion of his life. Ills i'amily 
consisted of five children — three daughters and five sons, of whom 
Joseph B. is the second. He was reared in Cnmberland Townsliip, 
where he attended the common schools and early in life learned the 
mannfactnring of woolen goods. He was employed in that business 
at Clarksville, Penn., nntil 1873, when he bought land near AVaynes- 
burg and engaged in faruiing from 1876 to 1879. Mr. Ross was 
then proprietor of a grocery and meat-market for two years, when he 
bought the old planing-mill and started his present business. In 
1873 Mr. Iloss married Susan, daughter of Samuel Lu-se, a prominent 
and successful farmer of Franklin Township. They have three 
children — Cliarles L., Walter S. and Franklin. Mr.' Ross is a Re- 
publican. His grandfather, Thomas Ross, was one of the pioneers 
of Greene County. 

HON. ABNER ROSS, ex-Senator, is a merchant by occupation. 
He was born in Washington Township, this county, March 30, 1838, 
and is a son of Benjamin and Hannah (Johns) Ross, also natives of 
this county. His grandfather, Timothy Ross, was among the early 
pioneer farmers of the county. Mr. Ross is the fourth in a family of 
twelve children, eight of whom grew to maturity. He was reared 
on the home farm, and his early education was obtained at an Academy 
in Fayette County, Penn. He afterwards spent some time in 
Waynesbnrg College. Mr. Ross chose farming as a business in which 
he engaged until he was elected sheriff of the county in 1870. He 
held that office for three years, then engaged in the mercantile busi- 
ness in Waynesburg until 1884, when he was elected State Senator 
and served two years, was elected to fill the unexpired time of 
Senator Patton. He has since continued in the boot and shoe busi- 
ness which he established in 1882. In 1863 Mr. Ross married 
Margaret P., daughter of Isaac Mitchell. Mrs. Ross is also a 
native of this county, to which her grandfather came at an early 
date and lived to the advanced age of ninety-six years. Mr. and 
Mrs. Ross are the parents of four children — Albert Lee, Benjamin 
F. and Isaac Wilbert. Jennie E. died July 14, 1885, aged fifteen 
years. Mr. Ross is a Democrat. He and his wife are members of the 
Baptist Church. 

J. II. ROGERS, photographer, was born December 11, 1831, 
near the place where the Union depot now stands in the city of Pitts- 
burgh, Penn. His parents are James R. Rogers, born in 1805, and 
Sarah O. Rogers, born in 1812. They were both natives of Penn- 
sylvania. They were married in 1830, afterward settling in Pitts- 
burgh Avhere they remained for six years. Mr. James Rogers was a 
carpenter and contractor and resided in several different towns after 
leaving Pittsburgh. He resided for a time in Ijealsville, Penn., 



IIISTdUY OF OUKENE COUNTY. 70L 

where Mrs. Sanili O. Rogers died. Mr. Rogers afterwards married 
Mary Price and moved to Clover Hill, and from tliere to Rrowns- 
ville, J'cnn. lie then moved near Mount Pleasant, Oliio, and finally 
to Indiana, where they reside at the present. By the first marriage 
there -were ten children, of whom Mr. J. JI. Rogers is the oldest. 
Of these five are living. The subject of our sketch was united in 
marriage, October 31, 1854, with Charlotte Y. Rearhard, who was 
born in Uniontown, Fayette ('ounty, Penn., January 8, 1833, and is 
a daughter of Conrad and Elizabeth Rearhard, natives of Pennsyl- 
vania. Iler father was boin in 1787, and departed this life Decem- 
ber 5, 1870. Mrs. Rearhard was born in 1792, and died May 24, 
1888. Mr. and Mrs. Rogers have six children, five of wliom are 
living; viz., Sarah E., Emma J., Anna V., Craig S. and James H. 
Frauk is deceased. Mr. Rogers actj^uired his education in the com- 
mon schools, after wiiich he learned the carpenter's trade witli liis 
father and worked at that business till 1861. He then began study- 
ing photography with J. S. Young, ot Washington, Penn. He 
finished the study in two years and opened a gallery in Bealsvillc. 
After remaining there about nine months he carried on a successful 
business at Brownsville for a period of eight years. He then re- 
turned to Washington and purchased the gallery owned by J. S. 
Young. He remained tliere for eight years, then purchased a farm 
in Amwell Townsliip, Washington County, on the W. & W. Rail- 
road, consisting of one hundred acres. He remained on his farm 
three years, then moved to Wayneslmrg, opened a gallery and has 
been very successful in his business. He makes pliotographs of all 
kinds and sizes, making a specialty of copying and enlarging pic- 
tures. Mr. Rogers is a member of the Knights of Honor, and both 
he and his Avife are members of the C. P. Church. 

REV. W. M. RYAN was born March 7, 1848 near West Alexan- 
der, Washington County, Pennsylvania. His parents, Joseph and Isa- 
bella Ryan, still reside in Washington County. His father has been 
a farmer all his life, hence the subject of this sketch was reared on 
a farm. He enjoyed the advantages of the public schools of his na- 
tive county, and also a term or two in the Academy at West Alex- 
ander. After this he .became a teacher, teaching for five years. In 
December, 18(58, he made a profession of religion, and became a 
member of the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church. In 1871 he en- 
tered Waynesburg College, graduating in the class '74, in the class- 
ical course, after which he took a three year's course in Crozer Theo- 
logical Seminary, at Chester, Pennsylvania. He was ordained as a 
gospel minister in September, 1877, since which time he has been 
engaged in the active duties of his profession. His first pastorate 
was with the Beulah and Bates Fork Baptist Churches of this 
County. From these churches he was called to the charge of the 



702 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

Wayuesburg Baptist Cliiircli, where he is now in the iiiiitli year of 
pastorate. His labors in all these lields have been eminently success- 
ful. Mr. Kyan has been twice married; first, to Miss JSlantie, 
daughter of Jesse Hill, August 24, 1876. She died Juue 21, 1880. 
He was again married May 17, 1883, to Miss Lizzie, daughter of 
Calvin Rush, of Morris Township, this County. Mr. Kyan's 
tamily now consists of himself, wife and fonr children ; viz., 
Gerti-ude M., and Nantie Belle, by his first wife; and Isa Lee and 
Jessie J., by his second marriage. 

E. M. SAYERS, attorney at law, Waynesburg, Penn., is one of 
the first aud most active business men of the county. He was born 
in Waynesburg May 30, 1812. His father Ephriam Sayers, was a 
native of Loudon County, Virginia, aud his mother, Mary (Wood) 
Sayers, was born in Hartford County, Maryland. Both were of 
English ancestry. Ehpriam Sayers was a pioneer of Greene County, 
having in 1786 settled two miles east of the present site of Waynes- 
burg borough, where he led an industrious life, and reared a family 
of four children — three sons and one daughter. The subject of this 
sketch was reared on a farm in Franklin Township, this county, and 
completed his education in Washington College, Lie read law in 
Waynesburg with the Hon. Samuel Cleavenger, and commenced the 
jDractice of his profession in his native town in 1835. He has met 
with marked success, which may be attributed. to his more than ordi- 
nary business qualifications. He is the owner of a number of farms 
in (Ireene County, large tracts of land in the South and West, and 
considerable real estate in Waynesburg. He has been a member of 
the Republican party since its organization. Mr. Sayers was united 
in marriage with Miss Jane Adams, a daughter of Robert Adams, in 
1839, she died in 1847. Their children are Llenry C, a farmer and 
business man of Waynesburg ; James E., a member of the Greene 
County bar — Thomas and Ezra, deceased. Mr. Sayers was united 
in marriage the second time, in 1852, with Miss Harriet W. Tan- 
ner, a native of Massachusetts. They are the parents of six chil- 
dren : Norman, a farmer of Franklin Township ; Florence A., wife of 
Charles A. Martin ; Mary, D. L., and two children who were burned to 
death when quite young. Mr. Sayers has given his children the 
advantages of a liberal education. Llis sons Henry C. and James 
E., were soldiers in the late war ; and his uncle, Josiah Sayers, and 
his grandfatlier, AVilliam Sayers, were in the Revolutionary war, be- 
ing present when Lord Cornwallis surrendered his army at York- 
town, Virginia. The farm settled by William Sayers tlie ancestor 
is still in possession of the family, and has been for about a hundred 
years. 

JAMES E. SAYERS attorney at law of Waynesburg, Penn., 
where he was born May 30, 1845, is a son of E. M. and Jane 



insTOUY OF GUEKNfi countV. 7()ii 

(Adains) Silvers, also natives of Wayncsburg. His lather ib an at- 
torney and counsellor at law. James E. was reared in Waynesburg, 
where he attended the coniniou school and college. IJe was after- 
wards a student in the Ohio State University, and learned the print- 
ing trade when a boy. July 15, 18G2, he enlisted in Co. F, 85th 
Penn. Vol. Infantry, as a private, was discharged at Ricliniond, Va., 
with the rank of Orderly Sergent on May 13, 1865. He was "in at 
the death," having tired Ids last gun at Appomattox C II. Va., and 
liaving participated in twenty-two battles and skirmishes and three 
seiges — Chariestown, S. C, Petersburg and Richmond, Va. Pe- 
turnihg from tiie army, his first Inisiness venture was as an editor. 
In 18t_)t3 he bought the Waynesljurg RejmhliccDi, of which paper he 
was editor and proprietor for nearly three years, when lie again en- 
tered school and graduated, in 1870, in the law course in the Indi- 
ana State University. For four years thereafter he continued in 
journalistic work. In 1874 he began the practice of law in Waynes- 
burg, where he has since remained. Politically Mr. Sayers is an ear- 
nest Pepublican. lie was a delegate in the National liepublican 
Convention of 1884, and was once the nominee of his party for Con- 
gress in the Twenty-first District. On June 16, 18()8, Mr. Sayers 
married Anna A., daughter of Albert Allison, One of tlie lirst 
merchants of Waynesburg. Mr. and Mrs. Sayers are the parents of 
two children — Albert II. and Jane. 

ROBERT A. SAYERS, chief l)urgess of Waynesburg, Penn., 
born May 27, 1841, is a son of William W. and Rebecca (Adams) Say- 
ers, natives of this county. Ilis father was born August 12, 1805, 
and died May 22, 1886. Jle was a brother of E. M. Sayers, Esq., and 
they were for years associated in the real estate business in Waynes- 
burg. William's main occujiation was the stone and marble busi- 
ness, in which he was a partner with Simon Rinehart, Esq., for many 
years. lie was married in Waynesl)urg to Miss Rebecca, daughter 
of Robert Adams, who was a Whig and a Republican, and lived to be 
ninety-six years old. He was at one time register and recorder of 
(4reene C-ounty. Robert A., the subject of our sketch, was reared in 
Waynesburg, where he was educated in the college. When the war 
broke out he left college and enlisted Nov. 4, 1861, in the 8th 
Penn. Reserves. Ilis military career is worthy of record. He par- 
ticipated in severe l)attles; was taken prisoner and suffered all the 
horrors of prison life. lie was wounded at the battle of Gaines Mill, 
in left thigh, and left on the battle-field for two weeks re- 
ceiving no medical aid. He was then sent to Pelle Isle, and subse- 
quently to Libby prison, where he was paroled and sent home. lie 
only remained until his wound was well enough, and went through a 
long siege of typhoid and malarial fever, when he again joined his 
regiment at Upton Hill, N'irginia. At the close of his throe .years' 



704 HISTOKY OF GllEKNE COUNTY. 

service lie returned lioine and engaged in the coal business for six- 
teen years. In 1883 he was aj^pointed U. S. Store-keeper and 
Guager. Mr. Sayers was married in Potter County, Penu., January 
21, 1869, to Miss Florence Stevens, whose parents were born in Ver- 
mont. Mr. and Mrs. Sayers have one child — Fendora, now a student 
at Oberlin College, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Sayers and daughter are 
members of the Presbyterian Church. lie is a Republican and a 
member of the G. A. R. Post, No. 367, Department of Pennsylvania. 

IIEIS'RY C. SAYERS is among the successful busines men of 
Greene County. He has made farming his chief pursuit and has also 
dealt e.xtensively in stock and real estate. lie began business early 
in life, being the oldest son of E. M. Sayers, Esq. Mr. Sayers was 
born in Waynesburg, November 21, 1840. Here he grew to man- 
hood and was a student at the tirst session of the college. He went 
to Iowa in 1859 and engaged in buying and shipping stock to 
Chicago, Illinois. He returned to Waynesburg in 1861, and 
August 11, 1862, he enlisted in Company G, Fifteenth Pennsylvania 
Cavalry. This was an independent regiment which acted as bodj^ 
guard to General Rosecrans. Among the battles in which he engaged 
were the following : Antietani, Murfreesboi'o, Chickamauga, TuUah'ama 
and Rome, Georgia, pnrsuit of Longstreet through Tennessee by way 
of Knoxvilie to North Carolina, and then had quite a skirmish with the 
Indians. In 1863 he was captured by General Wheeler's Cavalry 
and marched with Wheeler's command for some time befor6 being 
paroled. After joining his regiment he was for a time detailed as a 
courier to carry despatches to the front facing the enemy. At the close of 
the war Mr. Sayers returned to Waynesburg, where he has been success- 
fully engaged in business. He was united in marriage, in 1867, with 
Miss Clementine, daughter of Samuel Rush. Mrs. Sayers is a native 
of this county, and of English descent. Their children are — Ella 
Jane, C. E. and Henry C, Jr. Mrs. Sayers is a member of the C. 
P. Church. Mr. Sayers is a Republican, was constable of the county, 
two terms and has served as a member of the school board of Waynes- 
burg. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity. Mr. Sayers was 
formerly a member of the Templeton Post of Washington, Penn., 
but noM' belongs to Col. J. F. McCuUough Post, of Waynesburg, of 
which he has been commander, and was an alternate delegate to the 
Twenty-first National Encampment at St. Louis, Mo. 

J. M. SCOTT, farmer and stock-grower, and U. S. store-keeper 
and ganger in the twenty-third collective district of Pennsylvania, 
was born in Jefferson Township, Greene County, Penn., December 
10, 1844, and is a son of William P. and Sarah (Long) Scott. His 
father and grandfather were farmers. His grandfather, James Scott, 
came I'roin Baltimore, Md., to Greene County, Penn., among the early 
settlers of Jefferson Township. J. M. Scott's grandmother, Scott, 



HISTOnY OF GUEENE COUXTY. 705 

was iiliiety-eiglit yt-nvi of n^e; licr maiden name was Margaret Kin- 
caid, she died April 1, 188^. Tlie subject of our sketch is tiie oldest 
in a family of seven children, all of whom are living and mai'ried. 
He was reared on the farm, attended the district school in Jetierson 
Township and Waynesbnrg College. He taught school in early life, 
hut has made farming his main pursuit, and is a resident of Franklin 
Township. In 1871 Mr. Scott marrried Miss Margaret, daughter of 
Iliram Kinehart. Their children are — Harry, Henry andJesse. Mrs. 
Scott is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Scott is 
a Democrat, and a member of I. O. O. F., and is a member of the 
encampment. He is also a Master Jlason. 

S. W. SCOTT, wool and grain merchant, was born in Washing- 
ton County, June 26, 1835, and is a son of William and Abigail 
(Wood) Scott, natives of Washington County, Penn. His father was 
Scotch and his mother was of English and Irish origin. His father 
who was a farmer nearly all his life died in 1878. His tamily con- 
sisted of eight children. The subject of our sketch was reared in 
Greene County, to which his parents removed in 1839. He attended 
the public schools and Waynesbnrg College. lie learned the car- 
penter's trade at which he worked for six years. Mr. Scott then be- 
gan dealing in wool and has been extensively engaged in that business 
since 1863. He is prominent among the successful business men of 
Waynesbnrg. Mr. Scott, who is a Republican, was appointed Dep- 
uty U. S. Revenue Collector in 1864, and served until 1866. He 
■was re-appointed in 1869 and served until 1874. Mr. Scott was 
married in 1865 to Miss Frances, daughter of Thomas Hill. Their 
children are — Ella B., wife of A. P. Dickey, Esq., of Wayneslnirg; 
William E., Nannie, Fannie and Samuel W. Mr. and Mrs. Scott 
are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he is' a 
trustee. 

W. G. SCOTT, Professor of Mathematics of Waynesbnrg College, 
was born in Washington County, Penn., December 11, 1832. His 
parents were William and Alngail (Wood) Scott, also natives of 
Washington County, and of Scotch and English ancestry. They were 
married in Washington County, where they remained until 1839, at 
which time they i-emoved to Greene County, where they remained 
until their death. Mr. Scott departed this life in 1878, and his widow 
in 1880. They were the parents of nine children, eight still living. 
Prof. W. G. Scott is the oldest and was i;nited in marriage, April 
17, 1862, with Miss Mary Sutton, who was boi'n in England, being 
the daughter of the Rev. R. H. and Martha (Cowen) Sutton, now 
residents of Waynesbnrg. To Mr. and Mrs. Scott have been born three 
children — Mattie E., wife of Rev. J. H. Lucas; Minnie M., wife of 
.r. N. Norris, and Gail. Prof. Scott acquired his earliest education 
in the old-fashioned logschool-h(nise and afterwards attendul Waynes- 



1^06 HlSl'OilY Ot* GftfiEfffi COtlKTY. 

burg College, where he graduated iu the year 1867. After teaching 
one year in Greene Academy, he was elected to the chair of niatlie- 
iiiatics of Waynesburg College, and has tiled the position ever 
since. He has also been engaged in the mercantile business since 
1867, being now sole proprietor of the store opened by him and his 
father in tliat year. It is one of the leading stores in Waynesburg, 
receiving a large patronage from the town and vicinity. 

E. H. SHIPLEY, druggist, was born in Uniontown, Fayette 
County, Tennsylvania, November 3, 1864, and is a sou of Julius 
and Eliza (Hair) Shipley. His parents were also natives of Fayette 
County, and of English descent. His father was a civil engineer, 
and is now deceased. The subject of our sketch is the second in a 
family of three children. He was reared in a Uniontown, where he 
attended school. He afterwards clerked in a drug store for a period 
of three years. Mr. Shipley came to Waynesburg in 1881, clerked 
in a drug store for two years, then opened up his present business, 
in which he has been very liberally patronized by the people of 
Waynesburg and vicin-ity. Fie is a Democrat in politics. On Janu- 
ary 23, 1888, Mr. Shipley married Miss Anna L., daughter of Cap- 
tain J. E. and Nancy (Bayard) Hewitt. Mrs. Shipley is a native of 
this county, born July 7, 1865. 

A. F. SILVEUS, attorney at law, Waynesburg, Penn., was born 
near Jackson Centre, Mercer County, on the 5th of December, 1851. 
He is the son of Henry B. and Kachael (Taylor) Silveus, who were 
natives of Greene County, and wei-e of German and English origin. 
His father, a farmer and stock-grower, was elected slieriff of Greene 
County in 1867, and served the term of three years. The son was 
the fourth in a family of eight children, five sous and three daugh- 
ters. He was reared upon the farm, attended the common schools, 
and when his father was elected sherifi' he served as deputy. He 
subsequently taught school, and became a student at Wayuesbui-g 
College, from which he graduated in 1873. He then resumed teach- 
ing, and in 1875 was elected superintendent of the schools of Greene 
County. For two terms he taught in Waynesburg College, giving 
special attention to the normal classes. lie read law with Hon. A. 
A. Purman, was admitted to practice in 1878, and opened an office 
at Waynesburg, where he has practiced since. He has served as a 
school director. lie was married in 1877 to Miss Lida, daughter of 
John T. Hook. Both are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian 
Church. They have two children — Jessie and John T. In politics 
Mr. Silveus is a Democrat. 

REV. J. L. SIMPSOJN , a retired Methodist minister, was born 
in Virginia, January 6, 1822. He is a son of Williain and Mary 
Ann (Iwcech) Simpson, who were of Englijsh and Irish descent. His 
father was a boot-maker. Rev. J. L. Simpson is the second in a 



HlSTOnV Of OttRKNR forNTY. 707 

fiimlly of eight ohildren. lie received a collogiate course in West 
Virginia, and also sei-vcd a regular apjjreutlceihip at tlie saddler's 
trade. He entered llie ministry in his twenty-second year, in which 
field he has successfully labored ever since. He was first licensed 
in 1844 and was appointed as an assistant in Pittsburgh, Penn. In 
1846 he came to Waynesburg and took charge of a circuit, but sub- 
sequently went to Virginia, where lie engaged in the ministry nntil 
1862. When a large number of the young men in his church and 
congregation enlisted in the army and insisted on his going with 
them, he enlisted and was elected Captain of their company. They 
were assigned to the Fourth Virginia Cavalry. Caijtain Simpson 
was elected chaplin of the regiment and served two years in that 
capacity. At the close of the war he again entered the ministry and 
went to Wisconsin, where he took charge of the Methodist Protestant 
Chnrch i^t Beliot for two years. In 1854 he was married to Miss 
Mary J., daughter of Thomas and Nannie Black. Iler parents were 
natives of West Virginia, and of Scotch and English descent. Mr. 
and Mrs. Simpson have six children, three of whom are living — • 
Anna Maj', wife of Harvey Clift'ord, of Wisconsin; Mary L. and 
George B. The deceased are Charles K., Helen V. and Cari'ie Olive. 
The family are members of the Methodist Protestant Cluirch. Mr. 
Simpson is a Republican, and has met with more than average suc- 
cess as a minister of the gospel. 

A. C. SMALLEY, chief of police, was born in Waynesburg, 
September 10, 1843. His parents, E. P. ;ind Catherine (liinehartj 
Smalley, were also natives of Wavnesburg. His father was born in 
1805, and died in 1885. The subject of this sketch is the oldest 
in a family of three children — two sons and a daughter. He attended 
the public school and AVaynesburg College. Mr. Smalley learned 
the chair maker's trade and carried on the business in Waynesburg 
for a time. In 1862 he enlisted in Company II, in the One-Hundred 
and Twenty-Third Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry a!id served his 
term of enlistment. On returning home, he resumed chair making 
and carried on the business until he embarked in the mercantile 
trade. On account of failing health he retired from business in 1883, 
sold out in 1887 and was appointed chief of police, which position he 
still holds. In 1868 Mr. Smalley was married to Mary E., daughter 
of Absalom Hedge. She is also a native of this county, and of Eng- 
lish lineage. Mr. and Mrs. Smalley are members of the Baptist 
Church, in which he is trustee and treasurer of the Sabbath-school. 
He belongs to the U. A. K. Post, No. 367, Department of Penn- 
sylvania, of which he has been (quartermaster, and is also a Master 
Mason. 

J. M. SMITH, saddle and harness manufacturer, was born at 
Carmichaels, Penn., November IS, 1845, and is a son of II. A. and 



708 HISTORY OF GEEEJfE COtNTY. 

Mary E. (McGee) Smith. His grandfather, J. H. McGee, was a 
.wealthy merchant at Carraichaels, where he also engaged extensively 
in tlie coal business. Mr. Smith's father was also a saddle and har- 
ness manufacturer and carried on a successful business at Carmichaels 
for many years, was also post-master for sixteen years. The subject 
of our sketch is the oldest of a family of five children — four sons 
and one daughter. He was reared in this county, receiving his 
education in the old Greene Academy at Carmichaels. Mr. Smith 
earned harness making with his father and has been engaged in 
that business since 1867. In 1864 he enlisted in the Twenty- 
Second Regiment of Pennsylvania Cavalry, or Eingold^Cavalry, and 
was with General Sheridan on his famous ride from Winchester. 
He then went West for eight years, returning to Waynesbiu-g in 1875, 
when he engaged in his present business and has met with average 
success. Mr. Smith was united in marriage, September 19, 1876, 
with Melissa Donley,, whose ancestors were among the eai'ly Irish 
settlers of Pennsylvania, and among the first to find a home in 
Greene County. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have four children — Harry, 
Joseph R. D., Donley McGee and Catharine D. Mr. Smith is a 
Republican and has been a member of the town council three terms. 
lie is Captain of the Waynesburg Blues — Company K, Tenth Reg- 
iment, N. G. P., and a member of the G. A. R. Post of Waynes- 
burg. 

JAMES B. SMITH, county surveyor, was born in Center Town- 
ship, August 16, 1846, and is a son of Edmund and Elizabeth 
(Adamson) Smith. They were also natives of this county, and of 
English origin. His father was a farmer all his life, and died in 
February, 1887. Of his family of eight children six are now living, 
of whom James B. is the third. He was reared in Greene County, 
attending the common school and the Millsboro Normal school. He 
gave especial attention to tlie study of surveying and civil engineer- 
ing and has devoted most of his time to tjiat business, having served 
as county surveyor for several years. Since 1880 he has been prin- 
cipally engaged in civil engineering. In September, 1868, Mr. Smith 
married Miss Elizabeth M., daughter of Samuel Throcknrorton, and 
they have one child, Albert Bunyan. 

'D. a. SPRAGG, U. S. Revenue Collector of the twenty-third 
district, Greene County, Penn., was born January 28, 1835. He is 
a son of Jeremiah and Sarah (Shriver) Spragg, natives of this 
county. His ancestors wei-e among the earliest English farmers of 
Wayne Township. The original farm is still in possession of the 
family. Mr. Spragg's father died in 1877. Of his family of three 
cliildron the subject of our sketch is the second. He was reared on 
the farm in AV^aync Townsliip, attcn<ling the district school. He 
chose farming as an occupation, but followed it only a short time. 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 709 

At the age of thirty-two lie opened a stoi-e at Spraggsville. IK' 
was elected sheriti' of the eouiity in 1S82 and held tliL- office three 
years. In April, 18S(j, he was appointed to his present position. 
In 1860 Mr. Spragg married Elizabetii, danghter of John G-ibbons. 
^Irs. Spragg is also a native of this comity, and of English extraction. 
Their cliildren are — Sidney D., wife of (J. T. Wise, and Ilerman. 
Mr. Spragg is a Democrat, and a member of the I. O. (). F., in 
which order he has taken all the degi'ees. 

T. HOSS SPKOAT, farmer and stock-grower, who was born in 
West Virginia, January 7, 1842, is a son of James and Susan (John- 
son) Sproat. His mother was born in Wasliington County, Penn. 
His father, a native of Greene County, and a farmer and carpenter 
by occupation, settled in Whiteley Township in 1844, and died in 
1849. Mr. Sproat's grandfather was David Sproat, a native of Vir- 
ginia. At his fiither's death Ross was obliged to make his home 
among strangers, and received but a limited education in the district 
schools. He started out in life, however, with a determination to 
succeed and, by means of his energy and close application to his 
work, he has secured a good farm of one-hundred and fifty-nine 
acres, where he resides near Waynesburg, Penn. In 1862 Mr. 
Sproat enlisted in Company K, Eighteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. 
He was discharged in 1863, having taken sick at the battle of Stone 
River and never again being able for duty. In 1869, he married 
Miss Harriet, daughter of Joseph and Charlotte (Rinehart) Ankro:a. 
Her parents were natives of this county — her father was born in 
1807 and is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Sproat are the parents of 
seven children — Charlotte, Joseph, Susan, Eva Y., Wilbert, Jesse 
and May. Their parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
Clinrch, in wliicli Mr. Sproat has been class-leader, and superintendent 
of the Sabbath-school. 

M. L. STROSNIDER, manufacturer of woolen goods, Waynes- 
burg, Penn., was born in West Virginia, June 11, 1847, and is a 
son of Moses and Mary (Thompson) Strosnider. They were natives 
of Greene County, Penn., and of German and Scotch-Irish extrac- 
tion. His father was a wheelwright by trade. M. L. Strosnider is 
ne.xt to the youngest of ten children, was reared in West Virginia, 
and received his education in Waynesburg College. He first began 
manufacturing in Placksville, W. Va., in 1870, where he continued 
until 1884. In that year he established the woolen-mills at Waynes- 
linrg, where he has since successfully engaged in tliat business. Mr. 
Strosnider was united in marriage May 19, 1875, with Caroline, 
daughter of Alexander AYallace, and they have had three children, 
viz. — James W., Ilarley L. and Flora, of which two are living. 
Mr. and Mi'S. Strosnider are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. He is a Democrat, and a member of the Knights of Honor. 



TfJO HISTOEY OF GREENE COUNT V. 

CAPT. W. H. STOy was born at Brownsville, Penn., February 
12, 1815, and is a son of Henry W. and Catharine (Cook) 8toy. 
His mother was born at Hagerstown, Maryland, and his father at 
Lebanon, Penn. They were of Dutch and English descent. His 
father received a medical education in Germany. His grandfather 
was a graduate of Heidleberg College, and was sent to this country 
by the King of Germany as a foreign minister. Captain Stoy's 
father came to Brownsville in 1807 and practiced medicine for forty- 
five years. Captain Stoy had a natural inclination for music, which 
he wisely cultivated, and for fifty years he has been a teacher and 
composer. He has twenty bands in different towns and cities for 
which he furnishes music. In 1861 he enlisted and served in the 
Union army as leader of the band for the Eighth Peimsylvania 
Keserves. He served until the bands were discharged by general 
order, when he returned to Waynesburg, where he has since resided. 
He was married in 1844 to Margaret, daughter of Allen Biggs. 
Ml-s. Stoy was born in Ohio County, W. Ya., in 1826. Their chil- 
dren are all married except the youngest. They are — Mary, wife of 
J. P. Sullivan; Charlotte, wife of George Albertson; Catharine, wife 
of I. B. Kaisor; Henry W., a printer; Gustavus, a drug clerk; 
DoUie, wife of T. J. Hawkins: Lillie, wife of D. M. Morrison; 
Jennie, widow of W. F. Clayton; George B., who married Miss 
Anna liobison, of Bealsville, in 1888; and Frank, a tailor in Pitts- 
burgh, Penn. Captain Stoy is a prominent member of the Masonic 
fraternity and a Sir Knight Templar. Gustavus, his second son, 
was born in Washington, Penn., August 26, 1854. He was reared 
in Waynesburg, wliere he attended school and also learned telegraphy. 
At the present time he is salesman and prescription clerk for II. S. 
Blachly, of Waynesburg. He was married in 1884 to Miss Ruth 
Robinson, a native of West Moreland County, Penn., and a niece of 
Hon. R. S. Robinson. 

GEORGE TAYLOR, a successful farmer and stock-grower of 
Franklin Township, was born in Washington Township, this county, 
February 16, 1832. His parents were William and Jane (Crane) 
Taylor, also natives of this county. His father's family consisted 
of three children, of whom George is the oldest. He was reared in 
Washington Township, where ho received his education, and early 
in life began farming. He is now the owner of 318 acres of good 
farming land in Greene CJounty. In 1858 Mr. Taylor married Miss 
Dorcas, daughter of William Grimes. Mrs. Taylor was born in 
Franklin Township in 1881, and is a sister of II. M. Grimes, a prom- 
inent farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor have a family of eight chil- 
dren — Margaret Maria, wife of J. Huffman; Elizabeth Mary, wife of 
Thomas Robinson; William (t., George W., C. F., Daniel C, Ella 



lIlSTOltY OF (iUEENK COUNTY. 711 

and Dorcas Aiiiia. Mr. Taylor is a Democrat, and hiii aerved on the 
school board of las district. 

JUSTUS FOIiDYCE TEMPLE, ex-auditor general of the State 
of Pennsylvania, was born in this county February 13, 1824, and is 
a son of John and Elizal)eth (Douglas) Temple, llis parents were 
natives of Penus^dvania, and of Englisli extraction. His father, an 
iundveeper, was also a drover, and dealt in stock extensively. General 
Temple was the oldest in a family of four children, and was reared 
iu (xreene County, where he attended the common schools. Early 
in life he learned the cooper's trade, at which he worked for four 
years. lie then taught school and took an active part iu the 
teachers' institutes, in 1854, General Temple, who is a Democrat, 
was elected county auditor, and in 1857 was elected register and 
recorder, wliich ottice he held for six years. lie was then elected 
prothonotary of the county and served for six years in that office, 
lie then took up the study of law and was admitted to the bar in 
1869, remaining in active practice until 1874, when he was elected 
State auditor general, where he served with honor for three years. 
He then resumed the practice of law. General Temple was at one 
time somewhat of a musician, and considered by the boys in blue as 
an expert titer, lie takes an active interest in the schools, and has 
served as a member of the school board. lie was an active mover 
in the erection of the new college building at Waynesburg, and gave 
liberally to the enterprise. General Temple was married in 1851 to 
Miss Nancy Ann Schroy, who died in 1875. Their children are — 
Mary, wife of William J. Bayard; Nevada, wife of William G. Os- 
goodby; James B. and Anna Belle, wife of Joseph O'Neill. In 
1877 the General married Katherine, daughter of Michael Salmon. 
General Temple is a prominent member of the I. O. O. F. He has 
been Deputy Grand Master, and is also a member of the Masonic 
fraternity. 

JOHN P. TEAGAEDEN, attorney at law, was born at the old 
Teagarden homestead in Richhill Township, Greene County, Penn. 
His father was Colonel Isaac Teagarden. Plis mother's maiden name 
was Sarah A. Parker. The family is of Prussian origin, and the 
ancestry is traced back many generations. Abraham Teagarden was 
an educated civil engineer, and came from Prussia to America in 
1744, locating first at Philadelphia, Penn., where in 1745 he married 
Miss Mary Parker, of English birth. Their oldest child, William 
Teagarden, was born in Philadelphia on the 17tli day of January, 
1746. Some time after tliis Abraham Teagarden, with his family. 
moved to AYestern Pennsylvania. He was one of the first white 
men who attempted to make a settlement in this part of the State. 
Tradition tells of the many thrilling adventures he and his family 
had with the Indians. William Teagarden was married to Bethia 



712 HISTORY oy greene county. 

Craig, of Maryland. Shortly after this Abraliam and William Tea- 
garden, and two other families named Hughes and Hupp, made the 
lirst settlement attempted in the limits of Greene County, near where 
Clarksville now stands. Old Fort Red Stone, near Brownsville, was 
the nearest fort or place of refuge from the savage marauders. Will- 
iam Teagarden and his wife, had, one occasion taken refuge in old 
Fort Redstone, and it was there, on March 6, 1775, that Abraham 
Teagarden, grandfather of John P. Teagarden, was born. Abraham 
Teagarden secui-ed a liberal education for those days. During the 
Indian wars following, he enlisted as a private soldier in Genei'al 
Wayne's army, and remained in the held until peace was restored. 
lie married Nancy McGuier, and immediately moved to lands he had 
located in Kichhill Township and in West Finley Township, Wash- 
ington County. His first house was on the old Teagarden home- 
stead in Richhill Township. Twelve children were born to them, 
the third being Isaac, the father of John P. Teagarden. Isaac Tea- 
garden was born April 12, 1807. He was a mill-wright by occupa- 
tion, and built many of the mills in this and Washington County. 
When the slavery question 'arose he was among the first to array him- 
self on the side of liberty and equal rights. He assisted in the or- 
ganization of the so-called Abolition party and cast one of the first 
votes for that party in this county. He voted for Birney, the Free- 
soil candidate for President, and continued to act with the party of 
freedom, voting for all its candidates, until the organization of the 
Republican party in 1856, when he connected himself with that 
party, and remained steadfast to its principles till the time of his 
death, June 20, 1886. He was elected Colonel of the Forty-sixth 
Pennsylvannia Militia and was commissioned Colonel by Governor 
Ritner in 1838, for three years. When the war of the late Rebellion 
caine, he, at the advanced age of fifty-four, enlisted in Company F, 
Eiglity-fith Pennsylvania Volunteers. He participated with his reg- 
iment in the battles of the Peninsula and before Yorktown. He was 
a member of the Christian Church. Plis family consisted of four 
children — Phoebe Jane, Charity Louise, John Parker and Thomas L., 
the latter having died early in childhood. Phcebe Jane Teagarden 
was one of the pi'ominent teachers of the county, but she abandoned 
that profession and commenced the study of medicine, which she 
completed in a three years' course at the Woman's Medical College 
at Philadelphia, graduating from that institution in the class of 1882. 
She then immediately commenced the practice of medicine at 
Waynesburg, where she now has a large and lucrative practice. 
Charity Louise Teagarden is also a teacher of prominence, and is at 
present a teacher in the Union school of Wa^-nesburg, a position she 
lias held for the past twelve years. John P. Teagarden commenced 
life as a teacher. In 18H9 he went to Iowa to teach school, and in 



HISTORY OF (JKKKNK COUNTY- 713 

tlie fall of tliiit year coiiiineiiced the stiitly of law under the tutorsliij) 
of W. W. llaskel, of the Oskaloosa, Mahaska County bar, and was 
admitted to practice in the several courts of Iowa in 1871. lie re- 
turned to the home of his parents in Ivichhill Township, and in 1872 
the entire family moved to Waynesburg. lie was admitted to prac- 
tice at the Greene County bar in 1872, and later to the Supreme 
Court of Pennsylvania and the United States Courts, and has contin- 
ued in the practice ever since. He is a Republican in politics, and 
has always taken an active interest in political afi'airs. In .1878 he 
was tendered the Re])ublican nomiiiation for State Senate in the For- 
tieth Senatorial District composed of Greene and Fayette counties; 
and while he was defeated, yet he materially reduced the large Dem- 
ocratic majority in the district. In 1880 he was elected President- 
ial elector and cast one of Pennsylvania's votes for General James A. 
Garfield for President. lie served two years as Secretary and three 
years as Chairman of the Republican County Committee. lie was 
elected burgess of Waynesburg borough two terms, was a member 
of council two terms, and is a prominent memher of the I. O. O. 
F. of this county. He was married in 1885 to Miss Mary E. Davis, 
of Waynesburg. 

JOB THROCKMORTON, a farmer and stock-grower of Oak 
Forest, Penn., was l)orn in Greene County December 17, 1809. His 
father and mother were Joseph and Catharine (Hnlsart) Throckmor- 
ton, natives of New Jersey, and of English origin. His father, 
who was a farmer all Ms life, came to Greene County in 1809, and 
settled two miles west of Waynesburg, Penn. His family consisted 
of ten children, five daughters and five sons, of whom Job was the 
oldest, and was reared on the farm with is parents. Early in life he 
learned the tailor's trade and engaged in that businass for seven- 
teen years. He then bought his first farm, in 1835, and has since 
devoted his time wholly to farming. His home farm contains 109 
acres of valuable land. Mr. Throckmorton was united in marriage 
with Sarah Fry, \vho is of German extraction. Her grandparents 
were among the earliest settlers of this county. Her father was 
a farmer and lived to be over forty-five years old. Mr. and Mrs. 
Throckmorton's children are — George, a farmer; Catharine, wife of 
John Maple; Joseph R., a farmer; and Franklin B., a carpenter. 
Mrs. Maple, the only daughter, died Feltruary 17, 1885, and her 
husband died February 18th of the same month and year, and both 
were buried in one grave at the same time. Mr. and Mrs. Throck- 
morton are members of the M. E. Church, in which he has held vari- 
ous official positions. He has been a life-long Democrat, and has 
held most of the offices in Franklin Township. Mr. Throckmorton 
is greatly interested in school matters, and has served as school direc- 
tor for a number of years. 



714 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

F. B. THROCKMORTON, secretary of the Waynesburg Rol- 
ler Mill Company, was born in Franklin Township, Greene 
County, Penn., October 12,-1852. He is a son of Job and Sarah 
(Fry) Throckmorton, the former a native of Pennsylvania andtbe lat- 
ter of New Jersey. They ^vere of English descent. His fatlier 
was a tailor by trade and followed that business in early life, but 
later he retired to the farm where he now resides in Franklin 
Township. 'F. B. Throckmorton is the yonngest in a family of four 
children and was reared in Franklin Township, where he attended 
the district schools. Early in life he learned the cooper's trade 
which he followed until 1885, when he was employed by the 
roller mill company at Waynesburg. In 1872 Mr. Throckmorton 
married Sarah A., daughter of William Johnson. Their children 
are Ada B., Jesse E., George Albert and William. Mr. and Mrs. 
Throckmorton are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of 
which he is trustee. He is a Democrat and has served as town- 
ship assessor. He is chaplain of the Royal Arcanum at Waynes- 
burg. 

J. T. ULLOM, physician and surgeon, of Waynesburg, Penn., 
was born in Center Township, Greene County, Penn., April 11, 1847. 
fie is a son of D. T. and Anna (Johnson) Ullom, natives of this 
county, and of German and Irish lineage. His ancestors were among 
the earliest settlers of the county. Dr. Ullom is a member of a 
family of twelve children, nine of whom grew to maturity. He was 
reared on the farm and attended Waynesburg College. He began 
the study of medicine in 1866, with Dr. S. L. Blachly, at Sparta, 
Washington County, Penn. In 1868 he attended lectures at Charity 
Hospital Medical College at Cleveland, Ohio. In 1869 he entered 
Jeiferson Medical College at Philadelphia, and graduated in 1870. 
He at once began the practice of his profession in Rogersville, Greene 
County, where he continued for seventeen years. He came to 
Waynesburg in 1887 and formed his present partnership with Dr. 
J. T. lams. Dr. Ullom was married in Rogersville, January 8, 1875, 
to Anna, daughter of George Sellers. She is also a native of this 
county, and of English descent. Their children are — Blanche and 
Frank S. Dr. and Mrs. Ullom are members of the Methodist Pro- 
testant Church. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity. He has 
been -president of the County Medical Society, and in 1887 was 
elected first vice-president of the State. Medical Society. 

W. S. VANDRUFF, surveyor, born in Perry Township, this 
county. May 18, 1852, is a son of John and Rachel (Maple) Van- 
druff, natives of Greene County. They own a well-improved farm 
of 119 acres in Perry Township, where Mr. W. S. VandrufF was 
born. He is the oldest in a family of ten children, and was reared 
on the farm, attending the common schools of the county. When 



HISTORY OF (illEENK COUNTY. 715 

liu readied his majority, he began working by the month on a farm. 
At the age of twenty- three he learned tlie carpenter's trade, at whicli 
lie worked until 1880. While working at his trade he studied sur- 
veying, and is now considered a competent surveyor. He also draws 
maps with great speed and accuracy. In 1887 Mr. Yandruti' erected 
a neat and substantial residence in Waynesbnrg, where he now lives. 
He owns a small farm in I'erry Township, where he has given con- 
siderable attention to bee culture. Mr. Vandruft', who is a man of 
more than ordinary ability, is a great reader and has a bright future 
before him. He was married in 1876 to Matilda, daughter of John 
and Dorotha (Haines) Fox, natives of this county. Mr. and Mrs. 
Vandrutf are the parents of two children — Iloss Elliott and Ottly 
Earl. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal Chnrch. 

D. S. WALTON, attorney, and member of the firm of Wyly, Bu- 
chanan & Walton, was born at Ilyerson's Station, Greene County,' 
Penn., May 17, 1853. His parents were D. M. and Mary M. (Drake) 
Walton, the former a native of Washington County, Penn., and the 
latter of Philadelphia. They were married in Clarksville, this county, 
and settled in the city of Pittsburgh, where the}^ were burned out in 
1845. They then returned to Clarksville, and in 1850 moved to 
Eyerson's Station. Mrs. Walton departed this life in 1859. Nine 
years after her death Mr. Yf alton moved with his family to Oskaloosa, 
Iowa, where lie has since resided. The family consisted of ten chil- 
dren, of whom three are living. Mr. D. S. AV^alton, who is next to 
tlie youngest, acquired his education in the common schools and in 
the colleges at Oskaloosa and AVaynesburg. He read law with Wyly 
and Buchanan, of Waynesbnrg, and Judge liinehart, of Oskaloosa. 
He was admitted to the bar in Iowa, November 17, 187-4, practiced 
one year, and came to Waynesbnrg, entering the firm of which he is 
still a member. Mr. Walton is a member of the Masonic fraternity, 
and has filled several offices of trust in Waynesbnrg. He has been 
a member of the borough council, a member of the school board, and 
in 1884 was burgess of the borough. lie has been a trustee of the 
college for twelve years, and is now president of the board, Mr. 
Walton was united in marriage, March 18, 1873, with Miss Mary A., 
daughter of James A. J. Buchanan, and they are the parents of one 
child, Jiminie B., a bright and interesting son, who was born March 
27, 1874, and departed this life April 17, 1888. 

GEORGE W. WISECARYER, farmer, Waynesbnrg, Penn.— 
Among the representative business men of Greene County, we take 
pleasure in mentioning the name of George W. Wisecarver, who was 
born in Whiteley Townsiiip, this county, July 22, 1813. Plis parents 
were George and Catharine (Orndorf) AVisecarver, natives of Fred- 
erick County, Ya., and of English and German descent. The former 
was born in 1756, Mrs. AVisecarver was several years younger. 



716 HISTOIJY OP GREENE COUNTY. 

They came to Greene County in 1800, settled in Wliiteley Township 
and remained nntil their death. They were the parents of nine chil- 
dren, all of whom lived to be over seventy years of age. Of these 
six are living, the youngest now past the seventieth mile-stone. 
George W. Wisecarver's early life was spent with his parents ou the 
farm in Whiteley Township, and on account of the thinly settled 
country his opportunities for an edacation were very limited, and he 
received but four months' scliooling. His father did not succeed in 
accumulating verj' much of this world's goods, and Avas obliged to 
have his children raised by strangers. At the age of sixteen George 
started out in life for himself, and has succeeded so well that at one 
time he was the owner of 4,000 acres of good land in Greene County, 
the most of which he has divided with his family. It is very inter- 
esting to hear Mr. Wisecarver relate the many things that have 
transpired from the time he did his first day's work in the county for 
himself, up to the present, when we find him among the wealthiest 
men of Greene County. The pay for the first day's work was a fish- 
liook, and we would presume that he did not like work by the day, as 
he soon found employment by the month at very low ^vages, and for 
his first month's work received from his employer, Samuel Nelson, 
one pair of shoes valued at $1.50. At that time $4 was considered 
good pay for a month's work. Mr. "Wisecarver learned the cooper's 
trade, which he followed in connection with his farming. Most of 
the time for twelve years he worked eighteen hours out of every 
twenty-four, and for seven years lie made enough at night at his 
trade to pay two men for their work through the next day. In 1843 
he bought a farm of 210 acres in Washington Township. In 1849 
his shop and coopering tools were destroyed by fire. Since then he 
has devoted most of his time to farming, dealing in real estate and 
raising live stock. In 1854 Mr. "Wisecarver went to Iowa and 
entered 2,000 acres of land. In 1857 he bought 330 aci-es more in 
Greene County, and in the same year he traded his land in Iowa for 
500 acres in Richhill Township, this county, giving tlie difference in 
cash. He traded niost of his land in Iowa for land in Pennsylvania. 
By good management and industry he added many acres to these 
purchases, and has cleared over 1,000 acres in this county. Mr. 
"Wisecarver, like the majority of business men, has had his share of 
bad luck, and has paid over $45,000 for security and otherwise, from 
which he derived but little benefit; but being more of a believer in 
pluck than luck, he has succeeded notwithstanding his losses. He 
was united in marriage, May 1, 1843, with Priscilla, daughter of 
Jacob and Phcebe (Crayne) Barnes. To Mr. and Mrs. "Wisecarver 
have been born eight children, viz: Nancy, who has been twice mar- 
ried, first to Norman Worley, deceased, her present husband being 
Maj. Benjamin Herrington; Caroline, wife of Amos A. Allison; 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 717 

Frank P., of riiiladelphia; Timothy J., a large land-owner in this 
county; Margaret M., wife of Jesse Wise, a young attorney of tlic 
Waynesburg bar; and Virginia, a very estimable young lady. The 
deceased are Pluebe J. and Elizabeth. Mr. Wisecarver's father 
served as wagon-master under Gen. Washington, and di*ew a pension 
until his death. He, was present when Lord Cornwallis surrendered- 

EEV. JOEL J. AVOOD, farmer and stock-grower, Waynesburg, 
Tenn. — The subject of this sketch is one of the few Methodist min- 
isters who have been financially successful. He owns over four 
hundred acres of land in Greene County, and also has land in the 
State of Iowa. Mr. Wood, who is of English extraction, was born in 
Whiteley Township this county, in 1814, and is the third son of 
P^dward Wood, also a native of Greene County. Rev. Mr. Wood 
attended the old Greene Academy at Carmichaels, Penu., and obtained 
a good English education, together with a fair knowledge of the lan- 
guages. Early in life he made a profession of religion. lie tauglit 
school a few months, but subsequently accepted a circuit in the 
Pittsburg conference, and was actively engaged as a minister over 
twenty-five years, lie was always faithful to his charge and allowed 
nothing to interfere with his appointments. He has met with marked 
success in building church houses and has been to a great extent 
instrumental in building up the Methodist Protestant Church. Since 
186G Mr. Wood has engaged in farming. lie has been twice mar- 
ried. His present wife, whom he married ,in 1864, was Miss 
Maggie E. Boyd, of Washington County, Penn. He was first 
married at Fairmount, West Virginia, to Mary Ann, second daugh- 
ter of Rev. A. A. Shinn, D. D., who was one of the organizers of the 
Methodist Protestant Church. Mrs. Wood died in 18o2. They had 
two children, one now living -Asa R., a prominent business man of 
Washington, Penn. By his second marriage Mr. Wood is the father 
of three children — Mary E., Plirebe A. and Harriet Frances. 

HIRAM C. WOOD, wool and stock-dealer, was born in Firaiddin 
Township, Greene County, Penn., April 11. 1851. He is a ,son of 
John D. and Sevela (Barnes) AVood. His mother was a native of 
New Jersey. His father, who was born in Greene- County, Penn., 
was an extensive dealer in wool and stock, and died September 26, 
1876. He was also a physician of the Eclectic School and had an 
extensive practice. Mr. Hiram C. Wood is the youngest of six 
children living. He received his education in the common schools 
of Greene County. He very naturally took up the business of his 
father and was his partner in stock-dealing for several years. He 
owns a fine farm of one hundred and seventy-five acres in Franklin 
Township. In February, 1873, Mr. AVood was united in nuxrriage 
with Sarah J., daughter of Corbly Orndoft', ex-county commissisner, 
and they are the parents of three children — John F., Nora M. and 



718 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

Mattiti C. Mr. and Mrs. Wood are meinbers of the Metliodist Epis- 
copal Cliurcli. He is a Democrat, and a uiember of the I. O. O. F. 
Lodge at Oak Forest, Penu.; also a member of the "Waynesburg 
Council, No. 550, Eoyal Arcanum. lie was a member of the firm 
of John Ilesket & Co., commission merchants for the sale of live 
stock at the Central Stock Yards, Pittsburg, Penn. 

HENEY ZIMMERMAN. — The Avriter 'takes j/reat pleasure in 
giving a sketch of the life of Henry Zimmerman, of Franklin Town- 
ship, one of the oldest citizens of Greene County, born November 23, 
in the year 1813. lie has witnessed great strides in the progress 
and improvement of the county. He has seen the wilderness 
metamorphosed into highly cultivated and rich farming .lands, 
covered with pleasant homes and inhabited by a prosperous and 
intelligent people. II is parents, who were of English and German 
descent, came to Greene County in 1809, and resided in Whiteley 
Township twenty-iive years, then they took up five hundred acres of 
land in Franklin Township, on which they resided until their death. 
Henry was a member of a family of nine children, all boys; and his 
father lived to see the day — the proudest of his life — when he and 
his nine sons could march to the polls in solid phalanx and cast ten 
democratic votes. At present writing (1888), however, but two of 
his sons areliving — the subject of our sketch and Eobert Zimmerman, 
of Wayne Township. In his youth Henry Zimmerman learned the 
trade. of stone masonry, which he has followed through life, together 
with farming, being the owner of a fine farm of one hundred and 
twenty-five acres in Franklin Township. His California peaches 
are the finest ever brought to market in this part of the country, 
and he takes great pride in his orchard of over eight hundred 
trees. Mr. Zimmerman was united in mai-riage, September 29, 
1839, with Mary Ellen, daughter of William and Ellen (Hood) 
Seals, who were of Irish and English ancestr}'. Mrs. Zimmerman 
is a grand-daughter of James Seals, who was a Colonel in the 
Revolutionary war. To Mr. and Mrs. Zimmerman were born two 
children — Ellen J. and James B., who was born in 1856, and in 
1879 married Jane A., daughter of Robert and Elizabeth Tewksberry. 
Their children are W. S., Robert H. and Gilbert T. R. Ellen J. 
was united in marriage with J. S. Ilerrington, and they were the 
parents of two children — Mary C. (deceased) and Emma A. 

R. S. ZOLLARS, farmer and stock-grower, Waynesburg, Penn., 
was born in this county July 4, 1885. He is a son of Neal and 
Elizabeth (Spencer) Zollars, natives of Pennsylvania, and of Frelich 
and Dutch extraction. His father, a farmer, came to this county 
in 1834. Richard, the oldest of his six children, was i-eared on the 
farm, and received his earliest education in the district school. He 
subsequently attended Waynesburg College, and for three years 



iriHTOnY OF GREENE COUNTY. 719 

clerked in ii dry goods «toro. In 18G3 lie enlisted in Company F, 
Fii-st Pennsylvania Cavalry, and served until the close of the war. 
Ketiirning to his native county, he has since successfully devoted his 
time to farming. Mr. Zollars was united in marriage in 1882, with 
Miss Mary, daughter of Caldwell Orr. Mrs. Zollars was born and 
raised in this county, and is a zealous member of the M. E. Church. 
Her husband is a liepublican, and serv-ed one term as coroner of the 
county. He is a prominent member of the I. (). O. F. and the G. A. 
R. Post. 



GILMORE TOWNSHIP. 

WILLIAM CLOVIS, a farmer and stock-grower of (Ireenc 
County, Penn., was born in Monongalia County, AVest Virginia, 
September 9, 1825. His parents, Matthias and Nancy (Barr) Clevis, 
wei'B natives of eastern Pennsylvania, and of German extraction. 
His father was a shoemaker by trade, and spent most of his life in 
Greene County. He died in ISlJl. William is the ninth in a family 
of twelve children. He received liis education in this county, and 
early in life learned the miller's trade and engaged in that business 
tor sixteen years. He has since been farming and dealing extensively 
in stock. He has lived in Gilmore Township since 18(i4:. Mi-. Clovis 
has made a success of his business, and has a wide circle of friends 
in Greene County. He is a Republican in j)olitics, and was elected 
county commissioner in 1888. His home farm contains two hundred 
and eighty-seven acres of good land. William Clovis was united in 
marriage, in West Virginia, with Miss Rebecca, daughter of Robert 
and Margaret (Hinkens) Chalfant, who were of English and German 
lineage. Mr. and ]\Irs. Clovis have a family of twelve children, 
eleven of whom are living — Jacob C, a farmer and miller; Marion 
J., a farmer; John H., a merchant; L. B., a stock-dealer; Frances E., 
widow of Phenix Meighen; A. E., a merchant; Peter, Samuel S. and 
Robert M., farmers; Dora Belle and Oscar W. Their parents are 
memliers of the M. E. Church, in which Mr. Clovis is steward, trus- 
tee and clAss-leader. He also takes an active interest in the Sabbath 
school. He has served as justice of the peace for a period of ten 
years. 

JEFFERSON DYE, hotel-keeper at Jolleytown, Penn., is a de- 
scendant of the earliest settlers of this county, and of English and 
German extraction. His fatlici- was a f:n-mcrand miller by occupation. 



720 MISTOKt OF GRliEl^E CO^JNTl'. 

Mr. Dye comes of a large family, of whicli there are representatives 
now located in various parts of the United States, lie was born 
November 16, 1844, a sou of Minor and Rachel (Caiue) Dye. His 
mother was born in Loudoun County, Virginia, and was of German, 
and English lineage. Jefferson was reared in Greene County, Penn., 
where he attended the common schf>ols. He was with his father in 
the mill nntil he went to the war, in 1861. He enlisted in Company 
F, Seventh West Virginia Infantry, and was a non-commissioned 
officer. He was in many serious engagements; among others, the 
battles of Antietam, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. Mr. Dye was 
a brave soldier, and at the battle of Antietam when his regiment was 
relieved by a i-egiment of Meagher's Irish Brigade, he did not retire 
from the held with his regiment, but went in with the Irish Brigade. 
After exhausting all his ammunition he replenished his cartridge box 
frona the box of a wounded comrade of Company H. At the close 
of the war he returned to Jolleytown, where he has been pi'oprietor 
of a hotel and undertaking shop since 1872, and recently engaged in 
merchandising. He was married in this county, February 9, 1871, to 
Rebecca A., daughter of Henry Shriver. Mrs. Dye was born in 
Monongalia County, W. Va. She was appointed postmistress under 
President Cleveland's administration. To Mr. and Mrs. Dye were 
born live children, four of whom are living — Eva, Charles, Frank, 
Fannie and Mary (deceased). Mr. Dye's first wife was Mary J. Mc- 
Cans. They had one daughter — Harriet. Mr. ■ and Mrs. Dye are 
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was elected jus- 
tice of the peace in 1882, re-elected in 1887; is a member of the I. 
O. O. F. and G. A. R. Post No. 367, J. F. McCulhmgh. Waynesburg, 
Penn. 

JACOB M. EAKIN, who is a farmer and stock-grower of Gil- 
more Township, was born in Monongalia County, West Virginia, 
September 1, 1827, and is a son of Justus and Mary (Myers) Eakin, 
who were of Dutch and Scotch-Irish extraction. His mother Avas 
born at Garard's Fort, this county. His father, a native of Virginia, 
was a cooper by trade, came to Greene County in early life, and died 
in 1870. His grandfather, William Eakin, was a carpenter, and 
located for many years at the old glass works at Greensboro, Penn. 
Jacob's grandfather was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and died 
in Viroinia. Jacob M. is the eighth of a family of ten children. 
He was reared in West Virginia and remained there until August, 
1844. He then removed to Greene County, Penn., where he has 
been a very successful farmer, and is the owner of 600 acres of valu- 
able land in this county. Mr. Eakin has been twice married, his first 
wife being Miss Mary, a daughter of Erastus and Mary (Barnes) 
Woodruif. Her parents were natives of Delaware, and of English 
descent. To Mr. and Mrs. Eakin were born four children — Phoebe 



in.STOUY OE* GUEENK COtlNTY. 72.1 

J., wife of DcLvid Staggers; Sarali, wife of Marion Clovis; Athaliali, 
wife of Jacob Clovis, and J. Pierce, tlie only son. He was born in 
(Tilinore Township, May 31, 1850, where he spent his early manhood. 
He was married in West Virginia, near Morgantown, January 29, 
1880, to Mattie, daughter of Colonel Eeuben Finnell, and they have 
three children — Jacob Myres, Mary Bodley and Itobert Leemoj'ne. 
Mrs. Jacob Eakin died in 1856. Two years later Mr. Eakin married 
Miss Fannie, daughter of William' and JS'ancy Lemnion, and they 
are the parents of one child — Mary E., who is the wife of O. J. Brown, 
of Mt. Morris, Penn. 

JOHN (t. FOKDYCE, farmer and stock -grower, born in (lilmore 
Township, February 14, 1811, is a son of Corbly and Jane (Bailey) 
P^ordyce. His parents were also natives of this county, and of Eng- 
lish e.xtraction. His father, who was a farmer and stock-grower all 
his life, was reared in Greene County. He died in 18G2, leaving a 
family of twelve children, of whom John G. is the sixth. He was 
reared in Gilmore Township, on the farm where his brother resides. 
He received a common-school education, then engaged in farmino- as 
an occupation, and is now one of tlie most successful farmers in the 
county. He owns 400 acres of valuable land. In 1866 Mr. For- 
dyce married Jane Huffman, and they were the parents of two chil- 
dren — Dora and Charles. Mrs. Jane Fordyce died in 1877, a faithful 
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Fordyce was after- 
wards united in marriage, in 1878, with Miss Anna, daughter of 
Phillip and Lydia (Kennedy) Phillips, and they have one son — 
Phillip Corbly. Mr. and Mrs. Fordyce are prominent members of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

S. W. GILMORE, farmer and stock-grower, Jolleytown, Penn., 
was born in AVest Virginia May 24, 1842, and is a son of Peter and 
Ellen (Trowbridge) Gilmore. His parents were also natives of West 
Virginia, and of German and Irish lineage. His father, from whom 
Gilmore Township took its name, was a farmer during his life time, 
and died in West Virginia May 19, 1876. The subject of this 
sketcli was tlie youngest in a family of five children. He was reared 
in Monongalia County, West A^irginia, and received a common-school 
education. Mr. Gilmore has followed farming as his chief occupa- 
tion, and is the owner of a good farm of 400 acres. He was first 
married January 13, 1873, to Hannah Taylor, daughter of George 
and Marinda (Garrison) Taylor. Of their five children, four are 
living, viz: AVilliam II., Oscar E., Martha M. and Marinda E. Their 
mother died Septemljer 30, 1881. Mr. Gilmore was again united in 
marriage, in 1883, with Elizabeth, daughter of John and Elizabeth 
(Sanders) AVhite, and they are the parents of one child — John W. 
Mr. and Mrs. Gilmore ai-e meml)ers of the Methodist E]iiscopal 
Church, in which he is class-leader and trustee. IIu has also been 



t33 HISTORY OF &BBENJE COTTNTy. 

6upej'inteiidont of tlie Sabbath-sohool, Mr. Gilmore is a Ilepiiljliean, 
In 1862 he enlisted as a private in Company K, Fonrteentli West 
Yirginia Infantry, and was promoted to the office of Second Lien- 
tenant. He was wounded at the battle of Cloid Mountain. He 
served until the close of the war, and is now a member of G. A. R. 
Post 550. 

HOJSf. JOHN HAGAlSr. — Among the niost successful business 
men of Greene County may be mentioned Hon. John Hagan, de- 
ceased. He was born in County Londonderry, Ireland, and came to 
America while very young. He located at Pittsburgh, Penn., work- 
ing at anything that came to hand, and was successful in everything 
he undertook. He had a taste for the mercantile trade, and when he 
can:e to Greene County — more than half a century ago — he entered 
into partnership with Patrick McCullough and carried on a general 
store at Jolleytown, Penn. At his death he owned over 700 acres 
of land in Greene County. His success wasdne mainly to his indus- 
try and a determination to succeed. He died in 1873, shortly after 
his election to the Legislature. Mr. Hagan was united in marriage 
in this county, in 1859, with Martha, daughter of Abner and Han- 
nah (Morris) Garrison, and they had a family of five children, viz: 
John Patrick, Charles L., a prominent attorney of West Virginia; 
Clara May, Mary and Catherine. The family are all members of the 
Catholic Church. Mrs. Hagan is now a resident of Ohio. Her 
mother was a sister of Major J. B. Morris, of Mt. Morris, Penn. 

T. M. HENNEN, wool and stock-dealer and secretary of the 
Philadelphia Oil Company, was born in Greene County, Penn., July 
27, 1839. He is a son of George and Jane (Munyon) Henner, who 
were of Irish and English origin. His father \v;i.-< a farmer and 
stock-grower by occupation, and died September 13, 1885. His 
family consisted of eleven children, of whom the subject of this 
sketch is the si.xth. He was reared in Gilmore Township and re- 
ceived a good English education. Mr. Hennen first engaged in 
farming and dealing in wool, in which business he has spent most 
of his life. In 1863 he became actively interested in the oil busi- 
ness in Dunkard Township, and when the Philadelphia Oil Company 
was formed and commenced operations in Greene County he was 
elected secretary. He is the owner of a good farm of 165 acres, 
where he now resides in Gilmore Township. Mr. Hennen was 
united in marriage in 1868 with Kachel, daughter of Thomas W. 
Tayloi', Esq., of this county, and they are the parents of three chil- 
di-en — Frank W., George B. and Tinna A. Mrs. Hennen is a 
devoted member of the Baptist Church. Her husband is a Demo- 
crat and secretary of the school board in his township. 

JOHN LANTZ, farmer and stock-grower, Jolleytown, Penn., 
was born in Wayne Township, Greene County, Penn., May 8, 1829. 



HISTORY OF GKEENE COUNTY. 723 

He is a son of Jacob and Delilah (Coen) Lantz, natives of this coun- 
ty, and of Geiunan and English lineage. His fatiier was a farmer 
and stock-grower and a great hunter, born in Greene County in 1791. 
He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and died in 1858. 11 is family 
consisted of live sons, of whom John is the fourth. He was reared 
on the home farm in Wayne Township, and has successfully engaged 
in farming as an occupation. He owns 350 acres of valuable land 
in Gilmore Township, where he has lived since 1850. Mr. Lantz 
was married in Greene County September 19, 1850, to Miss Sarah, 
daughter of Jacob and Charlotte JJradford, natives of this county, 
and of English descent. Mr. and Mrs. Lantz have a family of eleven 
children, ten of whom are living, viz. — William H. and M. J., mer- 
chants; A. B., a farmer; L. W., S. C, a carpenter; John, Delilah, 
Martha, Jacob and Alexander. Their mother is a member of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Lantz is a Republican, and has 
served as justice of the peace for tifteen years. 

SALEM LEMMON, deceased, was born March 20, 1823, and 
died August 15, 1887. He was a farmer and stock-dealer and a 
successful business manager, being at the time of his death the 
owner of over 600 acres of land in Gilmore Township. Mr. Lem- 
mon was the son of William and Nancy Lemmon, of this township. 
They were of Irish and German lineage. Mr. Lemmon was reared 
in this township, attended the common schools, and subseijuently 
chose farming and stock dealing as liis business through life. He 
was twice united in marriage; first, with Mary (Babbit) Lemmon, 
and they were the parents of two children — William Milton, a farmer; 
and Harry, (^deceased). Their mother died February 14, 1853. Mr. 
Lemmon's second wife, Maria (McCune) Lemmon,. is still living. 
She was born in Dunkard Townsliip, this county, and is a daughter 
of John and Mary McCune, who were of Irish origin. Mr. and Mrs. 
Lemmon were married December 25, 1859. Their children are 
Mary M., owner of a well improved farm in Gilmore Township, and 
a dressmaker by occupation; Sarah A., wife of Andrew Lantz; and 
Nancy V., wife of George Strawn. The family are all members of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which Mi-. Lemmon was steward 
and trustee. He was a Democrat, and served fifteen years as justice 
of the peace. Lie had just been re-elected, at the time of his death, 
to another term of five years. 

W. M. LEMMON, farmer and stock-grower, who was born in 
Gilmore Township May 17, 1850, is a son of Salem and Mary 
(Babbit) Lemmon. His parcTits were also natives of this county, 
and of German and English descent. His father was a prominent 
farmer and stock-dealer, and was justice of the peace for many years 
in Gilmore Township. He was twice married. W. M. is the only 
child by the lirsl marriage. He grew to manhood in this township, 



724 . HISTORY OF GEEENE COUNTY. 

attended the common schools, and has engaged extensively in farm- 
ing and stock growing. Mr. Lemmon is specially interested in fine 
horses, and is the owner of Diomede No. 1118 in France, and in 
America No. 2523. Diomede was brought from France and cost 
$2,000. Mr. Lemmon also owns a good farm of 150 acres. He 
was married in "West Virginia August 30, 1874, to Clarissa J., 
daughter of Alexander and Eacliel (Russell) Hennen. Mrs. Lem- 
mon is a native of Virginia, and of English extraction. Their chil- 
dren are — Jesse Harry, Lydia Ellen, Mary Hally, Owen R. and 
Emma Alice. Mr. and Mrs. Lemmon are leading members in the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he is steward and trustee. 

SALATHIEL LEMMON, farmer and stock-grower, was born 
November 2, 1838, on the farm where he resides in Gilmore Town- 
ship. He is a son of William and Nancy (Lemmon) Lemmon, who 
were of Irish and German origin. His mother was a native of this 
county. His father was born in Lancaster County, Fenn. He was 
a farmer all his life, and died in this township in 1868. His family 
consisted of five children, of whom Salathiel is the youngest. He 
grew to manhood in this township, where he has been quite success- 
ful as a farmer, and is considered one of Greene's most prosperous 
citizens. He has also devoted some time to milling. Mr. Lemmon 
owns 450 acres of well improved land. He is a genial, agreeable 
gentleman, and has a wide circle of friends. He was united in the 
holy bonds of matrimony May 15, 1860, with Miss Nancy, daughter 
of B. Renner, and they are the parents of six children — William J., 
Elizabeth E., wife of Lewis Cumpston; Barney R., Dora M., Charles 
M. and Rosa M. William, the oldest, was born in 1862, and reared 
on the farm with his parents. He was married in 1883 to Rosa 
May, daughter of Abi-aham Taylor, and they have one child — 
Abraham Salathiel. Elizabeth E. and Lewis Cumpston were mar- 
ried in 1883, and liave three children — Bertie C, Goldie M. and 
Barney M. Mr. Lemmon votes the straight Democratic ticket. He 
takes an active interest in school affairs, and has been one of the board 
of directors for seven 3'ears. 

PETER MEIGHEN, deceased, who was a pioneer farmer and 
stock-grower, was born in Wayne Township, Greene County Fenn., 
September 25, 1809. Lie was the son of William and Elizabeth 
(Hughes) Meighen, the former a native of Ireland, and the latter of 
this county. Feter Meighen's grandfather Hughes came to Greene 
County in 1762, at sixteen years of age, and died in 1836. He was 
a farmer by occupation, as were most of the Hughes family 
in America. Some of them have engaged quite successfully in the 
mercantile business. The subject of our sketch died in 1867. Of his 
thirteen children ten are still living. Elizabeth, the oldest daughter, 
died in 1855. William H., the oldest son was born in this township 



HISTORY OF GREENK COUNTY. 725 

in 1841. In 1861 lie enlisted in Conipanj F., Seventh West Virginia, 
Infantry. Afterwards re-enlistino;, he served until close of the war. 
During his services he was Corporal, afterwards Sergeant, tlien pro- 
moted to First Lieutenant. Catherine, and Belinda are the two old- 
est daughters. James, deceased 1850. Feli.x, deceased 1884, was a 
prominent merchant of Jolleytown this Township. Susan, wife of 
Peter Bradley, a prominent merchant of JS'ewFreeport ; Matthias is a 
partner of the firm of P. Bradley & Co. (New Freeport.) Priscilla, 
wife of Thomas C. Bradley, clerk in the Farmer's and Drover's Na- 
tional Bank of Wayneshurg, Greene County, Penn ; Martha young- 
est daughter, teacher in the public schools this county. John, Will- 
iam, Dennis and Peter are prominent farmers and stock-raisers, they 
together, with their mother own seven hundred acres of land. Peter 
Meighen's widow is still living in Gilmore Township. She is a 
daughter of James Dye, who was born December 1, 1769. He was 
a hunter and pioneer farmer, and among the first to find the Corb- 
ley family after they had l)een mui'dered l)y the Indians at Garard's 
Fort. 

PHILIP SIIOUGII, farmer and stock-grower, son of Joseph and 
Catharine (Chisler) Shough, was born near Uniontown, >'ayette 
County, Penn., August 10, ISO'J. His mother was a native of 
Maryland. His father, who was of German extraction, was born in 
Lancaster County, Penn., July 16, 1761, and died in Fayette County, 
Ohio. He was a tarmer and gunsmith through life. Philip was the 
youngest of a family of thirteen children, all of whom reached ma- 
turity except one, who died at the age of seventeen. Mr. Shough 
was one of the few persons in Greene County who were so fortunate 
as to see General LaFayette during his last visit to America. Being 
a bound boy, he received but a limited education in the common 
schools. He was bound for five years to learn a trade, but has 
made farming his chief occupation, in which he has been very suc- 
cessful. At one time his possessions amounted to over seven hun- 
dred acres of land, but much of it has been given to his children. 
He now owns one hundred and fifty acres where he resides in Gilmore 
Township. He was united in marriage in Dunkard Township, Jan- 
uary 15, 1832, with Matilda, daughter of George and Elizabeth 
(Long) Gai-rison. Mrs. Shough, who was of German origin, died 
January 18, 1885. Of their six children, four are living; Pebecca, 
wife of William Hoskmson; George W., a farmer; Sarah Ann, wife 
of Hiram Milliken; and Mattie. Josephus and Elizabeth are de- 
ceased. Mr. Shough is a Cunal)erland Presbyterian, of which churcli 
liis deceased wife was a faithful member. Mr. Shough is a liepub- 
lican in politics, and was a captain in the old militia. • He takes an 
active interest in school aifairs and has been a member of the board 
of directors in his township. G. W. Shough, his oldest son now 



'1126 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

liTing, was born March 16, 1839, and was reared in Gilmore Town- 
ship on the old home farm. He has made farming his occiipation, 
and is the owner of three hundred acres of land. He is married and 
the father of eleven children. He was a student at Waynesburg 
College when the war broke out in 1861, but enlisted in the Seventh 
Pennsylvania Yolunteer Infantry, and was elected Lieutenant of the 
company. He was in many hotly contested battles — among others 
Gettysburg and Antietara. 

JAC0J3 L. SHEIYER, physician and surgeon, Jolleytown, Penn., 
was born in Wliiteley Township, January 11, 1828. He is a son of 
"William and Elizabeth (Shull) Shriver, who were also natives of this 
county, and of Irish and German origin. His father was a farmer all 
his life and died in 1880. His family consisted of nine children, of 
whom the Doctor is the oldest. He remained on the farm with his 
parents until he was eighteen years of age, and attended the district 
schools. He afterwards spent some time in the old Greene Acad- 
emy at Carmichaels, and the College at Waynesburg, Penn. He 
studied medicine with Doctors Arthur Inghram and Alexander 
Shaw, of "Waynesburg. Dr. Shriver first engaged in his chosen pro- 
fession, in 1851, at Jolleytown, Penn., where he has had a large and 
lucrative practice, and is now the owner of considerable estate. He 
has a farm of two hundred and thirty acres in Gilmore Township. 
The Doctor is a registered member of the Greene County and State 
Medical Societies. He was united in marriage, December, 4, 1851, 
with Sarah, daughter of John and Sarah (Gardner) Goodwin, and 
they are the parents of nine children: Elizabeth Ann, wife of A. E. 
Clovis, a merchant at Jolleytown; John M., a physician; Josephine, 
wife of Morris J. Lantz; "William G., who is in the real estate business 
in the "West; Isaac N., a farmer; Sadie, wife of John Pussell; J. F., 
Jessie May, and Mary Mattie. The Doctor is a member of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, and has served as school director of his 
Township. 

ABEAHAM TAYLOR, ifarmer and stock-grower, was born in 
Gilmore Township, this county April 1, 1839. His parents, Francis 
and Susannah (Baldwin) Taylor, were also natives of this county, 
and of English extraction, Plis father, who was a successful farmer, 
died in 1887. His family consisted ol twelve children — four daugh- 
ters and eight sons — of whom Abraham is the fifth. He was reared 
on the farm in Gilmore Township, and attended the district schools. 
He has been engaged as a farmer all his life, and owns seventy acres 
of good land where he resides. Mr. Taylor was united in marriage, 
August 20, 1864, with Eliza Ellen, daughter of Alexander and Maria 
(Clevis) Compston. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor have three children — Posa 
May, wife of "William Lemmon; Patrick Henry and John II. They 
are members of the Southern Methodist Church, in which Mr. Taylor 



6IST0RT OF GREENE COUNTY. 727 

is trustee. He is a Democrat in politics, and at the breaking out of 
the Rebellion, lie promptly enlisted in Company F, Seventh West 
Virginia Infantry and served two years and nine days. He was in 
many battles and skirmishes, among .which Avere the battles of 
J^Vedericksburg, Bull Kun, Antietam, Chancellorsville and Gettys- 
burg:. He is a member of the G. A. R. Post 550. 



GREENE TOWNSHIP. 

W. C. BAILEY, farmer and stock-grower, who is descended from 
the early pioneers of Greene County, was born March 27, 1842, on 
Muddy Creek, this county, on the farm where his parents reside. He 
is a son of J. K. and Delilah (Craft) Bailey, who are natives of this 
county, and of German origin. W. C. is their fourth child. He 
was reared in Cumberland Township, and attended the common 
school and Greene Academy at Carmichaels, Penn. Mr. Bailey 
taught school for several years, but subsequently devoted his time 
wholly to farming and stock-growing, and owns 236 acres of good 
land near Whiteley P. O., Greene Township, this county. Mr. Bailey 
was united in marriage, January 15, 1874, with Miss Maggie, daugh- 
ter of Richard and Emeline (Wise) Hawkins. She is of German and 
English origin. Mr. Bailey is a Republican. He and wife are active 
members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. 

B. W. DENNY, M. D., was born in Jeiferson Borough, Greene 
County, Penn., September 17, 1836, and is a son of William and Re- 
becca "(Litzenburg) Denny, natives of Pennsylvania. His father and 
grandfather, John Denny, were farmers. The latter came from 
England to America, and settled near Jefferson, Penn., where B. W. 
spent his youthful days and attended the common school. The Doc- 
tor attended Waynesburg College until he began the study of medi- 
cine in the office of Dr. W. D. Rogers, of Jefferson. In 1859 he 
entered the Medical College a"t Cleveland, Ohio, where lie graduated 
in 1862. Then, instead of entering the practice of his profession, 
he raised a company for the service of his country. He was elected 
Captain of Company E, of the Ringold Cavfilry, which afterwards 
])ecame Company F, of the Twenty-second Regiment. Capt. Denny 
remained in command for three years, with the exception of about 
eight months when he was sent on detached service to Washington, 
D. C. Dr. and Mrs. Denny were at Washington at the time of the 



728 HISTORY OF GEEENE COUNTY. 

assassination of President Lincoln, and liad intended going to Foi'd's 
Theatre that night; but fortunately, owing to the Doctor's indisposi- 
tion, they were not present on that fatal occasion. At the close of 
the war he began the practice of medicine in Greene County, where 
he has been actively engaged in the profession ever since. Financially 
tlie Doctor has met with success, and owns a good farm where he re- 
sides in Greene Township. He was married October 8, 1862, to 
Miss Rachel, daughter of Samuel, and grand-daughter of James Bra- 
den. Her mother's maiden name M'as Plannah Ross. Mrs. Denny 
is of English and Irish descent. They have one child — Millie May. 
The family are faithful members of the Baptist Church, in which the 
Doctor is one of the trustees. 

W. C. FLENNIKEN, merchant at Whiteley, Greene County, 
Penn., was born in Carmichaels, Penn., February 4, 1853. He is a 
son of James and Rachel (Kerr) Flenniken, natives of this county. 
His ancestors were among the earliest settlers of Greene County. 
Mr. Flenniken's father was a mercliant and drover, and met witli 
success in his business. For nearly half a century he was engaged 
in merchandising at Rice's Landing, Carmichaels, Jefferson and Cey- 
lon, Penn., where he departed this life in 1886. Of his six children, 
three are now living, viz: Horace G., Emma J., wife of George Mc- 
Millan, and W. C, the subject of this sketch. He was reared in this 
county, and early in life went as a clerk into his fathers store, where 
he remained until he took an interest in the business with bis father. 
They established the present bi;siness in 1879, and since his father's 
death W. C. has been sole proprietor. He was united in marriage, 
in 1873, with Miss Samantha, daughter of John Hughes. Their 
children are — Walter and Clyde. Mr. and Mrs. Flenniken are lead- 
ing members of the Baptist Church. 

STEPHENSON GARARD, farmer and stock-grower, P. O. 
Willow Tree, was born at Taylortown, Dunkard Township, Greene 
County, Penn., May 18, 1828, and is a son of Jonathan and Ann 
(Gregg) Garard. His father, who was a farmer, stock-grower and 
manufacturer, served ten years on the bench as associate judge of this 
county, where he died. His family consisted of live children, of 
whom Stephenson was next to the youngest. He was reared in 
Greene County, where he attended the subscription schools. In 
1854 he bought a farm and has since very successfully devoted his 
time and talent to farming and stock-growing. Mr. Garard is the 
owner of about 500 acres of valuable land. On his home farm are 
the Garard oil wells, Nos. 1, 2 and 3, all producing wells. In 1850 
Mr. Garard was united in marriage with Mary A., daugliter of 
William Robinson. Mrs. Garard is of English descent. Their 
children are — Elizabetli, wife of John Minor; Emma M., wife of 
Albert Dowlin; Flora B., wife of G. W. W. Blair; Jesse L., A. Y., 



HISTORY OF GREENK COrNTY. 729 

Anna and Rachel, all of whom, with one exception, are members of 
the Goshen Uaptist Church, in which Mr. Garard serves as deacon. 
Mr. and Mrs. Garard couie from two of the representative families of 
the pioneer settlers of Greene County, and are highly respected 
citizens. 

CHARLES KEENER, farmer and stock-grower, T. O. Willow 
Tree, was born October 8, 1827, on the farm where he resides. lie 
is a son of Robert and Elizabeth (^Eberhart) Keener, natives of this 
county. His father, who is a successful farmer, has reached the ad- 
vanced age of eighty-five years. He has reared a family of seven 
children, four of whom are living. Of these, Charles is the oldest. 
lie was reared on the farm and received his education in one of the 
old-fashioned log school-houses of the district. Charles wisely chose 
his father's occupation, and by industry and economy has increased 
his father's farm from ISO to 238 acres of well-improved land. Mr. 
Keener was married October 10, 1857, to Miss Tabitha E., daughter 
of Charles Stewart. Mrs. Keener is a native of Virginia. Their 
children are — Robert C, Aaron, L. L., C. E., F. II., James "W. and 
Thorton F. Mr. and Mrs. Keener are faithful members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he is a steward. lie is a 
Democrat in politics, has been school director, supervisor of Greene 
Township, and inspector of elections. 

HON. ANDREW LANTZ, farmer and stock-grower, Whiteley, 
Penn., was born in Greene Township, this county. May 8, 1839. His 
parents, John and Jane (Wildman) Lantz, were natives of Greene 
County, and of English and German descent. His father, who was 
a farmer and stock-grower, was a man of marked business ability, 
and at the time of his death, in 1876, was the owner of 2,000 acres 
of land. Andrew has 1,400 acres. He was reared on the -home 
farm and attended the district schools. Being the only child who 
grew to maturity, his father carefully instructed liim in all kinds of 
work and the proper transaction of business. In 1860 Mr. Lantz 
married Miss Lucretia, daughter of George Leraley. Mrs. Lantz is 
of English descent. Their children are — John F., David E., Charley 
and Ada Alice. Mr. and Mrs. Lantz are active members in the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he is trustee. In politics Mr. 
Lantz is a Democrat, and has served as justice of the peace for ten 
years in Greene County. He takes an active interest in educational 
aifairs, and has served as school director for a number of terms. In 
1882 he was elected to the Legislature, and was an active inember 
during the two terms he was connected with that body. 

JOHN F. LANTZ, farmer and stock-grower, Lone Star, Penn., 
was born October 10, 1861, in the township where he now resides. 
He is the oldest son of Hon. Andrew Lantz, of Greene Township, 
whose biographical sketch ajjpears in this volume. John was reared 



730 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

on the farm and obtained his early education in the district schools. 
lie subsequently took a regular course of instruction at Iron City 
College, Pittsburg, Penn., where he gradiiated in 1881. Mr. Lantz 
has a good farm of 201 acres well adapted to the raising of stock, 
in which he engages extensively, making fine cattle a specialty. In 
1882, Mr. Lantz was united in marriage with Sarah, daughter of 
luiri Taylor, who is a merchant and farmer in Whiteley Township. 
Mr. Lantz is a Democrat in politics. His wife is a faithful member 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

GEORGE W. LANTZ, farmer and stock-grower, was born in 
Greene Township, March 24, 1844. He attended the district school, 
and has been engaged in his present occupation from his youth. In 
1886 he engaged in the lumber business in company with Abner 
Munnell, and is owner and proprietor of a large planing and saw- 
mill, at Greensboro, Penn. Mr. Lantz is a son of Jacob and Cassandra 
(South) Lantz, natives of this county. His father, who was a sviccess- 
ful farmer, died in 1861. Mr. Lot Lantz, George's grandfather, was 
at one time elected brigade inspector of the militia of the county, 
and was a pioneer of Greene Couuty. He was a wealthy stock- 
drover and engaged extensively in pork packing, making heavy ship- 
ments to Baltimore. He also carried on a distillery for years. 
September 4, 1870, George Lantz married Miss Mary, daughter of 
Joseph Tannehill, and they were the parents of the following children: 
Laura V. Chandas, Hughes and James. Lessie being deceased. A 
remarkable fact exists in the history of these children. Lessie, born 
July 14, 1878, who lived to be two years of age, was born just six- 
teen days after her brother Hughes, who was born June 29, 1878 
Mrs. Lantz was a devoted member of the Baptist Church. She de- 
parted this' life August 19, 1888, she and her babe were buried in 
the same coffin. Mr. Lantz is a Democrat in politics, has served as 
justice of the peace in Greene Township, and is now postmaster at 
Willow Tree, Penn. 

P. A. MYERS, hotel keeper, Whiteley, Penn., is a descendant 
of Rev. John Corbly, one of the pioneer settlers of Greene Couuty. 
He was born near Garard's Fort, Penn., April 2, 1836. Llis parents 
are Alfred and Jane J. (Evans) Myers, who were of German and 
Welsh origin. Mr. Meyers is the oldest in a family of six children, 
was reared on a farm, received a common school education, and has 
been a successful business man. ' His boyhood days were spent with 
his uncle, an extensive cattle-dealer. When but fourteen years of 
age would help his imcle drive large droves of cattle, and conduct 
them overland to the Philadelphia markets, making as many as two 
or three trips a year. The greater part of his later years has been 
devoted to farming. While a yoiing man he taught school for sev- 
eral terms,' and has ever manifested an active interest in educational 



IIISTOKY OF GREENE COUNTY. 731 

affairs. In politics he is a Republican. He lias held various town- 
ship offices — among others school director and justice of the peace. 
On November 1, 1857, Mr. Myers married Miss Louisa M., dau,<j;liter 
of David and Mary Roberts, who were of Welsh and Englisli descent. 
Her father, who was a farmer of Dunkard Township, died in 1885, 
at the advanced age of eighty-five years. Mr. and Mrs. Myers have 
two children and four grandchildren. Their children are — Buena V., 
wife of W. H. Bark, Esq., of Waynesburg, Penn.; and Pleasant J., 
wife of M. E. Garard, of Greene Township. Mr. and Mrs. Myers 
are prominent members of the Baptist Church. 

JACOB REAMER, retired farmer and stock-grower, of Greene 
Township, was born in Monongahela Township, this county, January 
IG, 1814. He is a son of Jacob and Margaret (Black) Reamer, who 
were natives of Pennsylvania, and of German origin. His father, 
who was a farmer and distiller, spent most of his life in Greene 
County, and died in 1852. His family consisted of five cliildren, 
of whom Jacob is tlie third. He was reared on the home farm, and 
received his education in the district schools. He has met with 
average success in his chosen occupation, and at present is the owner 
of a well improved farm of ninety-four acres, near Garard's Fort, 
this county. Mr. Reamer was united in marriage, in 1840, with Miss 
Louisa, daughter of John and Ortha Myers. They were Quakers 
and of English descent. Mr. Reamer is a Democrat'in politics. He 
manifests great interest in educational matters, and has served as 
school director in his township. Mr. and Mrs. Reamer are leading 
members in the Goshen Baptist Church. 

J. B. ROBERTS, farmer and stock-grower, Whiteley, Penn., 
was born in Greene Township, this county, March 18, 1832. His 
parents, Joseph and Jane (Johnson) Roberts, were natives of 
Greene County, and of Welsh descent. His father, who was a farmer 
by occupation, reared a family of eleven children, of whom J. B. is 
the ninth. He was reared on the farm and attended the subscription 
schools. He chose farming and stock-growing as his occupation, 
and has met with average success, owning at present a good farm of 
150 acres. Mr. Roberts was united in marriage, December 31, 1879, 
with Elizabeth, daughter of James and Elizabeth (Clark) Hender- 
son. Mrs. Roberts is a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. Her parents were natives of Greene County, and of Eng- 
lish descent. At the time Mr. and Mrs. Roberts were married, she 
was the widow of Henry Lantz. Mr. Roberts is an enthusiastic 
Democrat, and a member of the I. O. O. F. 

T. H. SEDGEWICK, M. D., of Whiteley, Greene County, 
Penn., was born at Rice's Landing, Penn., April 20, 1852, and is 
the son of Hon. Joseph atid ElizaJjeth (Hawthorne) Sedgewick, who 
were of English and Irish descent. His mother was born in Wash- 



732 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

ington County. His father, who was a natives of Virginia, served 
two terms as a member of the Legislature from Greene County. He 
was a commission merchant by occupation, in which business he en- 
gaged for many years .at Rice's Landing, Penn., having first come 
to this county when seventeen years of age. He died in 1882. He 
was twice married and was the father of eight children. Dr. Sedge- 
wick is the second child by the last marriage, and was reared at 
Kice's Landing, where he received his early education. He sub- 
sequently attended Monongahela College until he began the study ot 
medicine in the office of Dr. T. H. Sharpnack, of Jeiferson Borough. 
He then took a regular course in the Jefferson Medical College at 
Philadelphia, where he graduated in 1877. He entered the practice 
of medicine the same year in Greene County, and has since devoted 
all his time to his profession. In 1880 he settled in Whiteley, where 
his professional skill and remarkable energy soon won for him a 
good practice. That he might be better prepared for the practice of 
his profession, the Doctor took a post graduate course at New York 
City in 1888. Pie is a man of large stature and marked physical 
abilities which, coupled with his great industry and determination, 
eminently qualify him for the duties he has assumed. He was mar- 
ried at Pice's Landing, December 25, 1873, to Miss Lucinda, daughter ■ 
of John Dowlin, a wealthy farmer of this county. They have two 
children — Joseph and John. The Doctor is a Democrat, and he and 
Mrs. Sedgewick ai-e prominent members of the Baptist Church. 

BENJAMIN SOUTH, farmer and stock-grower, P. O. Willow 
Tree was born in Greene Township, Greene County, Penn., January 
16, 1819. He is a son of Enoch and Ruth (Gregg) South, who were 
of English descent. His mother was a native of Delaware. His 
father, who was a native of New Jersey, came to Greene County, Penn., 
in 1794, where he died in 1868. His family consisted of eleven 
children, — nine girls and two boys, of whom Benjamin was the sixth. 
He was reared in Dunkard Township, receiving his education in the 
subscription schools. Mr. South was a stone-mason early in life, and 
also worked for some time at the blacksmith's trade. In later years 
he has given his attention to farming, and by means of his imtiring 
zeal and industry, is now the owner of 315 acres of well improved 
land. In 1842 Mr. South married Matilda Gapen, who is of Eng- 
lish descent, and a daughter of Stephen and Rebecca (Snyder) Gapen. 
Their union has been blessed with seven children, four sons and three 
daughters — Maria, Avife of D. Sikes; Melinda, widow of E. Alex- 
ander; Enoch C, a farmer; Stephen, a carpenter; Olive; Ortha, wife 
of Noah Minor; and Otho M., a school teacher. In politics Mr. 
south is a Democrat. He takes an active interest in educational 
affairs, and has served as school director for a number of years. 



IIISTOUY OF GREENE COUNTY. 733 

JOSEPH VANCE, fanner and stock-grower, was born in 
Greene Coiinty, Penn., January, 28, 1838, and is a son of Joseph and 
Margeret (Diveus) Vance. His parents were natives of Pennsyl- 
vania, and of Irish and German origin. His father was born in 
(xreene Township, in 1795, and lived to the advanced age of seventy- 
eight years. He was a farmer, stock-grower and stone-mason. His 
family consisted of ten children, of whom Joseph is the youngest. 
He has been reared in this township, where he received a common 
school education. Having chosen farming as his occupation, he has 
given it all his care and attention, and is the owner of a nice farm of 
eighty acres where he resides near Willow .Tree, this county. 
The subject of our sketch was married in this township, in 1881, to 
Miss Martha Ann, daughter of Coverdel Cole, of Virginia. Mr. 
Vance is a Democrat in politics, and a highly respected citizen. 



JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP AND JEFFER- 
SON BOROUGH. 

A. F. AMMONS, Khedive, Penn., one of the substantial farmers 
of Jeft'erson Township, was born in Perry Township, Greene County, 
April 20, 1824. He is a son of Abraham and Mary (Frost) Ammons. 
His mother was a native of Fayette County, Penn., and his father of 
Greene County, where they were married and spent the greater part 
of their lives, moving to West Virginia a few years before their 
death. Mr. Abraham Amuions died in 1833; his widow was after- 
guards united in marriage with Jerry Wright, now deceased. In 
1847, January 21, A. F. Ammons married Kebecca Wade, who was 
born in AVest Virginia, January 15, 1828. She is a daughter of 
Sylva and Catharine ("Dusonberry) Wade, and is a consistent member 
of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Her pareuts were also 
natives of West Virginia, where they were married and remained 
until Mr. Wade's death, March 31, 1850; his widow is still living. 
Mr. and Mrs. Ammons have nine children, six living — Mary, wife 
of Benjamin Fox; Perry, Douglas, Forney, Frank and Nettie; the 
deceased are — Jasper, William and Louvernia. Mr. Ammons was 
raised on a farm and worked by the month until nineteen years of 
age; then learned the carpenter trade which he followed for sixteen 
years. He afterwards engaged in farming and stock-dealing and, 
by great industry and good management, has secured a nice home for 



734 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

himself and family and a tine farm of 315 acres of improved land in 
Greene County. He filled the office of justice of the peace in Ferry 
Township five years, served as school director eight years, and was 
assessor one year. Since moving to Jefferson Township, he has filled 
the office of justice of the peace for twelve years, and has voted the 
Democratic ticket all the time and still is for Cleveland, Thurman 
and the Mills bill. 

N. M. BANE, retired farmer, P. O. Jefferson, was born in "Wash- 
ington County, Penn., February 27, 1818, a son of Abraham and 
Elizabeth (Venom) Bane, who were natives of Washington County, 
where they were married, settled and remained all their lives. Their 
son, N. M., is the only one of their nine children now living. He 
was united in marriage, November 21, 1844, with Mary McClen- 
athan, who was born in Washington County, Penn., October 22, 1822, 
a daughter of William and Mary (Coulson) McClenathan. Her parents 
were also natives of Washington County, where they were married 
and remained through life. The}^ were the parents of eleven children, 
five living. Mr. and Mrs. Bane's family consists of five children, 
two of whom are living — Jennie, wife of David Crayne, and John 
L., who married Mary E. Neal. The deceased are — Eveline, Thomas 
S. and James M. Mr. Bane owns 150 acres of land in Washington 
County, Penn., also some land and property in Greene County. He 
and wife are faithful members of the Baptist Church. 

SAMUEL BAYARD, farmer, P. O. Rice's Landing, was born 
in Centre Towmship, Greene County, Penn., January 4, 1819, a son 
of William and Nancy Bayard (nee Scott). The former was born in 
Washington County and the latter in Greene Coiinty, Penn., where 
they were married, settling in Centre Township, where they remained 
until 1826; they then moved to Whiteley Township, where Mrs. 
Bayard died in 1840. Her husband died in Jefferson Township in 
1860. They were the parents of three children — John S., Thomas 
W., and Samuel. March 3, 1839, Samuel Bayard mari-ied Miss 
Lncinda Randolph, born in Jefferson Township in 1818, a daughter 
of Jonah F. and Leah Randolph [nee Leonard). By this marriage 
Mr. Bayard is the father of two children — J. Randolph, Avho married 
Martha E. Oliver, -they are the parents of two living children, Frank 
and Lon L. ; Nancy, who is the wife of Capt. J. R. Hewitt, their 
children are Anna, who married E. H. Shipley, and William B. 
Mrs. Bayard departed this life July 3, 1845. August 18, 1846, 
Mr. Bayard was again united in marriage, with Rebecca A. Randolph, 
who was born in Jefferson Township, February 24, 1820, a daughter 
of Jacob and Ruth (Bailey) Randolph, and a faithful member of the 
Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Her father was a native of New 
Jersey and her mother of Pennsylvania; both are now deceased. By 
his second marriage Mr. Bayard is the father of three children — 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTT. 735 

William J., who married Mary Temple and is the father of J. Temple 
Bayard; Lucy R. and John A., who married Permelia Lucas and is 
now the father of two children — Lettie and Samuel. Mr. Bayard is 
one of the most highly respected farmers in his neighhorhood, and 
owns 200 acres of land where he and family reside. 

J. C. BUlvSON, farmer, Clarksville, Penn., was born September 
27, 1825, in the house now occupied by himself and family, llis 
father, Abraham Burson, was born on the farm which J. 0. now owns 
in Jefferson Township. His mother was born in Washington County, 
Penn. After marriage they settled in Greene County, and remained 
until their death; Mrs. Burson died in 1839, July 17. Her husband 
afterwards married Hannah Crawford, now deceased; and he died in 
1886. By the first marriage there are four children, three of whom 
are living. Mr. J. C. Burson was united in marriage, December 30, 
1849, with Rebecca Reynolds, who was born in Jefferson Township, 
December 24, 1827. Her parents, John and Jane (Kincaid) Rey- 
nolds, were natives of Greene Count}', where they resided till death: 
Mrs. Reynolds died October 12, 1839. Mr. Reynolds afterwards 
married Priscilla Gwynn {nee Long), deceased. He departed this 
life February 20, 1882. To Mr. and Mrs. Burson have been born 
six children, five living — John R., who married Emily Leslie; David 
M., who married Emma Moredock; Abraham, who married Marga- 
ret Greenlee; Alexander P. and James O.; Abraham being de- 
ceased. Mr. Burson was raised on his present farm formerly owned 
by his father and grandfather; it consists of 200 acres. Mr. Burson 
has filled the offices of school director and overseer of the poor, and 
has been a member of the Masonic fraternity for about thirty-seven 
years. 

WILLIAM COTTERREL, saddler and harness-maker, M-as born 
in New Jersey in 1772; he married Isaljela Livingston, also a native 
of New Jersey. They settled in Jefferson, Greene County, Penn., 
about 1796, and lived there until the year 1824, when tliey moved 
to Waynesburg; he there followed his trade until his death in 1836. 
His wife died in 1826. They raised four childern — John, William, 
Isabela and Martha. Isabela died in 1844. Martha married Clark 
Ely, and died young; left one daughter, Isabel, who married David 
Babbit, and died without issue; William married Frances Minor, 
who died and left one daughter, Elizabeth, who married David Tay- 
lor. She died and left one daughter, Lee Taylor. William married 
for his second wife Mrs. Sarah Bane (formerly Sellers). He followed 
the tanning business for a number of years in Waynesburg, and died 
January, 1886, aged seventy-four years. His widow still survives at 
an advanced age. John Cotterrel, Sr., was born in Jefferson, Greene 
County, September 25, 1802. At tlie age of fifteen years he went 
to Uniontown, Penn., and learned the tanning trade with John Mil- 



736 llISTOIlY OF GiEEEKfE COUNTY. 

ley. He came back home and worked for his father until 1824, when 
he started business for himself. In 1828 he married Permelia, 
daughter of John and Mary Milliken (natives of Ireland). They 
raised nine children — Isabela, John, Mary A., Permelia, William, 
Jonas, Elizabeth, Martha A. and George. Isabela married William 
Anderson, of Pittsburgh. She died and left one daughter, Laura 
Eell. Mary A. married Dr. James W. Hancher, of Ohio — are 
both dead. They raised seven children. Permelia is dead. William 
married Olive Gorden, of Washington, Penn. Jonas married Anna 
Short, of Claysville, Penn. Elizabeth married Joseph A. Pell. 
Martha A. married Jacob Haver. George now lives in Hiawatha, 
Brown County, Kansas. John Cotterrel, Jr., was born in Jefferson, 
Penn., November 29, 1832. He learned the tanning trade with his 
father, and married Priscilla Swan, daughter of Samuel and Priscilla 
(Crago) Swan; she died June 10, 1861, and left two daughters — 
Elmyra P. and Margaret A. Elmyra P. now resides in Iowa. Mar- 
garet A. married T. Keed McMinn. She died June 11, 1885; left 
one son, Robert C. John Cotterrel's present wife is Mary H., 
daughter of William and Harriet (Randolph) Davis, and they have 
a family of three children — John F., William D. and Joseph R. 
In politics Mr. Cotterrel is a Republican, and takes an active interest 
in farming, wool-growing and stock-raising and now owns a farm of 
175 acres one mile southeast of Jefferson, Penn. 

HUGH D. CREE, plasterer and contractor, was born in Greene 
County, ^September 11, 1840. He is a son of William and Ann 
(DeFrance) Cree, who were natives of Jefferson Township, and of 
French and Irish origin. Our subject's father, William Cree, was 
born in Greene County, May 18, 1796. By occupation he was a 
farmer, and in religion a Presbyterian, in which church he was an 
elder. Mr. Cree's father was a farmer, who died November 5, 1871. 
His family consisted of twelve children — eight sons and four daugh- 
ters. Their mother was born in Greene County in 1802, and died in 
1875. Hugh grew up on the farm with his parents, attended the 
district school, and chose farming as his business; but subsequently 
learned his present trade, which he has pursued with more than or- 
dinary success. He was married April 26, 1862, to Mary Elizabeth, 
daughter of Isaiah and Nancy M. (Guseman) Dean, who were of 
Dutch descent. Mr. and Mrs. Cree have one child, a daughter — 
Elizabetli Ann, now wife of George B. WaychofF. Mr. Cree and 
wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics 
lie is a Republican. In 1861 he enlisted as a member of Company 
F, First Pennsylvania Cavalry, and was discharged the same year for 
disability. His five brothers were all soldiers in the Union army, 
three of them being in from the beginning till its close. 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNT V. 737 

JESSE DOWLIN, farmer, P. O. Khedive, was born in Cnmber- 
land Township, Greene County, Penn., March 21, 1830. He is a son 
of John and Elizabetli (Gwynn) Dowlin, natives of Pennsylvania. 
They were married in Greene County and made it their home until 
their death. He departed this life ISlovember 26, 1874:, and she Sep- 
tember 30, 1878. Eight of their nine children are now living. 
Jesse Dowlin was united in marriage, February 22, 1855, with Eliza 
A. Huston, born in Fayette County, Pennsylvania. Her parents 
were John and Hannah (Sproat) Huston, both of whom died in 
Greene County — her father, March 5, 1885, and her mother in 1880. 
In the earlier part of his life Mr. iJowlin taught sciiool through the 
winter and worked on tliefarmin the summer. He has since devoted 
all his time to farming and, as a result of his faithful labors, now 
owns a tine farm of 117 acres on which are good buildings. He has 
served as school director of liis township. 

AVILLIAM GOODWIN, farmer, P. O. Jefferson, was born in 
Washington County, Penn., June 16, 1822. He is a son of John and 
Sallie (Gardner) Goodwin, the former born in York County, Penn., 
and the latter in Washington County, where they were married and 
remained until 1830, at which time they moved to Center Township, 
Greene County, and lived there till Mrs. Goodwin's death in 1843. 
Mr. Goodwin afterwards married Mary Dalripple {iiee Bell), now de- 
ceased. He died in 1859. AVilliam was united in marriage, Febru- 
ary 26, 1847, with Nancy Wilson, born in Ireland March 7, 1827. 
Her parents, James and Martha (Craigmills) AVilson, were both born 
in Ireland, where they were married and emigrated to America in 
1827, living first in Washington County, and then in Westmoreland 
CoTinty, where she died in 1830. Mr. Wilson then married Cath- 
arine McKee, now deceased; he died in 1878. Mr. and Mrs. Good- 
win are the parents of ten children, eight of whom are living — Saraii 
E., John T., Mary, wife of II. H. Armstrong; Rachel, wife of AV. S. 
Scott; Margaret J., Nancy A. B., William W. and Jessie AI. The 
deceased are: Martha J. and an infant. Mr. Goodwin was reared on 
a farm, and is now regarded as one of the most substantial farmers 
in his township. He owns 350 acres of laud in Greene County. 
He and wife are consistent and earnest Christians. 

MARSHALL GWYNN. farmer, Khedive, Penn., a descendant 
of one of the pioneer families of Greene Count}-, Penn., was born in 
Jefferson Township, March 9, 1826. His parents, James and Hester 
(Cree) Gwynn, were natives of Greene County and residents therein 
through life. They were the parents of live children, two of whom 
are living, viz: Joseph and Marshall. In 1861, Noveml)er 29, Mar- 
shall married Kate Hill, born in Greene County Septemlier 3, 1835, 
daughter of Thomas and Nancy Hill {jiee Roseberry), who were na- 
tives of Greene County, where they remained through life. Mr. 



738 HISTOEY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

Hill died in 1876 and Mrs. Hill in 1880. They were the parents of 
eleven children, ten now living. Mr. and Mrs. Gwynn have seven 
children — Frank, Frances, Thomas, Jesse, Ida, Eemembrance and 
Albert. Mr. Gwynn is a farmer and owns eighty-eight acres of land 
where he and family reside. He is a faithful member of the 
Cumberland Presbyterian Church. 

JOHJST HAVER, P. O. Jefferson, is one of the pioneers of the 
township, where he was born October 12, 1802. He is the son of 
George and Priscilla Haver [nee Yillars) ; the former was born in New 
Jersey and the latter in Pennsylvania, where they were married in 
Greene County and remained all their lives. They were the parents 
of ten children, of whom four are living. John is the oldest and was 
united, m marriage March 8, 1832, with Jane Rex, born in Jefferson 
Township March 25, 1815, a daughter of George and Jane (Black) 
Rex, deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Haver are the parents of eleven chil- 
dren, of these seven are living — George R., Priscilla, Mary E., Hiram, 
Jacob, Charles and James. The deceased are Sarah, John, Mar- 
garet and Emma. Their mother departed this life January 9, 1879. 
Mr. Haver is one of the retired farniers of Jefferson Township, and 
owns one hundred and fifty acres of land where he and his family 
reside. He has held a majority of the offices in his township. He 
belongs to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, of which his de- 
ceased wife was also a member. 

JACOB HAVER, farmer, P. O. Jefferson, son of John and Jane 
(Rex) Haver, was born in Jefferson Township, Greene County, Penn., 
September 13, 1846. His father is living, and his mother deceased. 
His wife was Miss Nettie Cotterel, also born in Jefferson Township, 
January 17, 1847, a daughter of John and Permelia Cotterel (^nee 
Milliken), deceased. Mr., and Mrs. Jacob Haver were married January 
30, 1871, and are the parents of six children, of whom five are living — 
John C, Jane R., Laura B., Joseph B. and Lizzie; William being de- 
ceased. Mr. Haver was raised on a farm and has made farming and 
stock-dealing his business through life. He owns a good farm in 
Jeffei'son Township, containing about two hundred acres, on which 
are good, substantial buildings. 

CHARLES H. HAVER, farmer and stock-dealer, P. O. Jefferson, 
who was born in Jefferson Township January 22, 1820, is a son of 
John and Jane Haver (iiee Rex). The former is living and the latter 
deceased. Mr. Haver was united in marriage January 22, 1880, with 
Isabella McClui'e, who was born in Dunkard Township, Greene 
County, Penn., in September 1859, a daughter of James and Susan 
(Brown) McClure. Mr. McClure departed this life August 8, 1886; 
his widow is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Haver are the parents of two 
children — James C, born September 28, 1881, and Owen W., born 
March 27, 1884. Mr. Haver was reared on a farm and luis been 



IIISTOllY OF GREENE COUNTY. 739 

engaged in farming and stock-dealing ^di iiiis life, lleuwii.s vuliniljlc 
property in the borough of Jetl'erson. 

ISAAC HAYS, fanner, Millsboro, Penn., is one of the pioneer 
fanners of Greene Connty, and was Ijorn in Morgan Township May 
10, 1816, a son of David and Mary Hays, (_nee liush). His fatlier 
was a native of Maryland and his mother of Greene County, Penii., 
where they were married and remained all their lives. David liays 
died in 1827 and his widow in 1870. They were the parents of four 
children, only two of whom are now living — Jane, and Isaac, the sub- 
ject of our sketch. His wife was Margaret A. Walton, who was born 
in Washington County, Penn., in 182c3, a daughter of John and Sarah 
(Paul) Walton, deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Hays were married Septem- 
ber 22, 1838, and had a family of ten children, four living — Sarah 
A., wife of Wesley Ilinehart; Mary M., widow of Lafayette Vernon; 
Margaret J., wife of George 11. Paker, and Emeline E. Of the de- 
ceased Henry C. was born September 27, 18ii, and died January 11, 
1882, and John W., born November 1847, and died May 25, 18G2. 
Mr. Hays owns a fine farm of one hundred and fifty-five acres on 
which he and family now reside. Mrs. Hays departed this life Feb- 
ruary 13, 1872. She was a kind and affectionate mother, and a loving, 
faithful wife. 

CHAIILES HUGHES, retired farmer, P. O. Jefferson, is a de- 
scendant of one of the first settlers of Greene County, Penn. He was 
born August 22, 1816, a son of John and Mary (Ue.\) Hughes. His 
mother was a native of Lancaster County, and his father of Greene 
County, where they were married in Jefferson Townshi)) in 1794, 
lived there seven years, then moved to Morgan Township and spent 
the remainder of their days. Mr. John Hughes died in 1844, and 
liis wife in 1849. They were the parents of twelve children, only 
two of whom are living — Maria, the widow of Joseph McNealy, 
and Charles. He was united in marriage September 21, 1843, with 
Catharine McEowen, a native of New Jersey, and daughter of George 
and Permelia (Coleman) McEowen, deceased. By this marriage 
Mr. IHighes is the father of five children, four living — John S., 
Mary E., wife of Hamilton Riggle, of Iowa; Permelia, wife of D. A. 
Bumgarner and Maria C, wife of 15. F. Kendall. Amy is deceased. 
Mrs. Catharine Hughs departed this life June 13, 1856; and two 
years later, May 26, 1858, Mr. Hughes married Elizabeth Hill, 
who was born in Greene County July 14, 1829, a daughter of 
Samuel and Hannah Hill, both deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Charles 
Hughes are the parents of two children — Maggie and Anna M. 
Mrs. Elizabeth Hughes died November 27, 1887, a faithful mem- 
ber of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, of which Mr. Hughes' 
former wife was also a consistent member. Like his ancestors, 
Mr. Hughes made farming his business through life, and owns 110 



't40 HISTOKT OF GEEENE COtJNTt. 

acres of land — his home farm. He filled the office of assistant 
assessor under appointment by the Government. 

JOHN H. HUGHES, merchant, Jefl'erson, Penn., is a descendant 
of the early settlers of Greene County, and of Irish and English de- 
scent. His great-grandfather, Thomas Hughes, laid out the borough 
of Jefferson. His grandfather, John Hughes, was born in Jefierson, 
where our subject's great-grandfather settled in 1776; Barnett 
Hughes was born in 1819, and died in 1882. Two of his children 
are now living — George, a farmer; and John PL, who was reared in 
Jefferson, attended the schools of Greene County, and early in life 
went into the dry goods Inisiness as salesman. In this capacity he 
worked for some years at Danville, Illinois, returning to Jefferson 
in 1871, when he established a general store, in which he has met 
with deserving success. Mr. John Hughes' wife was Mary, daughter 
of David and Lettie Bell. Their family consists of one son and one 
daughter — Barnett and Lettie, both now deceased. Mr. Hughes has 
served as a member of the town council of Jefferson Borough. In 
politics he is a Republican; his wife is a member of the Baptist 
Church. 

ROBERT H. JORDAN, farmer, born in Washington Township, 
Greene County, Penn., is a son of Silas and Sarah (McCorraick) 
Jordan. His parents were natives of Greene County, Penn., and of 
Irish and English lineage. His grandfather, John Jordan, was a 
pioneer mill-wright of this county. His father was also a inill- 
wright and carpenter. His family consisted of eigiit children, 
of whom Robert LI. was the second. Robert was reared in Jef- 
ferson and received a common school education. Early in life he 
learned the carpenter trade, which occupation he followed for many 
years. He was twice married, his first wife being Harriet, daughter 
of John Daniels; she was a native of Ohio. By this union there were 
three children, all of whom died young. Mrs. Jordan died in 1873. 
Mr. Jordan was afterwards united in marriage, in 1874, with the 
. widow of Gideon John, of Waynesburg, Penn. Mr. and Mrs. John's 
children were F. J. John, druggist; R. S., a jeweler at Waynesburg; 
and Harry J. at home in school. Their father was born in Wash- 
ington County, Penn., and was of English descent; he died in 1870. 
Mr. and Mrs. Jordan have one child, James Leroy. Mr. Jordan is 
the owner of a farm of sixty-eight acres. He is a member of the 
town council and president of the school board of Jefferson Borough, 
also was at one time a member of the executive committee of the 
Monongahela College. Lie is an xipright temperance man and one 
of the leading members in the Metliodist Episcopal Church. 

JOHN C. KENDALL, furniture dealer, Jefferson, Penn., was 
born in Smithfield, Fayette County, Penn., April 26, 1840. His 
parents were Samuel and Pauline (Custead) Kendall, who were of 



HISTORY OF GREENE COITNTY. 741 

German and English origin. His lather was a Baptist iniuister; ln' 
died in 1872. His family consisted' of twelve children, eleven ol' 
whom — nine sons and two daughters — attained the age of maturity. 
John is the oldest son, and was reared in Fayette County until ten 
years of age, when he came with his parents to Greene County. He 
went to school in Fayette County and at Waynesbnrg College; after- 
wards returning to Fayette County, where he learned the wagon- 
maker's trade, and followed it as a business for nine years. He 
taught school fifteen years, five years of that time in Illinois. In 
18(51 he married Catharine, daughter of John and Elizabeth Grimm, 
and by this marriage is the father of two children — Eva and John. 
The latter is a gradfuate of the Commercial College, of Springfield, 
111. Mrs. Kendall died in 1860. In 1876 he was ne.xt united in 
marriage with Hannah !■>., daughter of John and Maria (Loughman) 
Ross. At the time of her marriage Mrs. Kendall was the widow of 
the late Thomas Johns, and the motiier of one child, Albert Leslie. 
Mr. and Mrs. Kendall have two children — Fanl and Samuel. Mr. 
Kendall takes quite an active interest in educational matters, and is 
a member of the board of trustees of Monongahela College. They 
are both members of the Baptist Church, in which Mr. Kendall is a 
deacon, and has served as teacher and superintendent in the Sabbatli- 
school. 

ELI LONG, deceased, was born April 28, 1821, near Khedive 
P. O., on the farm now occupied by his heirs. His father and 
mother were Richard and Mary Long, who were natives of Pennsyl- 
vania, were married in the eastern part of the State, and came to 
Greene County, where they settled and remained until their death. 
Mr. Eli Long was united in mari'iage October 25, 185c!, with Sarah 
Pjyor, who was born in Pelmont County, Ohio, July 27, 1831, — a 
daughter of Joshua and Susan Pryor, now deceased. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Long were born four children, of whom two are living — Lizzie 
L. and Albert C. The deceased are Vincent P. and Delia. Mr. 
Long was reai-ed on a farm, and made a great success of farming and 
stock dealing, possessing at the time of his death, October 1, 1881, 
560 acres of land, wliich is now owned and managed by his son and 
daughter. Mrs. Long departed this life August 27, 1886. She 
and her husband were faithful members of the Cumberland Presby- 
terian Church, of wliich the son and daughter are also members. 

MARTIN J. LOVE, farmer, P. O. Jefferson, one of the sub- 
stantial citizens of Jefferson Township, was born in Greene County, 
Penn., March 11, 1826. His parents were Alfred and Ann Love 
(7iee Piper), who were natives of England, where they were married 
and emigrated to America in 1819, coming to Greene County, Penn., 
where they remained until their death. Mrs. Love departed this 
life in 1853 and her husband in 1868. They were the parents of 



74^ HISTOET OF GEEENE COUNTY. 

six children, four of whom are living. Martin J. is the youngest, 
and was united in marriage JSTovember 5, 1857, with Harriet Rine- 
hart, who was born in Greene County November 11, 1829. She is 
a daughter of Jacob and Abigail (Huss) Rinehart, who were also 
natives of Greene County and residents therein through life. Mrs. 
liinehart died in 1841. Mr. Rinehart afterwards married Elizabeth 
Hoge, now living; he died in 1874. To Mr. and Mrs. Martin J. 
Love have been born nine children; of these iive are living, viz. — 
Emma, George, Ruth, wife of Thomas Hughes; Kate, wife of Plugh 
Hamilton, and Charlie. The deceased are Ella, wife of Dr. C. li. 
Pollock; Lizzie M., Milton J. R. and Millard F. Mr. Love was 
raised on a farm, has made farming and stock dealing his business, 
and owns 300 acres of land where he and family live. He and wife 
are consistent members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. 

EWING McCLEARY, merchant, Jefierson, Penn. — Among the 
prominent business men of Greene County we mention the name 
of Ewing McClear}^ He was born in Fayette County, Penn., 
February 3, 1840, a son of William and Rebecca McCleary. His 
parents were also natives of Fayette County. His father was a mer- 
chant in early life, in later years a banker. Ewing was the only 
son in a family of three children, and had the advantages of good 
schools, having attended both the High School and Academy at 
Uniontown, Penn. In 1865 he was admitted as a partner in his 
father's store, in which he had been a salesman for several years. In 
1872 he came to Jefferson and established his present business. 
Here his long experience in the mercantile trade, and his polite and 
gentlemanly demeanor, soon won for him a good trade. His store 
is an example of neatness, and in the arrangement and selection of 
goods he exhibits marked ability and good taste. Mr. McCleary 
was married in Fayette County, Penn., to Miss Lizzie, daughter of 
P. G. and Martha (Burchiual) Sturgis. Mrs. McCleary's father was 
a Baptist minister, and she is a faithful member of the Baptist 
Church. In politics Mr. McCleary is a Democrat. 

MICHAEL McGOVERN, deceased, a man highly respected for 
his mtmy excellent qualities, was a prominent farmer and stock- 
grower in Jefferson Township, where he died in 1876 at the advanced 
age of eighty-four years. He came to Jefferson Township when a 
young man, and made the tilling of the soil and raising stock the 
business of his life, which he pursued with more than ordinary 
energy. As the fruits of his toils, he was the owner of two farms 
well stocked and improved. He was quite happily married to Miss 
Lucinda Daken, who was born in Ohio, and of English origin. She 
has spent most of her life in Greene County, Penn. The union of 
Mr. and Mrs. McGovern proved a very pleasant one. Their young- 
est child is J. E., who is now a full-grown man. In politics Mr. 



IIISTOKY OF GIIEENE COUNTY. 743 

JMcGoveni was a Democrat, lie was a zealous ineiiiher of the Cath- 
olic Church. 

THOMAS E. McMINN, deceased, who was a saddler and harness- 
inalcer, was born in Cumberland Township, Greene County, Penn., 
April 22, 1820. He was a son of Kobert and Rachel (Eice) McMinn, 
of Irish and English origin. His father was born in Ireland, 
and was a school teacher by occupation; in later life he engaged in 
farming. Thomas McMinn was the youngest in a family of four 
children — Elizabeth, deceased, who was the wife of James Mahanna; 
Mary, the widow of James I'ogue; Sarah, wife of John Curl; and 
Thomas R., who married Miss Elizabeth V., daughter of William 
Lee Pollock, of Pittsburgh, Penn. Mrs. McMinn is ne.xt to the 
youngest of a family of twelve children. The marriage of Mr. and 
Mrs. McMinn has been blessed with seven children, live of whom 
are living — Mary A., wife of John Rex; W. J., a saddler; Elizabeth 
L., Thomas Reed, a liveryman at Jetierson; and John C, a minister 
in the Methodist Episcopal Church. Robert L. and an infant are 
deceased. Mr. McMinn took great pride in fine horses and cattle, 
in which he dealt quite extensively during his life. He was a man 
of more than ordinary intellect, always foremost as a peacemaker, 
and beloved by everybody who had the pleasure of his acquaintance. 
In the language of all persons of that section with whom we have 
been able to converse, " his place can never be filled." Nothing can 
be said that would not be appropriate to the character of so honored 
a friend of the people. He started in life a poor boy, and by in- 
dustry, honesty and integrity, he amassed considerable fortune, 
leaving every member of his family in comfortable circumstances. 
His widow is a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

DANIEL MOREDOCK, farmer, Jefferson, Penn., was born in 
Jefferson Township, Greene County, March 29, 1820. His father, 
George Moredock, a native of Greene County, was three times mar- 
ried, his first wife being Priscilla Anderson, Daniel's mother, who 
was born January 10, 1798, with whom he lived in Jefferson Town- 
ship until her death. May 1(3, 1841. He married for his second wife 
Mary (Moredock) Worthington, and for the third, Emily A. Ran- 
dolph, now deceased. He departed this life in 1881. He was the 
father of twelve children, nine of whom are living. Daniel is the 
second, and was united in marriage, November 25, 1849, with Eliza- 
beth Rex, who was born in Jefferson Township, August 23, 1834, a 
daughter of Charles and Mary (Hickman) Rex, deceased. By this 
marriage Mr. Moredock is the father of ten children, eight living, 
viz: Rex, Margaret, wife of Samuel Cox; Emma, wife of David 
Eurson; Sarah, wife of Anderson Moredock; Anna, wife of William 
Daugherty; Edda, Elizabeth and Austin L. The deceased are George 
and James A. Their mother departed this life April 11, 1877. 



744 IIISTOKY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

August 26, 1885, Mr. Moredock married Kosa A. Stephens, who was 
boru in Delaware. Mr. Moredock is an industrious and economical 
farmer and stock-dealer, and owns a nice home and good farm of 
240 acres where he and family now live. 

JEREMIAH PEICE, farmer, P. O. Eice's Landing, was born in 
Monongahela Township, Greene County, Penn., September 7, 1814. 
His parents, Michael and Mary (Evans) Price, were natives of Wales, 
where they were married and lived about one jeav, then emigrated to 
America, locating in Greene County, Penn., where they remained 
until Mr. Price's death, July 9, 1853. Mrs. Price died in June, 
1870, being one hundred years and thirteen days old. They were 
the parents of six children, only two of whom are living — Michael, 
single, and Jeremiah, who was united in marriage, August 14, 1855, 
witli Mary J. Goslin. She was born in Payette County, Penn., Sep- 
tember 17, 1821, and is a consistent member of the Cumberland 
Presbyterian Ciiurch. Her parents were Richard and Jane (Millison) 
Goslin, who were natives of Fayette County, Penn., and moved from 
there to Greene County, where tliey died. Richard Goslin was a 
soldier of the war of 1814. Mr. and Mrs. Price have three children, 
two living, viz: Oliver J. and George E. The deceased was Maria 
J., wife of Simon Sharpnack. Mr. Price is a farmer and qiiite a 
genius, having engaged at different times in blacksmithing, malting, 
and the practice of veterinary surgery. He and his brother Michael 
own 400 acres of good land in Greene County. Mr. Michael Price 
tilled the office of auditor of the county one term, and has met with 
success as a farmer and school-teacher. The following is a copy of 
the naturalization papers of the parents of our subject: "Delaware 
District, ss. I, — Do Hereby Certify That, Michael Price wife efe one 
child of Radnor, Shire — Himself aged 34 years, a Native of Wales 
Subject to King of Great, Erittain, and that, he intends residing in 
jN"ewyork, an is regestered in the Office of the District Court in Tes- 
timony whereof, I, have hereunto set my hand and affixed the. Seal, 
of the District Court of the United, States For the, Delaware District 
at AVilmington this, 22d day of July — in the year of our Lord — one 
Thoiisand Eight Hundred and one. Thomas Stocton, Clerk, Dela- 
ware District." 

GEORGE REX, farmer, P. O. Jefferson, is a descendant of one 
of the pioneer families of the township, and was born November 30, 
.1838, on the farm where he and family now reside. He is a son of 
Charles and Mary (Hickman) Rex. His father Avas born on the old 
Re.x homestead in Jefferson Township, Greene County, July 1, 1801, 
and was a son of George and Margaret (Keppler) Rex, the former a 
native of England, and the latter of Germany. They emigrated to 
America, and were married in Pennsylvania, settling in Greene 
County, which at the time of their settlement was known as Wash- 



mSTOKY OF OUEENE COUNTY. 745 

iiii^ton County. Here tliey remained until their death. Mary Ilex, 
(ieorge's mother, was horn in Fayette County, Penn., January I'J, 
1801, a daughter of Solomon and Elizabeth Hickman, who were 
natives of Pennsylvania, and departed this life in Jefferson Borough. 
Charles and Mary Hex were the parents of seven children, three of 
whom are living, viz: Margaret, wife of W. F. Hughes, of Mount 
Pleasant, Iowa; John, a resident of Faifbiiry, 111.; and George, the 
subject of our sketch. George was united in marriage, December 8, 
1861, with Mary E. Strickler, born in Westmoreland County, January 
5, 1843, and is a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church. 
Her pai-ents are Isaac and Catharine (Heath) Strickler, natives of 
Fayette County, where they lived a few years, then moved to West- 
moreland County, where they now reside. Mr. and Mrs. Rex have 
a family of ten children, eight living — Charles, Ella J., Edward B., 
Georgianna, Joseph A., Albert G., Mattie M. and Ernest. The de- 
ceased were Catharine and George. Mr. Rex, like his ancestors, lias 
made farming the business of his life, and owns 125 acres of land, 
known as the old Rex homestead. 

II. P. RLXEIIART, farmer, P. O. Waynesburg, was born in 
Franklin Township, (Treene County, Penn., June 1, 1844. lie is a 
son of Arthur and Rebecca (Roberts) Rinehart, who were natives of 
this coxmty and residents therein until death. He departed this life 
April G, 1872, and she January 5, 1873. They were the parents of 
thirteen children; seven are living, the youngest of whom is H. P., 
who was married June 28, 1806, having chosen as the sharer of his 
fortunes Miss Maria Bowers, who was born in Whiteley Township, 
February 22, 1844. Her parents were John and Elizabeth (Cowell) 
Bowers, also natives of Greene County, where they lived until 1861J, 
at which time they moved to Taylor County, Iowa. Mrs. Bowers 
died February 14, 1877. Mr. Bowers is still living. Mr. and Mrs. 
Rinehart have had eight children — Charles W., Floe F., Jesse B., 
Mary L., John R., William W. and Maria K. ; Maggie being de- 
ceased. Mr. Rinehart owns 123 acres of land where he and family 
live. He tilled the ofhce of director of the poor one term, also served 
on the school board of his township. He and wife are consistent 
members of the Methodist Protestant Church. 

JAMES SCOTT, deceased, was one of the most successful and 
enterprising farmers of Jefferson Township. He was born October 
6, 1822, on the farm where his family resides. His father and mother 
were James and Margaret (Kincaid) Scott. His father was a son of 
Mordecai and Kizzie (Potete) Scott, and came with liis parents from 
Maryland to Greene County, Penn., where he married Margaret Kin- 
caid, who was born in 1790, and departed this life in 1888. James 
was the fourth in their family of ffve children. He was united in 
marriage. May 19, 1853, with Mary A., daughter of William and 



746 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

Elizabeth (Hedges) Spencer, who were natives of Wasiiington Coun- 
ty, Penn. Mr. Spencer came with his parents to Greene County 
wlien only two years of age. He was married in Wasiiington Coun- 
ty, returned with his wife to Greene Connty and remained ^mtil 1871, 
then moved to the State of Tennessee, where Mrs. Spencer died April 
12, 1883. In the fall of the same year he again returned to Greene 
County, and has since made hi^home with his daughter, Mrs. James 
Scott. To Mr. and Mrs. Scott were horn six children, live of whom 
are living. The oldest of these, Lizzie E., is the Avidow of I. N. Mc- 
Nay, the mother of one child, named Newton for his father; the 
second daughter is Anna S., wife of Dr. J. L. Millihin, of Greens- 
boro, Penn., and the mother of one son, Joe P.; the others are Will- 
iam S., Emma K. and J. Newton. Margaret is deceased. Mr. Scott 
acquired hsi education in the common schools in JeiTerson Township. 
Tiike his ancestors, he made farming and stock-raising his business, 
and owned 400 acres of land. He was a member of the Masonic 
fraternity, and belonged to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, of 
which Mrs. Seott is also a devoted member. He remained on the old 
Scott homestead nntil his death, September 30, 1878. 

MILTON S. SHAPE, farmer, Clarksville, Penn., was born in 
Greene County, July 29, 1835, a son of Jacob and Joanna Shape 
{jiee Pettit), who were also natives of Greene Connty, where they 
were married, settled and remained until Mrs. Shape's death, which 
occurred in 1859. Her husband afterwards married Elizabeth Black 
{nee Walters), and they reside in Clarksville, Penn. Mr. Jacob 
Shape is the father of eight children, si.x now living. Milton S. is 
the oldest and was united in marriage, August 10, 1878, with Cath- 
arine A. Lancaster, who was born in Fayette County, Penn., Feb- 
ruary 10, 1844. Her parents, Bartholomew and Minerva (Fraley) 
Lancaster, were natives of Maryland, where they were married and 
then came to Greene County, Penn., in 1843, removing two years 
later to Fayette Connty, Penn., where they died. Mr. and Mrs. 
Milton Shape are the parents of four children, only one living, Had- 
ashia B., born November 11, 1880. Mr. Shape is a carpenter by 
trade, which he followed for sixteen years. He then engaged in farm 
ing, and owns seventy-two acres of land. He enlisted in Company 
G, Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry and served his conntry three 
years. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and Mrs. Shape 
is a member of tlie Methodist Episcopal Church. 

THOMAS SHARPNACK, farmer, Jefferson, Penn., was born 
in Cumberland Township, Greene County, June 30, 1827. He is a 
son of Peter and Mary (.Vlfree) Sha)-pnaek, who were native of 
Gi'eene County, where they were married and made their home until 
Mr. Sharpnack's death in 1845. Mrs. Sharpnack died in 1867. 
They were the parents of nine children, five now living. Of these 



niSTOllY OF OKEENE COUNTY. 747 

Tlioiiius is tliii oldest and was united in luarriiigc, June 27, 1852, 
witii Elizabeth Craft, wlio was born in Fayette County, Fenn., No- 
vember (3, 182G. She is a daughter of JJenjamin and Mary Craft, 
also natives of Fayette County. Her father died March 27, 1880; 
lier mother is still living. They were the parents of fifteen children, 
nine living. To Mr. and Mrs. Sharpnack have been born five 
children, only one living, Sinaon. The deceased are George, Ada- 
line, IJenjamin and Peter. Mr. Sharpnack is a farmer and owns 
1()G acres of land where he and his family reside. Mrs. Sharpnack 
is a faithful member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. 

T. II. SIIAKFNACK, M. D., born at Rice's Landing, Penii., 
November 20, 1843, is a son of William and Sarah (Neelj Sharp- 
nack. His parents were natives of (ireene County, Penn., and were 
of Scotch and (xcrman descent. His father is a farmer and stock-grower 
and resides in Cumberland Townshi]), where he was born in June 9, 
1810, a son of Samuel and Nancy (Crago) Sharpnack. The Doctor's 
grandmother, Nancy Sharpnack, was born in 177(5 and lived to be 
eighty-four years old. His grandfather, Samuel, died in 1852 at 
the ago of sixty-three. The Doctor's grandparents on his mother's 
side were Parney and Martha (Hughes) Neel. They were natives of 
Cumberland Township. Eleven of their children grew to maturity. 
The Doctor is tlic fourth in a family of nine children. He was 
reared in Jefferson Township, educated at Waynesburg College, and 
studied medicine with Dr. Laidley, of Carmichaels. lie took the 
regular course in medicine at Jefferson iledical College, at Phila- 
delphia, and graduated in 1872. He then entered his profession at 
Jefferson, where he has had a good practice since. The Doctor is a 
member of the Gi-eene County Medical Society, and was sent as 
delegate to the State Medical Association. He has served as tlie 
physician of the Childreirs Home in this county, and is examining 
physician for three life insurance companies. lie was married, June 
23, 1870, to Cynthia, daughter of James and Hannah Moredock. 
They have four children — James M., William F., Gertrude II. and 
Thomas P. (deceased). Mrs. Sharpnack died August 1(!, 1877. The 
Doctor is a member of the Baptist Church; in politics he is a Dem- 
ocrat. 

STIERS SHARPNACK, farmer, Jefferson, Penn., was born on 
the fai-m where he and his family reside, July 2, 1855. His parents 
were Thomas E. and Catharine (Haver) Sharpnack, who were natives 
of Greene County, Penn., where they were married, settled and re- 
mained until their death. He departed this life October 2, 187(j, 
and she November 8, 1887. They were the parents of three children 
— Calvin, Andrew S. and Stiers, the subject of this sketch. He was 
united in marriage, April 14, 1877, witli Jennie Hupp, born in Mor- 
gan Township, ilarcli i, 1856, a daughter of Uriah and Marinda 



748 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

Ilnpp (^nee Cox). Mrs. Sliarpnack is a consistent member of tlie 
Disciple Clmrch. Her father was a native of Wasliington County, 
Penn., and iier mother of Greene County, where tliey reside in 
Morgan Township. Mr. and Mrs. Sliarpnack have four children — 
John H., Minnie L., William PI. and Harry A. Mr. Sliarpnack was 
raised on a farm and makes farming his business. He owns 107 
acres of land in Jefferson Township. 

ALVA C. SHAW, mercliant and burgess of Jefferson Borough, 
was born in Canaan Township, Morrow County, Ohio, March 4, 1844, 
a son of John and Mary A. (Bell) Shaw. Their parents were of 
Scotch-Irish origin; they were Quakers and among the early settlers 
of Pennsylvania. The Sliaws have usually been farmers and mer- 
chants. Alva's father, J. L. Shaw, was a farmer and stock-grower, 
born in Morrow County, Ohio, June 6, 1806. He was a son of John 
and Polly (Luther) Shaw, and was the oldest in a family of six 
children. He always met with marked success in business. In 1877 
he moved from Ohio to Jefferson, Penn., and engaged in selling farm- 
ing implements. He died in Jefferson Borough. Of his six children, 
only three reached maturity. Alva is the youngest and was educated 
at ]3elaware College, and Ohio Wesleyan University. He started in 
life as a teacher, but was induced by his father to work on the farm 
till 1874 when he went to Lincoln, Nebraska, and engaged in the 
coal business till 1879. He then came to Jefferson and began mer- 
chandising. He was elected burgess in 1887. He is a strong 
temperance man, and in politics is a Prohibitionist. He is a member 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he is steward, trustee 
and teacher in the Sabbatli-school. 

SYLYANUS SMITH, M. D., Jefferson, Penn., was born in 
Franklin Township, Greene County, November 30, 1832, a son of 
Samuel and Elizabeth (Huss) Smith, they were natives of Pennsyl- 
vania and of German and English origin. His father was born in 
Greene County, in 1796. His grandfather, Sylvanus, a native of 
Monmouth County, New Jersey, came to Greene County, Penn., in 
1793. They were all farmers and members of the society of Friends. 
Dr. Smith's father died in 1879. Of his four children, the Doctor 
is the youngest, and was reared on the farm with his parents in 
Franklin and Morgan townships. He attended the district schools 
and studied medicine in Jefferson Borough, with Dr. W. D. Kogers. 
Here he commenced the practice of his chosen profession in 1862, 
has met with good success, and accumulated quite a competence 
from his practice. June 1, 1862, he married Loiiisa Crayne, who 
is of English descent, and daughter of Miller Crayne. Dr. and 
Mrs. Smith's children are — John S., a physician and druggist; Sam- 
uel M., a law student at Waynesburg; Elizabeth, C. Harry, Albert 
P. and Lucinda. In politics the Doctor is a Democrat. He is a 



IIISTOltY OF GllEENE COUNTY. 749 

iiieinber of the I. O. O. F., and a Sir Knight Temphir of the Masonic - 
Fraternity. 

REV. CHARLES W. TILTON, pastor of the East Bethlehem 
Baptist Church in Washington County, was born in Washington 
County, Penn., JNovember"21, 1815. He is tlie son of Enoch and 
Elizabeth (Wheatley) Tilton, natives of New Jersey. They were of 
Scotch, English and German ancestry. His father was a farmer, and 
his family consisted of tliirteen children, eleven of whom grew to 
manhood- and womanhood. Charles W., tlie eightli in the family, 
remained on the farm with his parents until fifteen years of age, and 
attended the district school. His parents then moved to Beaver 
County, after which he entered Frankfort Academy. Early in life he 
taught school as a business. In 1839 he joined the Pleasant Grove 
Baptist Church in Washington County. In 1840 he came to Jeffer- 
son, Penn., and has lived in this vicinity ever since. In 1843 he was 
ordained as a minister and has been an active worker in the Baptist 
Church up to the present time, having held over one hundred pro- 
tracted meetings, resulting in the conversion of fully 2,000 persons, 
and baptized over 1,500 converts. For many years lie has taken a 
deep interest in education, and labored in the interests of Mononga- 
hela College, having served as secretary of the board of trustees 
from the organization of the college, and as financial agent for sev- 
eral years past. He has been twice married, first to Miss Nancy 
Iloge, who died in 1858. Again in 1861 to Sarah Elizabeth David- 
son, daughter of William Davidson, of Baltimore, and Margarett 
(Oliver) Davidson. In his last marriage they had four children — 
Enoch Randolph, Charles Louis, Nannie Clare and John Hunt — 
three of whom are graduates of Mononghela College. The oldest 
son, E. R., a graduate of Crozer Theological Seminary, is pastor of a 
Baptist Church in Evans City, Penn. The second son, C. L., gradu- 
ated in the Western Reserve University of Cleveland, Ohio, and is a 
practicing physician in the State of Colorado. The youngest son is 
still at school. 

F. B. WISE, druggist and postmaster, Jefferson, Penn., is a na- 
tive of Morgan Township, Greene County, where he was born April 
24, 1846. His parents, Solomon and Hannah Wise, were natives of 
Pennsylvania, and of German origin. His father has been a farmer 
all his life, and at present is in the cattle business in the West. 
-Frank is the oldest in a family of seven children now living, and was 
educated at Waynesburg College. He taught school and farmed 
until 1872. when he engaged in the drug business in company with 
Dr. Sharpnack, of Jefferson, whose interest he bought in 1879 and 
established his present business. In 1870 he married Miss Lizzie, 
daughter of H. Johns, ex-sheriff' of Greene County, and of English 
descent, Mr. and Mrs. Wise are members of the Baptist Church, in 



750 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

which ho is clerk and superintendetit of the Sahbath-school, and 
clerk of the Ten-Mile Baptist Association. ' He is a member of the 
board of trustees and secretary of the execntive committee of Moiion- 
gahela College. In politics Mr. Wise is a Democrat. He is a 
member of tlie town council, and was appointed postmaster in 1883. 



JACKSON TOWNSHIP. 

JAMES CARPENTER, farmer and stock-grower, Nettle Hill, 
Penn., was born in Franklin Township, Greene County, Penn., 
March 5, 1838. He is a son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Smith) Car- 
penter, natives of this county, and of English and German origin. 
His father is a farmer and now resides in Gilmore Township. Of his 
family of eleven children James is the third. James was drafted in 
the three years' draft of 1863, paid his conscript and received his dis- 
charge the same year. He was reared on a farm, receiving his edu- 
cation in the common schools of Jackson Township. He makes 
farming and stock-growing his chief pursuit, and owns 125 acres of 
well improved land where he resides. Mr. Carpenter was united in 
marriage, December 12, 1863, with Miss Mazy, daughter of Joseph 
and Rachel (Shriver) Kniseley, and their children are — J. C, a 
teacher; Robert E. Lee and John B. Mr. Carpenter is a Democrat. 
He and his wife are members of the Methodist Protestant Church. 

WILLIAM GRAHAM, farmer and stock-grower, was born in 
Franklin Township, this county, March 29, 1828. He is a son of 
William and Margaret (Muckel) Graham, who are of Dutch descent. 
The Grahams are an industrious, energetic family. Some branches 
of the family spell the name Grimes, but the original name was 
Graham. William Graham's father was a blacksmith by occupation, 
but also engaged in farming, spending most of his life in Greene 
County. liis family consisted of six children, of whom William is 
the third. He was reared on the farm in his native township, and 
attended the common school. He has made a very successful busi- 
ness man, devoting himself principally to farming and stock-grow- 
ing. He owns 318 acres of well improved land where he resides, 
near Holbrook, Penn. He also owns land in other parts of the 
county, making in all 473 acres. On November 7, 1850, Mr. Gra- 
ham married Charlotte, daughter of William and Sallie (Bodkin) 
Smith, who were of English and Dutch extraction. Mr. and Mrs. 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 751 

Graham's chililreu are — Sarali M., wife of Thomas Ilennino'; James 
F., a farmer; AVilHam S., who is in Kansas; Lydia Ann, Mary Eliza- 
beth, wife of John Morris; Cephas J., who is in Kansas; Jolm A. 
and Spencer Milton, all farmers; and Japheth E. All the family, 
with one exception, are members of the Baptist Church. Mr. Graham 
is a Democrat and a member of the Democratic County Committee. 

HARVEY ALLISON GRIMES, a farmer and stock-grower of 
Jackson Township, this county, was born May 9, 1857, on the farm 
where his father now resides. His parents, P. M. and Maria (Ridge- 
way) Grimes, are natives of Greene County, and of English origin. 
His father is a merchant and farmer, and one of the influential citi- 
zens of Jackson Township. Harvey A. Grimes is the lifth in a 
family of eight children. He was reared on a farm, attended the 
common schools, and early in life made choice of farming as his 
chief pursuit. His present farm consists of 120 acres of linely im- 
proved land. On January 29, 187G, Mr. Grimes was united in 
marriage with Martha D., daughter of George and Mary ((xump) 
Loar, of German origin. Her father was a minister in the Method- 
ist Church. Mr. and Mrs. Grimes are the parents of three children 
— Ada May, Eva Maria and Luta Lena. Mr. Grimes is a Republi- 
can. He has served as school director in his district. He and wife 
are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

GEORGE W. GRIMES, farmer and stock-grower, who was born 
in Jackson Township, this county, June 8, 1859, is a sou of P. M. 
and Maria (Ridgeway) Grimes, natives of Greene County. The 
subject of this sketch is the sixth in a family of eight children. He 
was reared on a farm and received liis education in the common 
schools. He made choice of fai-ming as his occupation, and has been 
very successful and is the owner of 108 acres of land where he re- 
sides, near White Cottage, Penn. Mr. Grimes was united in mar- 
riage, January 10, 1880, with Miss Ella, daughter of William and 
Nancy (Dunson) Roberts, who are of English descent. Mr. and 
Mrs. Grimes are the parents of three children — John II., James A. 
and William E. Mr. Grimes is a Republican. He and wife are 
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Grimes belongs 
to one of the oldest families in the township, his ancestors having 
been among the earliest settlers in the county. 

P. M. GRIMES, merchant and farmer, was born in Franklin 
Township, this county, October 16, 1823. He is a a son of William 
and Margaret (Muckle) Grimes, who were born in New ,Iersey, and 
of German descent. His father, who was a successful farmer and 
mechanic, died in 1877, at the age of seventy-six years. His mother 
died in 18()5, and was sixty-six years of age. Mr. P. M. Grimes 
was reared on the farm and received his education in the subscription 
schools. He has resided in Jackson Township since 184G, and at 



752 History of geeene counts. 

White Cottage, Peun., since 1851. He opened a dry goods and 
grocery store there in 1855, and has been very successful in his bnsi- 
■ ness. Mr. Grimes bought 800 acres of land, and has given several 
hundred acres to his children. He has the reputation of being an 
honorable, high-minded gentleman, and has a wide circle of friends. 
Mr. Grimes is a Eejjinblican, and has served as justice of the peace 
for thirty-three years. He has been postmaster at White Cottage 
for many years, and is a prominent member of the I. O. 0. F. and 
the Masonic fraternity. Mr. Grimes was united in marriage in 
1841 with Maria, daughter of David and Lydia (Calahan) Kidgeway. 
Mrs. Grimes is of English and Irish extraction. Their children are 
— William, Allison, George, David, James, A. L. and Margaret, wife 
of William Millikin, a prominent farmer of Greene County; and 
Jane, wife of Perry Scott, a prominent farmer and Democrat. Mrs. 
Grimes is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

JOHN GROVES, farmer and stock-giower, born in Whiteley 
Township, this county, in 1837, is a son of Jacob and Nancy (Orn- 
doil) Groves, natives of Pennsylvania, and of German descent. His 
father was a farmer all his life and died in Greene County, in 1868. 
He reared a family of twelve children, of whom John is the ninth. 
He was reared in Whiteley Township near Newton, Penn. Early in 
life he chose farming as his chief pursuit and has met with marked 
success. He is the owner of a good farm of one hundred and ninety 
acres where he resides near Holbrook, Penn. By his own exertions 
Mr. Groves has succeeded in making himself independent. Mr. 
Groves married Nancy, daughter of Robert Dunson. She died in 
1886 — eighteen years after their marriage. They were the parents 
of three children — William T., Anna Belle, and Flora Viola. Mv. 
Groves is a Democrat, and has served as school director in his town- 
ship. He belongs to the Disciple Church, of which his deceased 
wife was also a member. 

WILLIAM HUFFMAN, farmer and stock-grower. White 
Cottage, Penn., was born December 27, 1850, on the farm which he 
now owns in Jackson Township, Greene County, Penn. He is a 
son of Peter and Elizabeth (Stagner) Lluffman, who were natives of 
this county, and of English origin. His father died in 1885 at the 
advanced age of eighty-three years. Of his family of nine children 
William is the seventh. He was reared on his pi-esent farm in 
Jackson Township, and has made farming his business through life. 
He has been very successful and owns two hundred and six acres of 
land well stocked and improved. Mr. Huffman was united in mar- 
riage, November 27, 1870, with Miss Jennie, daughter of Corbly and 
Jane (Bailey) Fordyce. Mrs. Huffman's ancestors were among the 
pioneers of Greene County. They were of English origin. Mr. 



niSTOr.Y OF fiREENK OOtTNTY. 753 

Huffman is a Democrat. His wife is a member of the Methodist 
Protestant Church. 

N. H. JOHNSON, farmer and stock-grower, was born February 
1, 1829, on the Haines farm, east of AVajnesburg; he resides near 
White Cottage, Penn. He is a son of William and Hester (Haines) 
Johnson, who were born in Pennsylvania and were of German and 
English origin. His father, who was a tanner by trade, died in 
Greene Connty, May 3, 1847. Of his family of si.\ children the 
subject of this sketch is the second. He was reared on the farm 
and received a limited education in an old-fashioned log school- 
liouse with slab seats and paper windows. He has been a successful 
farmer and owns a fine farm of 230 acres of land in Jackson Town- 
ship. Mr. Johnson was a poor boy and by industry and patient ef- 
fort lias made himself independent. He has been thrice married. 
His children now living are — William Henry, who is in tlie West; 
N. J., Mary, wife of Ambler Elliot; W. S., J. S. and E. J. His 
first wife's name was Cliarlotta Coen, second Ehnira Burge, and 
third Susannali Wagonner. 

LINDSEY KEENER, farmer and stock-grower. Pine Bank, 
Penn., was born April 30, 1836, in Jackson Townsliip. He is a son 
of Peter and Susan (Stewart) Keener. His mother was born in 
Maryland and his father in Pennsylvaiiia. They were of English 
extraction. His father spent his life in Greene County, and was a 
farmer by occupation. Mr. Keener is the youngest of nine children. 
He was reared on the home farm, attended the common schools and 
chose farming as his life work. He owns a good farm of 110 acres 
which he has acquired by patient toil and earnest efibrt being a self- 
made man, and anxious to succeed in life. In politics Mr. Keener 
is a -Republican, and one of the representative men of the county. 

ALEXANDER KIGER, farmer and stock-grower, was bdrn in 
Whiteley Township, Greene County, Penn., and is a son of John 
and Sarah (McLaughlin) Kiger, who were of German and Irish de- 
scent. His father was a farmer all his life, and died in 1872. Of 
his familjr of ten children, the subject of this sketch is tlie eiaiith. 
He was reared on a farm in his native township, and attended the 
district school. Mr. Kiger has made a success of farming and is 
the owner of 173 acres of valuable land where he resides near Ilol- 
brook, in Jackson Township. Mr. Kiger was united in marriao-e, 
March 9, 18G2, with Catharine, daughter of Isaac and Phoebo (Po])e) 
Higgins, who were of Dutch and English origin. Mr. and Mrs. 
Kiger's children are — Jerome B., Elizabeth, John L., Newton, 
Belle and Sadie. Mr. and Mrs- Kiger are meml)ers of the Methodist 
Protestant Church. He is trustee and class-leader in the church 
and a teacher in the Sabl)ath-school. In politics he is a Democrat. 



754 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

JACKSON KUGHN, fanner and stock-grower, was born in 
Wayne Township, Greene County, Penu., December 22, 1828. He 
is a son of Abraham and Elizabeth (liuffman) Knghn, who were of 
German and English ancestry. His mother was born in Maryland 
and his father in Greene County, Penn., where he died in 1861. 
Jackson Knghn is tlie oldest of eio'ht children. He was reared in 
this county and received a good English education in the common 
schools. He chose farming as his occupation through life and is 
the owner of the farm of 121 acres where he now resides near Pine 
ijank, Penn. On May 27, 1859, Mr. Kughn married Eliza Jane, 
daughter of John and Sarah (Stewart) Thomas, who were of English 
origin. Mr. and Mrs. Kuglm's children are — John L., Abraham, 
"William Henry, George Morgan, Kachel Ellen and Mary Alice. 
Mr. Kughn is a Democrat. He and wife are members of the Baptist 
Church. 

LESTER KUGHN, merchant and farmer, Pine Bank, Penn., 
was born in this county, May 12, 1841, and is a son of Abraham and 
Elizabeth (Huii'man) Kiighn. His father, wlio was of English and 
German ancestry, was born in Greene County, Penn., where. he sjDent 
all his life as a farmer. Tlie subject of our sketch is the iifth in a 
family of eight cliildren. He was reared on the farm in Jaclcson 
Township, and received his education in the common schools. Early 
in life he learned the carpenter's trade, at whicli he worlied for 
several years, and also farmed considerably. He owns a good farm 
where he resides in Jaclison Township. Since 1884 he has been en- 
gaged in tlie mercantile business. In 1863 Mr. Kughn married 
Ellen, daughter of John and Mary (King) Cole, and their cliildren 
are — George, a carpenter; Mary A. and Elizabeth Jtme. Mr. and 
Mrs. Kughn are members of the Baptist Church, in which he is a 
deacon and has been superintendent of the Sabbath-school. Mr. 
Kughn is a Democrat, and has served justice of the peace in his 
township. 

JAMES MEEK, farmer and stock-grower, was born in Greene 
County, Penn., April 3, 1821. He is a son of John and Elizabeth 
(Boyd) Meek, natives of Greene County, Penn. His father was of 
French descent and his mother of Scotch ancestry. His father was 
a farmer and died in 1877. Pie served his country in the war of 
1812. His family consisted of ten children. The subject of this 
sketch is the oldest of the children. He was reared on the farm, and 
was a school teacher early in life. He has made farming his main 
occupation, and owns a farm of 225 acres of well improved land. 
Mr. Meek is a self-made man, having acquired his present posses- 
sions entirely through his own industry. He was united in mar- 
riage, October 20, 1842, with Miss Mary, daughter of Samuel and 
Bithiali (Sharp) Smith, who were of Scotch and Irish lineage. Mrs. 



^ HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 755 

Meek was born in Millsboro, Washington County, Punu., July 10, 
1824. They have ten chikh-en, eight now living, viz., Melinda, wife 
of George Jewell ; Elizabeth, wife of Abner Johns; James li., a farmer; 
Sarah Jane, wife of S. Lang; Martha, wife of AV. Ankrom; C. J., a 
fanner; Eddie, wife of W. W. Patterson, ex-county register and re- 
corder; and Mary A. Mr. Meek is a member of the Baptist Churcli. 
He is a Democrat, and in 1869 was elected county treasure)-. He 
has held most of the offices in his township, and has also served as 
auditor of the county. He is a member of tlie I. (). O. F. and tlie 
Masonic fraternity. 

W. E. MILLIKEN, farmer and stock-grower. White Cottage, 
Penn., was boi'u in Jefferson Ilorough, January 6, 1845. He is a 
son of John and Mary (Ketcheni) Milliken, natives of (Ireene County, 
■and of Irish lineage. His grandfather, Thomas Milliken, was one 
of the early settlers of the county, and a blacksmith by trade. Mr. 
Milliken's father is a farmer, and now resides in Washington County, 
Penn. The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm, receiving 
his education at the common schools. He has always been a farmer 
and owns a farm of IIU acres where he resides in Jackson Township. 
In 1866 Mr. Milliken married Margaret M., daughter of P. M. 
Grimes, one of the prominent farmers of Jackson Township. They 
are the parents of si.x children, viz., T. W., Maria Jane, James P., 
Mary Ellen, Lora Pelle and Emma M. Mr. and Mrs. Milliken are 
members of the Methodist Protestant Church in which he is trustee 
and treasurer of the Sabbath-school. Mr. Milliken's oldest daugliter 
is one of the stewards in the churcli and an active Sabbath-school 
teacher. Mr. Milliken is a Republican. In 1862 he enlisted in 
Company G, Eighteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry and was a non-coin- 
missioned officer. He was in the l)attles of Cedar Creek, Gettys- 
burg, and was at Winchester when (ieu. Sheridan made his famous 
ride. He is a member of the G. A. R. Post. 

L. H. MITCHELL, farmer and stock-dealer, was born in Greene 
County, Penn., June 10, 1846. He is a son of Jackson and Catliar- 
ine (Lemmon) Mitchell, who were of Englisli and Irish lineage. 
His father, who was a farmer, died in this county in 1858 or 1859. 
Mr. L. II. Mitchell is one of a family of four children. He was 
reared on the farm and attended the common schools of the county. 
Mr. Mitchell has made his own way in the world. In 1867 his only 
possession was thirty dollars, and he now owns 360 acres of land 
well stocked and improved. He has engaged extensively in tlie 
culture of fish and has two large ponds. His success, which seems 
indeed wonderful, may be attributed wholly to his great industry 
and unbounded energy. He is a temperance man and votes the pro- 
liibition ticket. In 1867 Mr. Mitchell married Miss Julia Ann, 
daughter of Peter and Elizabeth (Stagnard) Huffman. Their chil- 



756 HISTORY OP GREENE COUNTY. * 

dren are — J. E., E. I. and C. A., aged respectively (in 1888) twenty, 
fifteen and ten years. Mr. Mitcliell and wife were born on the lOtli 
day of June — he being just one year the older. Thej' are members 
of the Methodist Protestant Church. In connection with his other 
business projects, Mr. Mitchell is one of the managers of the roller 
flour mill at Oak Forest, Penn. He was actively interested in the 
Granger movement for many years and served as Master of the 
Order or lecturer for twelve years. 

EUFUS C. MITCHELL, farmer and stock- grower, who was born 
in Jackson Township, this county, August 23, 1851, is a son of 
Jesse and Dorcas (Long) Mitchell, who were of English lineage. 
His father followed farming as an occupation, and died September 5, 
1870. The Mitchells have ever been noted for their energy and in- 
dustry, and have usually been farmers by occupation. Jesse Mitchell 
was twice married and had in all eight childi-en. The subject of our 
sketch is the third child by the last marriage. He is a self-made 
man, and has made a success of his farming and stock-growing, being 
the owner of 100 acres of well improved land near Holbrook, Penn. 
Mr. Mitchell was united in marriage, December 24, 1870, Avith Miss 
Hettie, daughter of Peter Huffman. Their children are — Cora 
Belle, Mary Luella, Charles B., Ada, May, Elizabeth and Koss N. 
Mr. Mitchell is a Democrat. His wife is a member of the Methodist 
Protestant Church. 

A. J. MITCHELL, farmer and stock-grower, was born in Kich- 
hill To\vnship, Greene County, Penn., April 23, 1837. He is the 
son of Jesse and Lydia (Kerr) Mitchell. His father was born in 
Allegheny County and his mother in Greene County. They were 
of Irish and English lineage. His father was a blacksmith in early 
life and in later years a farmer. Mr. A. J. Mitchell is the second in 
a family of eight children. He was reared on tlie farm and received 
a common school education. He has followed farming and stock 
growing as an occupation, has been very successful in his business, 
and owns a "farm of 248 acres. At the breaking out of the war in 
1861 he enlisted in Company F, Eighty-fifth Pennsylvania Volunteer 
Infantry, and served for three years. He is a member of the G. 
A. R. Post No. 552. In 1865 Mr. Mitchell married Harriet, daugh- 
ter of Bateman and Plannah (Howard) Martin. Their children are 
— Sarah E., Jesse, Eliza M., Jonathan, Thomas Jefferson, James 
Madison, George McClellan, Martha- A. and Clara Belle. Mr. 
Mitchell, who is a Democrat, has been an efficient member of tlie 
school board in his township. 

JACOB MOKRIS, farmer and stock-grower, Holbrook, Penn., 
was born in Greene County December 17, 1819. He is a son of 
Robert and Salona (Renner) Morris, natives of Greene County, and 
of German origin. His father, who was a mechanic and farmer, 



lUSTOHY OF GREENK COUNTY. 757 

died in this county. Jacob Morris is the oldest iu a faiuily of six 
cliildren,, and is the only one now living. He never had the advan- 
tages of a common school education, and as a consequence never 
learned to read. He grew up on the far;n and cliose farming and 
stock-growing as his occupation. Mr. Morris has by industry and 
good business management succeeded in building a good home. I>y 
his own exertions he has come into possession of 450 acres of land, 
and has also done much for his children. He is careful in all iiis 
business transactions, and seldom makes an error. On March 0, 
1845, Mr. Morris married Miss Nancy, daughter of William and 
Mary (Dunn) Jewell, wiio were natives of this county, and of Eng- 
lish descent. Isaac Dunn, grandfather of Mrs. Morris, was a soldier 
in the Revolutionary war. He died in this county. The children 
of Mr. and Mrs. Morris are — Rufus, William Henry, Mary Ann, 
wife of William T. Grimes; Fhtobe J., wife of J. McCosh; James 
M., Hannah, wife of David Grimes; Sarah M., Charity, wife of 
Samuel Smith; and Jacob J. Mr. and Mrs. Morris arc members of 
the Baptist Church. In politics he is a Republican. 

CAPTAIN JOHN SCOTT, retired farmer and stock-grower, 
was born in Center Township, this county, April 6, 1815. He is a 
son of John and Susannah (Nicewonger) Scott. His parents were 
descendants of the Quakers, his mother being a native of West 
Virginia, and his father of Greene County, Penn. His father died 
May 21, 1857, at the advanced age of seventy-three years; his 
mother died December 12, 1870, aged eighty-live. Their family 
consisted of nine children, of whom the subject of this sketch is the 
fourth. He was reared on the farm in Center Township and received 
his education in the common schools. He has met with marked 
success as a farmer, and owns 252 acres of finely improved land. 
Captain Scott was an active member of the militia in Greene County 
many years ago. He has made his own way in the world, starting a 
poor boy, and has succeeded in acquiring a good home for himself 
and family. He was united in marriage June 1(3, 1836, with Miss 
Charlotte Mason, who was born in this county May 3, 1817, and is 
the daughter of James and Mary (Sayers) Mason. Her mother was 
born in New Jersey and was of German descent; she died February 
9, 1883, aged ninety-six years. Her father was a native of Ireland, 
and died June 1'2, 1869. Mr. and Mrs. Scott are the parents of the 
following named children: Mason and J. C, farmers; Mary, wife 
of William Orndoti'; Oliver Perry, a farmer; Eliza Jane, wife of A. 
C. Carpenter; Sarah, wife of George Moore; and Matthias, deceased. 
Mrs. Scott is a member of the Baptist Church. Captain Scott has 
always taken great interest in school affairs, and has served as school 
director for many years. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. His 
cliildren and grandchildren were all present at the iifteenth aniii- 



758 HISTOET OF GEEENE COUNTY. 

versary of their marriage, wliicli was one of tlie happiest events 
transpiring in the neighborhood for many years. 

HUGH SMITH, a descendant of the earliest settlers of Greene 
County, and among its naojt prominent citizens, was born on Smith 
Creek in Franklin Township, January 26, 1832. His grandfatlier, 
Thomas Smith, was the first settler on the creek which bears his 
name. Mr. Hugh Smith is a son of Vincent and Elizabeth (Bell) 
Smith, the former a native of this county and the latter of Virginia. 
His father, who was of Irish descent, was born in 1791 and died in 
1884. His family consisted of ten children, of whom the subject of 
our sketch is the youngest of those now living. He was reared on 
the farm, and has made a successful farmer. He is the owner of a 
fine farm of 400 acres where he now resides. Mr. Smith was mar- 
ried in his native county to Miss Mary E., daughter of John and 
Jane (Hennen) Lemley. Mrs. Smith's parents were descendants of 
the early settlers of the county, and of German and English origin. 
Mr. and Mrs. Smith have two children — Clara and Maggie. 

JOHjN'SON T. SMITH, deceased, who was an attorney and jus- 
tice of the peace, was born in this county December 8, 1818, and 
was a son of Thomas and Catharine (Johnson) Smith. His father 
was a farmer, and Mr. Smith was reared on a farm in his native 
county, where he attended the common schools. He also engaged 
in the study of law," and served as justice of the peace for a period 
of twenty years. He was a successful business man, and at the time 
of his death, in 1870, he was tlie owner of 400 acres of land. He 
was married December 19, 1853, to Martha J., daugliter of Silas 
and Eliza (Huffman) Barnes. Mrs. Smith is of Englisli ancestry. 
Their children are Thomas H., Eliza, wife of J. W. Phillips; Silas 
B., Hiram G., John E. and Elizabeth Jane, wife of M. l-'eththel. 
In politics Mr. Smith was a Eepiiblican. His oldest son, Thomas 
IL, is a farmer and stock-grower, and was born in this county Feb- 
ruary 8, 1854. He received a good common school education, and 
has made farming his favorite pursuit. lie has the management of 
his mother's farm, in connection with his own 100 acres of valuable 
land. Thomas Smith was married in, 1875 to Miss Charlotte, daugh- 
ter of Richard Peththel. Their children are — Maggie, Lawrence, 
Garfield, Oscar, Gracie and Blanche. Mr. Smith is a Kepublican in 
politics. 

ABRAHAM STAGGERS, farmer and stock-grower, Bristoria, 
Penn., was born in this county January 22, 1818. He is a son of 
Abraham and Catharine (Grim) Staggers, natives of Greene County, 
and of.German descent. His ancestors were all of German extrac- 
tion and among th^ first settlers of Greene County. Of a family 
of eight children, Abraham Staggers is the fourth. He was reared 
on a farm near Waynesburg, where he was boni. He spent a con- 



IIISTOnY OF (illKKNE COUNTY. 759 

sidenible portion of his early life chopping wood and elearing tim- 
her. lie has made a very successful farmer, and is the owner of 
2941 acres of land M'here he resides. Mr. Staggers was united in 
marriage December 27, 1857, with Rebecca, daugliter of Robert and 
Salona (^Renner) Morris. Her parents were natives of (rreene Coun- 
ty, and of Dutch ancestry. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Staggers 
are Hannah, James and Sarah A. Mrs. Staggers, who was a mem- 
ber of the Churcli of God, died in Jackson Township in 1873. In 
politics Mr. Staggers is a Republican. 

DAVID WEAVER, farmer and stock-grower, was born in 
Washington County, Penn., May 10, 1833. His parents were Jacob 
and Julia Ann (Jackman) Weaver, who were natives of Washington 
County, and of German and English lineage. Mr. Ty^eaver's father 
died in 1880. His family consisted of nine children, of whom 
David AYeaver is the oldest. From his early youth Mr. Weaver 
has been engaged in farming. He is a plasterer and house painter 
and takes contracts for mason work on large buildings. He has 
been successful in all his business affairs, and is the owner of 100 
acres of land in Jackson township where he and his family reside. 
He was married on the 22d day of April, 1858, to Mary Jane, 
daughter of Thompson and Anna (Johnson) Ulloni, who are of Dutch 
extraction. Mr. and Mrs. Weaver are the parents of eight cliildren, 
viz.: Amanda, George M., Elizabeth, Thompson, Charles, Henry, 
James and Flora. Mr. Weaver is a Republican. In 1863 he enlisted 
in the Twenty-second Corps, Fifth Pennsylvania Artillery, and was in 
many important engagements. He is a member of the G. A. R. Post 
and the I. O. O. F. 

HIRAM WEAVER, merchant and minister, Holbrook, Penn., 
was born in Jackson Township, this county, April 17, 1839. He is 
a son of Jacob and Julia Ann (Jackman) Weaver, natives of Wash- 
ington County, Penn., and of English and German lineage. His 
father, who was a farmer and school-teacher, died in Greene County 
April 15, 1886. His family consisted of nine children, of whom 
Iliram is the fourth. He was reared on the farm and attended 
the common school. He learned plastering^ and house-painting, at 
which he worked \intil the war broke out. He then enlisted in 
Company F, Eighty-iifth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and was 
a non-commissioned officer. He served three years and twenty days 
and was in many serious engagements. In 1805 he established a 
saw-mill, and in 1871 started a general store in Jackson Township, 
where he has been in business ever since. In 1884 Mr. Weaver 
married Elizabeth, daughter of Peter Fry, who is of German de- 
scent. Mr. and Mrs. Weaver are members of the Christian Church, 
in which he has held several important offices. In 1858 he was 



760 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

licensed to preach, and has since been a local preacher. In poli- 
tics he is a liepublican. 

JACOB WEAVER, merchant. Nettle Hill, Penn., was born on 
Ten Mile Creek, this county, January 26, 1844. He is a son of 
Jacob and Julia Ann (Jackman) Weaver, who were of German and 
English origin. His father was a farmer and school-teacher, and 
lived in Greene County for forty years. He died in 1886. His 
family consisted of nine children, of whom the subject of this sketch 
is the seventh. He was reared on the farm in Jackson Township, 
receiving his education in the common schools. He learned the 
blacksmith's trade near Waynesburg, and followed it as a business 
until 1861. Pie then enlisted in Companj^ F, Eighty-iifty Pennsyl- 
vania Volunteer Infantry. He re-enlisted in 1864, in the Twenty- 
second Pennsylvania Cavalry, Company A., where he served until 
the close of the war. He was in the battles of Williamsburg, Fair 
Oaks, Bolivar Heights and AVinchester. He was wounded at Fair 
Oaks, losing two fingers. After the war he bought a saw-mill, 
operating the latter for a period of five years. He then farmed until 
1880, when he established his store at Nettle Hill. He carries a 
large stock of dry goods, clothing, groceries, hardware and queens- 
ware, and has a good country trade. Mr. Weaver has built his present 
store and a neat and substantial residence since 1886. He was iinited 
in marriage December 5, 1867, with Miss Elizabeth, a daughter of 
Abraham and Margai'et (Shields) Hickman, Avho died in 1882. He 
was again married December 3, 1883, to Miss Eliza, a daughter of 
J. and Perrie (Headlee) Smith, and they have two children, Roscoe 
Conkling and Otta D. S. Mr. Weaver is a member of the G. A. E. 
Post, and is Quartermaster. 

JOSEPH WEBSTER, farmer and stock-grower, Bristoria, Penn., 
was born in Greene County, Penn., January 25, 1830, and is a son of 
John and Elizabeth (Cowell) Webster. His father was born in New 
Jersey and his mother in Greene County, Penn. They were of Eng- 
lish extraction. His father, who Avas a farmer, moved to Iowa during 
the latter part of his life. His family consisted of eleven children, of 
whom Joseph is the third. He was reared as a farmer and has been 
very successful in that occupation, owning 147 acres of land in Jack- 
son Townsliip. He also has spent considerable time at the carpenter's 
trade. In 1853 Mr. Webster was married in Washington County to 
Cynthia Ann Keys, who died in 1858. They were the parents of one 
child, Alexander Leroj'. Mr. Webster was again united in man-iage 
December 16, 1859, with Jane, daughter of John and Sarah (Gardner) 
Goodwin, whose parents were of German lineage. She was the widow 
of J. S. Hunt, deceased, and they were the parents of two children — 
a son and daughter. The son, J. G. Hunt, is a farmer and school- 
teacher. The children. of Mr. and Mrs. Webster are J. C. and S. M. 



IIISTOHY OF GREENE COUNTY. 761 

Tlic family are memljers of tlie Baptist Cluircli, and Mr. and Mrs. 
Webster are teachers in the Sabhath-schooL Mr. Webster is a proitii- 
iieiit member of tlie I. O. O. F. lie has served on the scliool board 
of his township. 

HIRAM WHITE, farmer and stock-grower, Nettle Hill, Penn., 
was bom in Greene County, May 1, 1840. He is a son of Isaac and 
Lydia(Tustin) White, who were of English descent. His father, who was 
a farmer, was a soldier in the late war, serving in the Seventh West 
Virginia Regiment. lie was twice married, and there were three 
children bj the first inarriage. l>y the second marriage there were 
eight children, of whom Hiram White is the iifth. He was reared in 
Wayne Township, on the farm, and attended the district school in 
that township. Mr. White has been a snceessful farmer and is the 
owner of a farm of 147 acres of land where he resides in Jackson 
Township. In'1865 J\Ir. White married Mary Ann, daughter of Henry 
and Elizabeth (King) Cole, and their children are John Henry, Eliza- 
beth, wife of Isaac Hughes; George, Thomas, Eliza, James M., Zella 
and J>ucy. Mr. White is a Democrat, and in 1844 was elected county 
commissioner. In ISfil he enlisted in Company E, Second West 
Virginia Volunteer Infantry. He was a brave soldier and fought in 
many battles. In 1884 Mr. White was appointed reporter for the 
Greene County Agricultural Society. He took an active interest in 
the Granger movement, and for years was deputy of the county. 
He is P. C. of the G. A. R. Post, No. 552, at Nettle Hill. 

DR. T. T. WILLIAMS, Nettle Hill, Penn., was born in Wash- 
ington County, Penn., July 22, 1820. He is a son of David and 
]\Iary (Thomas) Williams, who were natives of Washington and 
AVestmoreland counties. They were of English, Welsh and Irish 
descent. His father was a farmer, and died in 1859. His family 
consisted of five children, of whom the Doctor is the third. He was 
reared on the farm and attended the common schools. He was sub- 
sequently a student in the Academy of Monongahela City, Penn., 
where he studied the classics, sciences and literature, and while still 
a young man he taught school for several years, aggregating three 
and a half years of continuous teaching. He studied medicine while 
engaged in the profession of teaching, and attended a Medical Insti- 
tute at New York City, where he graduated, and after his return en- 
gaged in the practice of his profession. He subsequently took other 
special courses in medicine and collateral sciences, attended the Jeffer- 
son Medical College at Philadelphia, Penn., and afterwards resumed 
for a brief period bis practice at Monongahela City, Penn. In 1857 
he came to Greene County and located at Rogersville, where he re- 
mained for a period of four years in successful medical practice, the 
first year practicing with Dr. D. W. Braden, now of Waynesburg, 
Penn., as partner. Since 1861 he has been in practice at Nettle Hill. 



762 HISTORY OF GKEENE COUNTY. 

Dr. Williams was married September 7, 1858, to Miss Elizabeth, 
daughter of Samuel Croiise, near Rogersville. Mrs. Williams is of 
English, Scotch and German extraction. They are the parents of 
seven living children, viz: Lay ton B., a farmer; Mary Etta, wife of 
Prof. T. R. Stockdale; Caroline R., wife of W. Scott Johnson; Sam- 
uel T., Jennie E., Britta L. E. and Leonora Estella. Dr. Williams 
is a Democrat in politics, and at this writing holds the commission 
of postmaster at Nettle Hill, Penn. 

JAMES WOOD, farmd^■ and stock-grower, Holbrook, Penn., was 
born October 14, 1819, on the farm he now owns in Jackson Town- 
ship, and is a son of Micajah and Jane (Mason) Wood, who were of 
English origin. His ancestors were among the eai'liest settlers of 
Greene County, where his father spent most of his life as a farmer, 
having lived to the advanced age of eighty-three years. Of his family 
of nine children, all grew to maturity. Besides the subject of onr 
sketch, there is but one other member of the family now living — a 
brother who was born in 1806, and now residee in- Morrow County, 
Ohio. James Wood has spent most of his life in Aleppo and Jack- 
son townships. He received a common-school education in his early 
youth, has been a successful farmer, and owns 204 acres of well-im- 
proved land. On March 11, 1844, Mr. Wood married Mary Ann, 
daughter of Morgan and Elizabeth (Lippencott) Hoge. Their chil- 
dren are L. W. and Thomas, farmers; Elizabeth Jane, wife of Henry 
Church; L. H., a merchant, and Lucinda, wife of Z. G. Call. Mr. 
Wood is a Republican. He and wife are members of the Christian 
Church. 



MONONGAHELA TOWNSHIP AND 
GREENSBORO BOROUGH. 

H. K. ATCHISON, a retired potter, who was born in Elizabeth, 
N. J., August 5, 1820, is a son of Robert and Jane (Parshall) Atchi- 
son, who were of Irish descent. His father was born on the ocean 
while his parents were on their way to America. They settled in 
New Jersey, where Robert grew to manhood. He learned the pot- 
ter's trade, which he followed in Newark, N. J., for many years. lie 
subsequently moved to Elizabeth, where he died in 1883. The sub- 
ject of this sketch was the second in a family of eight children, and 
was reared in Elizabeth, N. J., where he received his early education. 
He veiy naturally learned the potter's trade with his father, and was 



IlISTOKY OF GREENE COUNTY. 763 

eiiii>loyed as a jonnieyman for several years. In 1S55 ho engaged 
ill the business at New Geneva, Fayette County, Peiin., and con- 
tinued therein for six years. On September 20, 1861, he enlisted in 
the service of his country in Company G, Eighty-fifth Pennsylvania 
Volunteer Infantry, and was in the following battles: In front of 
Yorktown and Fair Oaks; Sies^e of Yorktown, Va. ; Williamsburg, 
Va., May 5, 1862; Savage Station, May 24, 1862; Seven Points, 
May 31, 1862; Jones' Ford, June 28, 1862; S. AY. Creek, S. C, De- 
cember 13, 1863; Kingston, N. C, December 14, 1863; Wiiite Hall, 
N. C, Decemlier 16, 1863, and others. In 1S64 Mr. Atchison was 
wounded in front of Petersburgh, and lost his right arm. Return- 
ing to Greensboro at the close of the war, he was appointed United 
States store-keeper in 1869, and served for a period of twelve years. 
He was united in marriage, May 14, 1846, with Susan, daughter of 
Henry and Susan (Billingsley) Stephens. Her mother was liorn in 
West Virginia, and lier father was a native of Greene County, Penn. 
They were of English and Scotch descent. Mr. and Mrs Atchison 
have nine children and fourteen grandchildren, all but three of whom 
are living. The children are — Anna, wife of John Rumble; James, 
Henrj^ Charley, Jane, wife of William Ilalliday : Mary J. and Joseph. 
Robert and Clarinda are deceased. Tlieir mother is a faithful mem- 
ber of tiie Ba]itist Church. 

JOHN W. PARP>, farmer and stock-grower, Mapletown, Penn., 
was born in Monongalia County, W. Va., Jul}' 8, 1854. His parents, 
Gideon and Sarah (Wel)b) Barb, were natives of Old Virginia, and 
of German descent. In early life his father was a farmer. He sub- 
sequently became a manufacturer of boots and shoes, and came to 
Mapletown in 18G6, where he engaged in that business until his 
death in 1875. John W. is the eleventh in a family of twelve chil- 
dren. He was reared in Mapletown, and attended the district school. 
He has followed farming as his occupation, and is the owner of a 
farm of 100 acres in Monongahela Township, where he resides. Mr. 
Barb was united in marriage, in 1876, with Louisa E., daughter of 
Alexander and Maria (Debolt) Mestrezat, who were of French de- 
scent. Mr. and Mrs. Barb's children are — Lilian, Minnie, Charles 
A., Lamar and William. Mr. Barb is a Democrat. His wife is a 
zealous member of the Baptist Church. 

GEORGE F. BIRCH, M. D., deceased, was born in Washington 
County, Penn., Angust 9, 1824. His father, David Birch, who was 
a farmer and school-teacher, was born in Ireland. His mother, Lu- 
cretia Ellen (Vankirk) Birch, was a native of Washington County, 
Penn., and of English extraction. Dr. Birch was the oldest in a 
family of six children, and was reared on the farm with his parents. 
He attended the Washington and Jefferson College, where he grad- 
uated in the classical course. He studied medicine with Dr. Isaac 



764 niSTOKT OF geeene county. 

Reed, of Jeifersou Borough, this county, and subsequently attended 
the Western Eeserve Medical University at Cleveland, Ohio, where 
he graduated in 1852. In 1853 he first engaged in the practice of 
his profession in Greene County, where he spent the remainder of 
his life in active practice. Plis practice in Greensboro and vicinity 
was quite extensive from 1853 until his death, which occurred Sep- 
tember 18, 1884. Dr. Birch took an active interest in education, 
and served as school director for twelve years. He was an active 
member of the I. O. O. F. and the Masonic fraternity. He was mar- 
ried in this county, February 17, 1854, to Miss Adelia, daughter of 
Benjamin and Margaret (Kramer) Jones, who were of Welsh and 
English origin. Dr. and Mrs. Birch were the parents of eight chil- 
dren — two daughters, both deceased, and six sons, four living: Will- 
iam David, a carriage trimmer; B. J., a physician; George F., a 
book-keeper, and Samuel B., who is registered as a drug clerk. The 
Doctor was a member of the Disciple Church, and his wife is a de- 
voted Baptist. Their second son, B. J., who was born in Greensboro, 
attended the University at Morgantown, W. Va., and read medicine 
at Cleveland, Ohio, where he graduated in 1883. He also attended 
the Medico-Cliirurgical College at Philadelphia, graduating in 1887, 
and has since been engaged in the drug business and the practice of 
his chosen profession, at Greensboro, Penn. 

JAMES A. BLACK, fanner and stock-grower, who was born in 
Greensboro, Penn., May 19, 1822, is a son of Benjamin F. and Sophia 
(Gabler) Black. His parents were natives of Greensboro, and of 
German and Scotch descent. His father, the brother of Hon. C. A. 
Black, a prominent attorney of Waynesburg, Penn., was a merchant 
and justice of the peace in Greensboro, and served one term in the 
State Legislature. Fie died in his forty-second yeai-, June 10, 1843, 
leaving a family of six children. James was the second and was 
reared in Greensboro. He has made farming his chief occupation, 
and owns his present farm near Greensboro and other valuable lands. 
In 1844 Mr. Black married Miss Ann, daughter of James and Sarah 
M. (Morris) Steele, and they have a family of eight children, viz.: 
Charles E., John S., Emma V., wife of Eev. Mr. Patterson, of Mead- 
■ville, Penn.; Anna, wife of Rev. Mr. McGree; James A., B. F., 
Samnel and Asia,, five of whom, with their mother, are faithful mem- 
bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Black has served as 
justice of the peace at Greensboro for over a quarter of a century, 
and was at one time Master in the Masonic lodge. 

J. S. BLACK, farmer and coal merchant, Greensboro, Penn., was 
born in Greensboro, March 30, 1852. Flis parents were James aiid 
Sarah (Steele) Black, the former a native of Virginia and the latter 
of Greene County, Penn. The subject of this sketch is the foiirth 
in a family of eight children. He was reared in Greensboro and 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 765 

9 

attemled the common school. His first occupation was tliat of farm- 
ing. He tlien engaged in the coal business, which lie has since 
carried on quite extensively. Mr. Black was married in Fayette 
County, Penn., December 12, 187G, to Miss Jessie Nicholson. Her 
parents were natives of Fayette County, and of English descent. Mr. 
and Mrs. Black have four children — Eunice Aden, Nina May, Bessie 
N. and Albert Crystie. Mr. Black is a Democrat, and belongs to 
the Methodist Church. His wife is a Presbyterian. 

JAMES E. BLACKSHERE, farmer and stock-grower. Maple- 
town, Penn., was born in Monongahela Township, Greene County, 
Penn., April 15, 1882. His parents, Frank and Sarah Blackshei'e, 
who were natives of Delaware, came to Pennsjdvania early in life and 
settled in (Jreene County. Mrs. Blackshere is still living, having 
reached the advanced age of eighty-five years. They had a family 
of four children, of whom James E. is the youngest. He was reared 
on the farm and attended the common schools of the township. Mr. 
Blackshere is a prosperous farmer and owns a fine farm ,of 450 acres 
where he now resides. In 1856 Mr. Blackshere married Eliza, 
daughter of William Gray, who was among the wealthiest men of 
Greene County. Mr. and Mrs. Blackshere's childi-en are si.x in 
number. 

A. V. BOUGHNEIl is a merchant and postmaster of Greens- 
boro, Penn., where he was born in 1830. He is a son of Daniel and 
Mary (Vance) Bougliner, being the youngest in their family of six- 
sons and three daughters. Mr. Bougliner was reared in Greensboro, 
where he received a common-school education, and had some ad- 
vantages above the common schools. He learned the potter's trade, 
in which business he engaged for almost twenty-five years. He also 
carried on a store during that time, and since 1868 has given all his 
attention to merchandising. In 1857 Mr. Bougliner married Perie 
Minor, who is of English descent. Their children are^Alice, wife 
of Harry C. Lemmon; Mary, Eunice, Sherman and Claude. Mr. 
Boughner is a Democrat in politics, and was appointed to his pres- 
ent position of postmaster in 1885. He and wife were zealous 
memliers of the Presbyterian Church, in which he is an ofticial 
member. His wife died in 1880. 

O. P. COOPER, merchant miller, Mapletown, Penn., was born 
in Preston County, Virginia, April 25, 1836, and is a son of John 
G. and Elizabeth (^Kearns) Cooper, who were natives of Virginia, and 
of German origin. His father, who was a miller and hatter by occu- 
pation, died in 1868, in Fayette County, Penn., where he had resided 
for many years. His family consisted of eleven children, of whom 
O. P. is the seventh. He remained in Fayette County till he was 
ten years of age, then came to Greene County, and received his edu- 
cation from the common schools. Early in life Mr. Cooper learned 



7(36 IIISTOltY OF GEEENE COUNTY. 

« 

the miller's trade, and spent most of liis life in that bnsiness. His 
long experience and natural mechanical ability, coupled with his 
univei'sally polite and gentlemanly demeanor, eminently qualify him 
fur his chosen occupation. In 1885 he bonght the old Minor mill 
in Monongahela Township, which he has refitted and greatly im- 
proved. Mr. Cooper was married in Greene County to a Miss Hil- 
debrand, who was a native of this county, and of German descent. 
Their children are — "Walter L., principal of schools at Alton, Penn.; 
John F., telegraph operator and agent on B. & O. R. K. ; Josepli M., 
practical engineer; Jefferson, in government land office in Kansas; 
Lewis M., a miller; Oliver P., studying medicine; Harry E., at 
home. Mr. and Mrs. Cooper are prominent members of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. 

A. B. DON AWAY, a druggist of Greensboro, Penn., was born 
near Brownsville, Fayette County, Penn., April 3, 1849. He is a 
son of John and Margaret (Robinson) Donaway, who were of Irish 
and English descent. His father, who was a teamster, died in 1882. 
His mother is still living at the advanced age of eighty-seven years. 
The}' had a family of thi-ee sons and one daughter. A. B., the young- 
est of the family, was reared in Greensboro, where he leai-ned the 
potter's trade and followed it as a bnsiness until 1872. ITe then 
engaged in the drug business, in which he has met with unusual 
success. In 1878 Mr. Donaway married Elizabeth, daughter of E. 
O. Ewing, and they have three childi'en — Minor G., Katie and War- 
ren. Mr. Donaway is a Democrat, has been a member ef the town 
council of Greensboro, and served as street commissioner. He also 
belongs to. the Royal Arcanum. 

J. PI. DULANY, merchant and postmaster, Mapletown, Penn., 
•was born in Cumberland Township, this county, August 13, 1856. 
He is a son ot Dennis and Elizabeth (Seaton) Dulany, natives of 
Greene County, and of English descent. ITis father is a tailor by 
occupation, in which he is now engaged at Garard's Fort, Penn. 
The subject of this sketch is the sixth in a family of seven children. 
He was reared in Greene County, where he attended the common 
schools. While at home he assisted his father in the nursery, of 
which he was proprietor. Attaining his majority, he engaged in 
merchandising at Mapletown, where he has the postoffice in connec- 
tion with his large general store, and meets with success in liis busi- 
ness. In 1884 Mr. Dulany married Miss Cecilia B., daughter of 
Elisha and Cynthia (Coleman) Walters, who were natives of Penn- 
sylvania, and of English descent. Mr. and Mrs. Dulany have one 
child— Maud E. Mr. Dulany is a Republican in politics, and his 
wife is a devoted member of the Baptist Church. 

SAMUEL DUNLAP, farmer and stock-grower, Mapletown, 
Pennsylvania, was born in Fayette County, Penn., June 2, 1887, and is 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 767 

a SOU of Andrew and Mary (Stone) Dunlap. His parents were of Scotch 
descent, but natives of Pennsylvania. His fatlier came to ' Greene 
County in 1844 and settled in Monungahela Township, where Samuel 
now resides. He was successful through life as a farmer, and had 
been acting justice of the peace for twenty-five years — at the time 
of his death in 1888. His family consisted of two children — Eliza- 
beth Ann, wife of H. K. Barb ; and Samuel, the subject of this 
sketch. He obtained only a common-school education in this county, 
was reared on a farm and has made farming the business of his life. 
Mr. Dunlap's wife was Miss Martha A., daughter of William and 
Elizabeth (^Hedge) Spencer, who were of English and German de- 
scent. Her father was born in Jefferson Borough, this county, in 
1805. Mr. and Mrs. Dunlap have but one child — Harry L. Mr. 
Dunlap is a Democrat in politics, and his wife is' a devoted member 
of the Presbyterian Church. 

E. S. EVANS, farmer and stock-grower, Greensboi'o, Perm., was 
born January 27, 1845, and is a son of Evan and Kebecca (South) 
Evans, who were of Welsh and German origin. His father was a 
farmer and stock-grower by occupation, and met with marked suc- 
cess throughout his life. He was a deacon in the Greensboro l>ap- 
tist Church. Enoch S. was reared on the farm and received his edu- 
cation from the common schools and Waynesburg College. His 
fatlier left him in comfortable circumstances and he follows farming 
more from choice than necessity. Mr. Evans has resided for many 
years on his farm in Monongaliela Township, where he makes a 
specialty of raising line stock. He was united in marriage, in 1871, 
with Miss Ada Lawson, daughter of A' C. and Martha D. Pennington, 
who were of English origin. Mr. and Mrs. Evans have an interesting 
family of seven children — Carrie May, P-ierre O., Nona O., Evan, 
A. C. P. Wilson, W. B. and Nellie B. In politics Mr. Evans is a 
Republican. He and his wife are faithful members of the Baptist 
Church, of which he is deacon. 

JiLIAS A. FLENNIKEN, proprietor of the Greensboro hotel 
and livery stable, was born June 2, 1824, and is a son of J. W. and 
Hettie A. (Wright) Flenniken, natives of tliis county. He is tlie 
oldest of a family of seven children, and was reared on his tatlier's 
farm in Cumberland Township, where he received his early educa- 
tion. He afterwards attended school in the old Greene Academy at 
Carmichaels, Pennsylvania. His ancestors were among the pioneers 
of Greene County. For many years Mr. Flenniken has bought and 
sold horses and 'has been particularly interested in fast horses. For 
the last twenty years he has dealt extensively in wool. For two years 
he was captain of a steamer on the Monongahela River. In politics 
Mr. Flenniken is a Republican. In 184G he married IVIary Ann, 
daughter of William Kerr of Cumberland Tow:isliip. Mr. and Mrs. 



768 HisTOEr OF greene county. 

Flenniken's children are — Joseph D., Sarah J., widow of Byrass 
Thompson, deceased; Thomas, Belle, wife of George Stemets; John 
F., James, Elizabeth, wife of Oliver McClain; George N., Mary, and 
William. Mr. and Mrs. Flenniken have twenty-one grandchildren 
now living and one dead, being the only member of the family 
deceased. 

A. K. GABLE R, a retired farmer of Greensboro, Penn., was 
born May 29, 1821, at the old glass works near Greensboro, and is 
a son of Tiiomas and Wilhelmina (Kramer) Gabler. Mr. Gabler's 
ancestors, who were of German extraction, were pioneers in the 
glass business in this part of Pennsylvania and established the first 
glass works in Greene County. Thomas Gabler was born in Mary- 
land in 1798 and died in 1875. His wife died in 1881, having 
reached the advanced age of eighty. two years. Their family con- 
sisted of nine children, six of whom are living — four sons and two 
daughters. Mr. A. K. Gabler is the oldest son. He was reared at 
the old glass works, received a common school education and chose 
farming as his occupation through life. In 1852 Mr. Gabler mar- 
ried Miss Maria, daughter of John Jones, of Greensboro, and they 
are the parents of two children — Benjamin and Thomas C, a prom- 
inent young attorney. Mr. and Mrs. Gabler .are members of tJie 
Presbyterian Church. A. K. Gabler's brother, Kramer, who is also 
a farmer and stock-grower, was born and raised at the old glass works, 
where he received his. early education, and learned the saddler's trade 
with his brother, J. W. Gabler, of Greensboro. He worked at the 
trade until 1882, when he commenced farming and has met with 
success. Mr. Gabler is a Eepublican in politics. Angust 31, 1862, 
he enlisted in Company A, in the One Hundred and Fortieth .Eegi- • 
ment, Pennsylvania Volitnteer Infantry. He was a non-commis- 
sioned officer, and served until the close of the war. He has also 
served one term as Officer of the Day in Greensboro, G. A. K. Post. 
The youngest brother is George, born in 1841, who is also a farmer, 
and likehis brothers, a Kepublican in politics. His farm consists 
of eighty-six acres of well improved land in Monongahela Township. 
Mr. Gabler comes of a family noted for their energy and industry. 
They have ever been diligent in business, and have met with finan- 
cial success. 

J. W. GABLER, harness-maker and saddler, Greensboro, Penn. 
Among the successful business men of Greene County we mention 
the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. He was born in this 
• county April, 3, 1825, and is a son of Thomas arid Wilhelmina 
(Kramer) Gabler, who were of German and English descent. His 
mother was born in Fayette County, Penn. His fatlier was born in 
Frederick City, Md., and was a glass-blower and manufacturer, and 
came from Pittsburi>- to Greensboro, where he engaged in that busi- 



HISTOKY OF GREENE COUNTY. 769 

ness for many years. lie died in 1879 at the age of seventy-seven. 
The subject of this sketch was the third in a family of nine children. 
He was reared in Greensboro, where he received his early education. 
At the age of nineteen he learned the saddler's ti'ade, to which he 
devotes most of his time. He is also n manufacturer of harness, in 
which he nses good material and does good work. Mr. (-labler has 
been in bnsiness in Greensboro for nearly forty-five years, and by 
means of his industry and careful investments, has secured a gootl 
competence for himself and family. He has a half interest in the 
Greensboro hotel, and is the owner of 350 acres of land and real 
estate in Greensboro and elsewhere. Mr. Gabler was married in 
Greensboro, December 21, 1858, to Amy, daughter of Daniel and 
Mary (Vance) Boughner. Mrs. Gabler is of Irish and Dutch 
descent. They have but one child — Myrtilla. Mr. Gabler is a Re- 
publican in politics, and in religion a Presbyterian, in which Church 
he has been teacher and treasurer for a period of twenty years. 

J. E. GEAY, a farmer and merchant, of Gray's Landing, Penn., 
was born July 4, 1831, on the farm near Mapletown, in Monon- 
gahela Township, this count}'. He is a son of William and Cath- 
arine (Robinson) Gray, who were of English and Irish origin. His 
father, who was a wealthy farmer and prominent business man, was en- 
gaged in the commission business in Baltimore, Md., for several years. 
He died in 1885, having had a family of six children, two of whom are 
deceased. The subject of this sketch was the oldest, and was reared 
on the farm with his parents. He attended the common-school at 
Mapletown, Penn., and spent two years at Waynesburg College. 
Mr. Gray was first employed with his father in the distillery, of 
which he is now proprietor. He has also engaged in farming and 
owns 500 acres of land, in connection with a general store which 
they established in 1858. On February 22, 1855, Mr. Gray married 
Catharine, daughter of James and Catharine Huston. Their children 
are — L. Alice, wife of O. M. Boughner; Selisia and Selena. Their 
mother is a de>'oted member of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Gray 
is a Republican in politics. He ever manifests great interest in the 
educational welfare of his township, and has served as school director 
for twelve years. 

DR. WILSON GREENE, of New Geneva, Penn., was born in 
Monongahela Township, Greene County, Penn., December 1, 1829. 
His parents were Matthew and Rachel (Sycks) Greene. His father 
was of English origin and his mother was of German origin. His 
father was born February 17, 1806, in Monongahela Township, Greene 
County, Penn., where he still resides and now in his old age is 
often visited by his son who is ever considerate of his happiness. 
The Doctor's mother, who died in 1809, was a member of the Sycks 
family who came to Monongahela Township while the Indians were still 



770 IIISTOUY OF GKEElSrE COUNTY. 

inhabitants. Tliey with the Seltzers built a fort for protection on 
Dunkard Creek, where the first Dnnkard oil field is. Daniel Sycks, 
an elder brother of Eachel, was born, on the farm where she died, 
December 8, 1788 and died July 16, 1888, and was the oldest man 
in the township. When Dr. Greene's grandparents, William and 
liebecca (Larue) Greene, first came to Greene County they settled on 
a farm near Willow Tree, on Big Whiteley Creek. They were 
natives of Bucks County, Penn., and descendants of the pioneer 
Quakers, who came from England with William Penn. Dr. Greene 
Is the second and only son of a family of tour children. Tie was 
reared on a farm and at an early age he made choice of the practice 
of medicine as his profession. His medical education was obtained 
at the Cleveland Medical College, Cleveland, Ohio. In 1859 he 
he opened an office at Bristol, Perry Connty, Ofiio, where he soon 
gained an enviable reputation as a practicing physician. In order 
to be near his aged parents he returned in 1864 to the scenes of his 
childhood and settled in Fayette County, on the banks of the Monon- 
gahela Kiver, in New Geneva, within three miles of his old home. 
Here the Doctor soon won a large and lucrative practice in Greene 
and Payette counties. He was united in marriage March 23, 1859, 
with Miss Pleasant M., daughter of Evan and Nancy (Myers) Evans. 
Mrs. Greene is a sister of L. K. Evans, editor of the "Three Elvers 
Tribune," Michigan, and is of Welsh descent. Her father was a 
successful farmer of Greene County and died in 1865. Dr. and Mrs. 
Greene have two children, who took a course in Monongahela Col- 
lege, Isa D., wife of O. J. Sturgis, editor of the Rejniblican 
Standard, at Uniontown, Penn., and Willie W., who is a graduate 
of Duff's College, Pittsburg, Penn. Isa, the onlydaughter, i-eceived 
all the advantages of a good musical education and graduated at 
Dana's Musical Institute, of Warren, Ohio. Dr. Greene is a Kepul)- 
lican in politics. He devotes all his time to his business and pro- 
fession, in wiaich he has proven himself one of the most prominent 
in the county. The family are prominent members of the Baptist 
Churc'h. 

JOHN JONES, of the firm of Hamilton & Jones, manijfacturers 
of earthen ware and tile roofing at Greensboro, Penn., was born in 
Monongahela Township, Greene County, Penn. He is a son of 
Benjamin and Laura (Kramer) Jones, natives of this county, and of 
Welsh and German descent. Mr. Jones' father was a glass-blower 
by occupation. His family consisted of eight children, all of whom 
reached maturity. Mr. John Jones, the fifth was reared in Greene 
County, and attended the common schools. Early in life he learued 
the potter's trade at Greensboro, and engaged in the business until 
1866, when he went into partnersliip with Mr. Hamilton. Tliey 
emjiloy about twenty-five men, and have contributed much to tiie 



IflRTORT OF GREENE fOUNTY. 771 

improvement of the town. In 18Gj !\rr. Jone.s married Miss Mary 
A., daughter of W. L. irainilton, a prominent citizen of Greensboro. 
They are the parents of one chikl, Asia K. Mrs. Jones is a member 
of tlie rresl)yterian Church. Mr. Jones is a Republican, and a 
member of the town council, of which he has served as treasurer. 
lie enlisted under Captain Harper, of Carmichaels, Tenn., in Com- 
pany F, First Tennsylvania Cavalry. He was wounded and taken 
prisoner at the battle of Warrington, Virginia, but managed to es- 
cape the lirst night. . Mr. Jones has been engaged in the pottery 
Irasiness since the close of the war. He is Post Commander of the 
Alfred Shibler G. A. E. Post No. 119, of Greensboro. 

T. P. KRAMEU, a retired glass manufacturer of Greensboro, 
Penn., was born October 20, iSOi, and is the son of Ealtzer and 
Sarah (Phillips) Kramer. His mother was the daughter of Hon. T. 
P. Philli])S, who at an early age was a member of the Pennsylvania 
State Legislature. He was a farmer by occupation and resided in 
Fayette County, near Greensboro for many years, and in his house 
was the first court held in Fayette County. T. P. Kramer's grand- 
father, Ealtzer Kramer, came from Germany to Maryland, and 
subsequently removed to Fayette County, Penn., and settled on a 
farm near New Geneva. He was afterwards one of a party induced 
by Hon. Albert Gallatin to settle near Greensboro and establish a 
glass works, Mr. Gallatin taking one-half interest and furnishing 
the material. The firm consisted of George Reppert, Lewis Reitz, 
Christian and Baltzer Kramer, Jr., and Adolphus Everhart, one of 
the men who carried Gen. LaFayette off the battle-field, and was 
recognized by the General when making his farewell visit to 
America. Baltzer Ivramer's family consisted of seven children, of 
whom T. P. Kramer's father, Baltzer, Jr., was the oldest. He was 
born in Maryland in 1777, and in 1808 became a member of the glass 
company near Greensboro, where he died in 1852, leaving a family 
of six children. The subject of this sketch is the oldest, and has 
been a resident of this county the most of his life. He was sent to 
school at Cannonsburg, Penn., but ran away and refused to go to 
college, so his father allowed him to learn the glass-blowing trade, 
and he has followed that as a business for many years. In 1834 Mr. 
Kramer married Sarah, daughter of Gec>rge Ilarter. Mrs. Kramer 
is of German and Englisli e.Ktraction. They had a family of ten 
children — S. E. B., Sarah M., Elizabeth Ann, William, May Ellen, 
George, Baltzer, John P., and Virtue and Edward R., deceased. 
Their mother died in 1884. Mr. Kramer has been a member of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church for nearly sixty yeiirs. He has always 
taken an active interest in the affairs of the church, and has served as 
class-leader, steward and trustee. His children are all members of 
the church. Mr. Kramer is a Republican and a strong advocate of 



772 HISTOliY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

the temperance cause. Altliougli iu his eiglity-hfth year, he is strong 
and vigorous in mind and body, seldom failing to walk from his 
home to Greensboro every day — a distance of more than a mile. 

JOHN C. KRAMER, Greenshoro, Greene County, Fenn. — The 
subject of this sketch is a descendant of the early settlers of Greene 
County. He was horn in Monongahela Township, September 15, 
1838, and is a son of George li. and Louisa (Jones) Kramer, also 
natives of Monongahela Township. Mr. Kramer's mother was born 
ill 1814, and was of German origin. His father, who was a farmer 
and glass-blower, was born in 1808 and died June 28, 1881. John 
Jones, Mr. Kramer's grandfather, was a farmer by occupation, and 
died at the age of forty-two. liis grandfather Kramer was a glass- 
blower, and lived to a good old age. John C. is the second in a 
family of six children, and was reared on his father's farm where he 
received his early education. Afan early age he learned glass-cutting 
and he is now employed in that business in Pittsburg. Mr. Kramer 
was married in Camden, New Jersey, May 26, 1870, to Sallie C, 
daughter of Joseph and Lydia (Caine) Southard. Her parents were 
natives of New Jersey, and of German extraction. Mrs. Kramer is 
the third in a family of eight children, and was reared in Camden 
New Jersey. Mr. and Mrs. Kramer are the parents of four children, 
viz.: William M., Franklin B., Louisa J. and George R. Mr. Kra- 
mer is a Kepublicanin politics, and in religion a Fi'esbyterian. He 
is also a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity. 

JOHN P. KRAMER, potter by trade, is the youngest son of T. 
F. Kramer, was born at the glass-works February 7, 1854. He re- 
ceived a common-school education and learned the potter's trade, 
which he has followed as a business veiy successfully. Mr. Kramer 
was united in marriage June 26, 1876, with Miss Josephine, daughter 
of William and Frances (Black) Wolverton. Mrs. Kramer is of 
German lineage. They are the parents of six children, viz.: Harry, 
Estella, Llarris, Clarence, Fannie and Sarah. Mr. Kramer is a Re- 
publican. He and his wife are zealous members of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, in which he has served as steward and superin- 
tendent of the Sabbath-school. 

FROF. GEORGE F. MARTIN, principal of schools at Greens- 
boro, Fenn., was born in the State of Mississippi, June 25, 1846. 
His parents are Daniel F. and Hannah (Reynolds) Martin, the former 
a native of Virginia and the Jatter of Mississippi. They were of 
English origin. His father was a cotton planter in early life, and 
subsequently engaged in farming and stock-raising in southern Kan- 
sas. His family consisted of six children, of whom George F. was 
the fourth. He was sent to a private school in Mississi])pi until his 
father lost his fortune, which was valued at one million dollars. At 
his father's suggestion George went North when fourteen years of 



HISTORY OF GRKENE COUNTY. 77H 

age, and worked about two years for a sewing machine couip.uiy at 
Elizabeth, New Jersey. He then spent two years in Yale College. 
Eeing obliged to leave the scliot)l for lack of funds, he taught for two 
years, and was given the position of principal of schools at IStoughton, 
Wisconsin — a place of about two thousand inhabitants. lie remained 
there about tour years, afterwards teaching in Wisconsin and Michi- 
gan. Returning South, Prof. Martin taught several years in West 
Virginia, and in 1880 was appointed bj' the State superintendent of 
schools to conduct an institute at Morgantown, W. Va. For the 
past eight years he has been identified with the schools of Greene 
County, Penn., and has assisted in conducting two summer normals 
at Waynesburg College. Prof. Martin is one of Greene's most able 
educators and makes frequent contributions to the leading school 
journals, lie was united in marriage in Monongalia County, W. 
Va., with Miss Anna M., daughter of John ]]losser. Mrs. Martin 
is of English descent. Tiiey are the parents of five children — Frank 
P., William Pt., Clara M., Florence M. and Elmer W. The Professor 
is a Democrat in politics, and a member of the lio^'al Arcanum. 

JEAN LOUIS GUILLAUME (called William) MESTliEZAT, 
retired farmer and stock-grower, was born in Mapletovvn, this county, 
May 11, 1809. His parents, Charles Alexander and Louisa (Du- 
fresne) Mestrezat, were natives of France, and came to Greeue County, 
Penn., in 1795, among the earliest settlers. They lived a short time 
near Carmichaels, in Cumberland Township, then settled in Maple- 
town and spent the remainder of their lives. Mr. Mestrezat died 
April 1, 1815, and his widow in 181:9. They were the parents of eleven 
children, of whom Jean Louis Guilbiume is the eighth. He was 
reared in Mapletown, and early in lite learned the gunsmith trade. 
He subsequently, carried on the mercantile business, and also en- 
gaged in farming to some e.xtent. He owns 330 acres of valuable 
land. In 1843 Mr. Mestrezat married Mary Ann, daughter of Mat- 
thias and Hannah (Leslie) Hartley, who Avere of Irish lineage. Mr. 
and Mrs. Mestrezat have live children — C. A., Harriet M., widow of 
the late Samuel Hudson; S. L., a prominent attorney at Uniontown, 
Penn.; Charlotte Amanda, wife of Hon. M. John, of Colorado; and 
J. L. G., a cattle-dealer in the West. Mr. Mestrezat is a Democrat 
in politics. He has served as school director for fifteen years. 

FREDERIC MESTREZAT, deceased, was born September 25, 
1807, and was the son of Charles Ale.xander and Louisa Elizabeth 
(Dufrene) Mestrezat, natives of France, who came to America in 1793. 
Frederic was the sixth child and second son in a family of eleven 
children. He attended the select schools of Mapletown, which were 
tauglit by teachers hired by the parents, by the year and half year. 
He was one of the foremost men during his short life in securing 
good educational advantaijes for the town in whicii he resided. He 



7'74 HISTORY OF GKEENE OOUKTY. 

learned the hatter's trade, aud dealt extensively in wool and fnrs. 
April 4, 1833, Mr. Mestrezat married Miss Martha Hall, daughter 
of- Lemuel aud Sarah (Grove) Hall. Her parents were natives of 
Delaware, and of Scotch-Irish and German origin. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Mestrezat were born six children, four of whom are living — Jolm A., 
a carpenter; Mary A., wife of B. F. Mercer; Aline A., wife of Will- 
iam W. Shaffei-, and Caroline A. Charles Alexander, the oldest sou, 
was educated in Morgantown, W. Va. He enlisted in Company E, 
Fourteenth Pennsylvania Cavali'y, and was captured at the battle of 
White Sulphvir Sjjrings, August 27, 1863, while in active service for 
his coixntry. He was taken to Belle Isle, Richmond, and from there 
was removed to Hospital No. 21 in Eichmond, where he died March 
27, 1864. Mr. Frederic Mestrezat was a Republican in politics. He 
was an earnest and faithful worker in the Sabbath-school and for the 
church, although he did not unite with the church until a short time 
before his death, when he became a member of the Presbyterian 
Church of Greensboro, where his wife had been a faithful member 
since her youth. 

EGBERT MILLIKIN w^as born in Ireland in 1773, and died in 
1869. He came to America in 1794, and took up a tract of about 
800 acres of land, situated six miles northwest of Waynesburg, on 
Brown's Fork of- South Ten-Mile Creek. Nearly all of the upper 
end of Greene County was at that time covered with forests. Mr. 
Millikiu was a farmer by occupation, aud was one of the substantial 
citizens among the early settlers of this county. He held the office 
of county commissioner, and was tlie master builder of the first brick 
court-house in Greene County. At the age of twenty-four he mar- 
ried Miss Mary, daugliter of Lindsey Gray, of this county, aud aunt 
of" tlie late Dr. D. W. Gray, who for many years was in successful 
practice at Jacksonville, Richhill Township. At their wedding the 
principal feature in the marriage feast was a young fat bear which 
had been cauglit in the neigliborhood. There were born to them si.K 
children, and their son David, who married Miss Lydia Rogers, was 
the father of thirteen children. The youngest of these is Dr. J. L. 
Millikin, of Greensboro, one of the leading physicians of the county. 
Dr. Millikin was born in Greene County, six miles north of Waynes- 
burg, June 24, 1854. He received his early education in the district 
schools, aud afterwards attended Waynesburg College. He was a 
successful teacher in the public schools for several years, and began 
the study of medicine with Dr. W. S. Throckmorton at Nineveh, 
Penn., in 1873, and subsequently took the regular course in the 
Jefi'erson Medical College at Philadelphia, graduating at that institu- 
tion in March, 1878. He then practiced with Dr. Throckmorton for 
nearly two years, when he located at Carmichaels, Peim., and during 
one year of his residence there was in equal partnership with Dr. J. 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 775 

I>. Laidley, of tliat place. In 1884 Dr. Millikiii located at Greens- 
boro, Penn., where his professional skill and genial disposition soon 
won for him a large practice in the town and surrounding country. 
The Doctor is an active member of the Greene County Medical 
Society, and served one term as its president, lie is a permanent 
member of the State Medical Society of Pennsylvania, and belongs 
to the I. O. O. F. and P. A. He is examining surgeon for three in- 
surance companies and for the Royal Arcanum. He lias a special 
fondness for surgery, and has performed several difhcult operations. 
He frequently- contributes articles to the medical journals, and is a 
strong advocate of the temperance cause. November 30, 1883, Dr. 
Millikin married Miss Anna, daughter of James Scott, of this county. 
They have one child -Joseph Pancoast. 

0TH(3 AV. MINOR, farmer and stock-grower, Greensboro, Penn., 
was born in Greene Township, this county, January 22, 1830. He 
is a son of John and Melinda (Lantz) Minor, natives of Greene 
County, and of English descent. His father, who followed the black- 
smith's trade in early life, was in later years a farmer and merchant 
miller, owning and operating a grist-mill for many years in this 
count}'. He died in 1881, leaving a family of live children, viz: 
Frances, Maiy, William, Rebecca A., and Otho, who is the second in 
the family. He was reared on the farm, attended the common 
schools, and has made farming his occupation through life. In 1859 
Mr. Minor married Miss Lucinda, daughter of Hiram and Elizabeth 
(Hunt) Stephens. Mrs. Minor is of English and Irish descent. They 
have a family of five children — Sylvanus K., John W., Ellsworth, 
Sarepta, and Yiola (deceased). Mr. Minor is a Democrat, and he and 
wife are leading members in the Baptist Church. 

JOHN S. MINOR, carpenter and contractor, Mapletown, Penn., 
was born in Monongahela Township, Greene County, Penn., March 
5, 1859. His parents, AVilliam and Martha (Pobinson) Minor, were 
natives of this county, and of English descent. His father, who was 
a farmer by occupation, was killed by the falling of a tree, January 
5, 1875. John S. is the oldest of a family of four children. He was 
reared on the home farm and received a common-school education. 
He remained at home with his parents until he was si.xteen years of 
age, when he learned the carpenter's trade and has since followed it 
as an occupation. He was united in marriage, March 10, 1878, with 
Miss Flora, daughter of Dissisiway and Maria (Maple) South, who 
were of English and German origin. Mr. and Mrs. Minor have three 
cliildren — Myrtle, Walter T. and Willie Ray. Mr. Minor is a Demo- 
crat in politics, and in religion a Methodist, of which church his wife 
is also a devoted member. , 

T. F. PENNINGTON, merchant, Greensboro, Penn., was born 
in Brownsville, Penn., June 11, 1853. He is a son of A. C. and 



776 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

Martha D. (Fall) Pennington, who were natives of Pennsylvania anil 
of English descent. His father was for several years a silversmith 
and justice of the peace in Greensboro, where he located in 1868. 
Pie also served as burgess of the borough. Plis family consisted of 
nine children, eight; of whom are living. The subject of this sketch 
is the third, and was reared at Brownsville, wliere he received a good 
Englisli education. Early in life he learned the tinner's trade, in 
which ho engaged at Greensboro. In 1878 he bought the Greensboro 
foundry, which he has since operated in connection with a stove and 
tin-ware store. In 1887 he procured a patent for a new kind of fire 
front, which seems to prove quite a success. Mr. Pennington was 
married at Gi'afton, "W. Va., in 1884, to Miss Mattie, daughter of 
Nathan and Catharine Means, who are of English descent. Mr. 
Pennington is a Democrat, and in 1888 was elected burgess of 
Greensboi'O. lie is a niember of the Poyal Arcanum, and a strong 
advocate of the temperance cause. His viit'e is president of the 
Greensboro W. C. T. U. They are both members of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, in which he is steward and Sabbath-school super- 
intendent. 

J. Y. PROVINS, retired farmer, Greensboro, Penn., was born 
in Monongahela Township, this county, in 1813. He is a son of 
Benjamin Provins, who was a soldier in the war of 1812 and died 
soon after its close. Mr. Provins was reared on the farm by his 
grandfather, who was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and a pio- 
neer farmer of Fayette County, Penn. The Provins family were 
strong, coui-ageous and patriotic, and ever ready to respond to the 
country's call for help. Mr. Provins' grandfather, James Ilartly, 
was for many years a prominent citizen of this county. The subject 
of this sketch attended school in the old log school-house for a few 
months in winter. He chose farming as his occupation and has met 
with marked success. He has made his way in the world unaided, 
his success being due largely to his business ability. He began as 
a farm laborer working by the month or day, biit is now the owner 
of 300 acres of valuable land. Mr. Provins was united in marriage, 
in 1834, with Miss Melinda, daugliter of John and Catharine (Knife) 
Sterling, of German origin. She died in 1884. Mr. Provins, who is a 
Democrat, manifests great interest in the educational affairs of his 
township and has served as a member of the school board. 

SILAS ROSS, farmer and stock-grower, Greensboro, Penn., was 
born in Dunkard Township, this connty, June 27, 1843. He is a 
son of Bowen and Anna (Gantz) Ross, who were of Scotch-Irish 
descent. His father, who was a farmer all his life, was a native of 
Fayette County and died in Greene County in 1880. His family 
consisted of twelve children, all but two of whom grew to maturity. 
Silas was the seventh in the family and was reared in Dunkard Town- 



IIISTOKY OF GIIEKNE COUNTY. 777 

ship, wliere lie attended the common schools. lie chose farming as 
Ills business, and at present is the owner of 110 acres of well im- 
proved land where he resides. In 1868 Mr. Ross married Eunnie 
v., daughter of Alfred and Jane (Evans) Myers, and they are the 
parents of two children — Kotert C. and Alfred M. Mr. Koss is a 
Republican, fie takes a great interest in educational matters and 
has served on the school board in his district. Mr. and Mrs. Ross 
are zealous members of the Baptist Church. 

ELI JST. TITUS, farmer and stock-grower, Greensboro, Penn., 
was l)orn in Duiikard Township, Greene County, Penn., January 22, 
18-14. He is a son of Eli and Sarah (Myers) Titus, natives of this 
county and among the families most noted in its history. Mr. Titus 
is the seventh in a family of eleven children. His parents reside in 
Bunkard Township, on the farm where Eli was reared and attended 
the district schools. lie also took a thorough course of instruction 
in Iron City College at Pittsburg, Penn., and graduated in 18G3. 
He then enlisted in the Eourteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry and was 
assigned to Company E of the One Hundred and Sixty-ninth Regi- 
ment. During his service with this regiment ilr. Titus was in forty 
battles and skirmishes, and at different times narrowly escaped death. 
He served as a non-commissioned officer, quartermaster-sergeant, and 
was discharged Ijy general order at the close of tlie war. In 1866 
Mr. Titus married Miss Miranda, daughter of John and Leah 
(Keener) Durr. Her father was a native of Fayette and her mother 
of Greene County, and they were of German origin. A year after 
his marriage Mr. Titus went to West Virginia and engaged in farm- 
ing and stock dealing. In 1870 he returned to Greene County, 
Penn., and continued in the same business in which he has met with 
great success. His farm is well stocked and improved and his house 
is one of the most substantial in the county. He owns 245 acres of 
land in Dunkard and Monongahela townships. Mr. Titus is a Re- 
publican in politics, and was once sent as a senatorial delegate from 
Greene and Fayette counties to the Republican State Convention. 
He is also a member of the G. A. R. of Greensboro. The family are 
members ef the Baptist Church, in which Mr. Titus takes an active 
interest and is one of the trustees of tlie Greensboro Baptist Church. 
E. L. TITUS, farmer and stock-grower, Greensboro, Penn., was 
Ijorn in Dunkard Township, Greene County, Pennsylvania, December 
26, 1845, and is a son of Eli and Sarah (Myers) Titus. His grand- 
parents, Peter and Pleasant (Corbly) Myers, were among the earliest 
settlers of Greene County. His ancestors were of English descent 
and usually farmers by occupation. Mr. E. L. Titus is the eighth 
in a family of eleven children. He was reared in Greene County, 
attending the common schools in Dunkard Township. He after- 
wards spent some time at the State Nomnal School at California, 



778 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

Pumi. lie made choice of farming and stock-growing as an occupa- 
tion and has made it the business of his life. In 1875 Mr. Titus 
married Elizabeth Jane, daughter of Jesse Steele. Mrs. Titus is of 
English and Irish descent. They have a family of four children, 
viz., Arcy V., Oscar V., Scott and Charles Eli. In politics Mr. 
Titus is a Eepublican. 

J. D. WELTNEE, a farmer and stock-grower of Monongahela 
Township, this county, was born February 23, 1824, and is a son of 
John and Elizabeth (Dunaway) Weltner. His parents were natives 
of Greene Connty, Pennsylvania, and of Dutch and English descent. 
His father, who was also a farmer and stock-dealer, was twice mar- 
ried. J. D. Weltner was the second child by the first marriage and 
was reared on the home farm, attending the common schools of 
Greene and Fayette counties. He chose farming as a business and 
also dealt in stock to some extent. He spent two winters in this 
business in Pittsburg, Penn., and met with marked success. Mr. 
Weltner has also proved a success as a farmer anQ his children own 
B80 acres of well improved land in Monongahela Township, where 
he has resided since 1856. Here he always keeps a number of 
cattle, usually sending fifty or seventy-five head to the mai-kets each 
year. In 1854 Mr. Weltner was united in marriage with Miss 
Margaret, daughter of William and Catharine (Robinson) Gray, na- 
tives of tliis county. Her father was a wealthy and influential 
business man and succeeded in accumulating a handsome fortune. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Weltner were born seven children, viz., Charles W., 
Daisie, Minnie, Perlie and Eunice Ann, and two deceased. In politics 
Mr. Weltner is a Eepublican. His wife died in 1882, a faithful 
member of the Presbyterian Church, 

BENJAMIN G. WILLIAMS, farmer and stock-grower, Greens- 
boro, Penn., was born March 19, 1863, and is a son of Charles and 
Melissa (Johnston) Williams, who were of Scotch and English ex- 
tracton. His father, a farmer and speculator, who was born in 1835, 
died in 1885 at Greensboro, where he spent the last nineteen years 
of his life. Mrs. Williams died in 1878. They were the parents of 
three children — Hattie M., Laura May, wife of George C. Steele, a 
merchant of Morgantown, W. Va., and Benjamin, the subject of our 
sketch. He first attended school in Greensboro, and spent some 
time in the West Virginia University. He is registered as a law 
student at Waynesburg, Penn., and is pursuing his studies. Early 
in life Mr. Williams engaged in the drug business — first in Greens- 
boro, then in Dunbar, Fayette County, where he remained three 
years. At his father's death he was appointed administrator of the 
estate. He has carefully looked after the farm of 200 acres and 
valuable coal mines, and is at present engaged in building a railway 



IIISTOKY OK GIIEKNE COUNTY. 779 

from tliu t'jirin to the river, in order to sliip tlie coal more eoiivuiiieiil- 
ly. Mr. Williams is a Democrat in politics, ami one of tlie most 
enterprising and successful young men of the county. 



MORGAN TOWNSHIP. 

JOSEPH ADAMSON, merchant, Lippincott, Penn., was horn 
in (rreene County, Penn., August 1, 1843. His parents were Thonuis 
and Mary (Iloge) Adamson, the former deceased. In 18(3(5, March 
24, Joseph Adamson married Mary E.Bell, who was born in Morgan 
Township, July 19, 1849. She is a daughter of Henry and Deborah 
(Adamson) Bell. Her father is a resident of Washington County. 
Mrs. Bell died April 15, 188(5. To Mr. and Mrs. Adamson have 
been born eight children, four living — Maggie H., wife of J. L. Pyle, 
of Waynesburg; John B., Henry ]L. and Letitia D. The deceased 
are AVilliam T., James L. and two infants. Mr. Adamson was reared 
ou a farm and engaged in farming until 1881, at which time he began 
merchandising in Morgan Township. In addition to his large gen- 
eral store, he owns lifty acres of land where he and his family reside. 
He and wife are descendants of pioneer families of this county. 

SMITH ADA]\ISON, farmer, P. O. Lippincott, was born in 
Franklin Township, this county, October' 5, 1850, and is a son of 
Thomas and Mary Adamson {nee Hoge). His father was born in 
Greene County, October 5, 1816, and his mother in Centre Town- 
ship, September 9, 1818. They were married December 24, 1840, 
in the same house where the widow resides. Mr. Adamson died 
February 14, 1856. Tliey were the parents of five children — all of 
whom are living, except John, the eldest, who died October 23, 1863, 
in the State of Alabama, while in the service of his country during 
the Rebellion. The subject of this sketch was united in marriage, 
October 12, 1875, with Sarah M. Ilandolph. She was born in Jeffer- 
son Township, February 4, 1856, and is a daughter of James and 
Elizal)eth (Braden) Ilandolph, residents of Franklin Township. Mr. 
and Mrs. Adamson are the parents of four children — Walter, Laura, 
and Thomas, living; and Nora, deceased. Mr. Adamson, who is an 
enterprising and successful farmer and stock dealer, owns a good farm 
of 142 acres. Mr. and Mrs. Adamson are faithful members of the 
Baptist Church. 



780 IIISTOllY OV GREENE COUNTY. 

' J. E.. BELL, fanner, Jefferson, Penn., was boru in Morgan Town- 
ship, this county, April 12, 1836. His parents wei'e Morgan and 
Mary Bell (jiee Kicharcls). His father was also a native of Morgan 
Township. lie was born December 24, 1808. Mrs. Bell was born 
in Chester County, Penn., March 14, 1804. They were married in 
Greene County, where they remained until Mrs. Bell's death, April 
8, 1878, Her husband died February 5, 1880. They were the par- 
ents of eight children, four of whom are living. J. R. Bell is tlie 
lifth, and was united in marriage, September 3, 1868, with Miss 
Helen Davis, born in Greene Township, this county, August 23, 1889. 
She is adaughter of Llenry J. and Amelia fMyers) Davis. Mr. Davis 
was born in Jefferson Township, September 27, 1800, and his wife 
was born in Greene Township, October 22, 1814. They were mar- 
ried in this county, where they remained until the death of Mr. Davis, 
November 6, 1862. His widow died at the home of her daughter in 
Morgan Township, April 9, 1871. To Mr. and Mrs. Davis were 
born three children, two now living. Mr. and Mrs. Bell have three 
children: Maggie A., wife of W. K. Scott; Mary E. and Henry D. 
Mr. Bell Avas raised on a farm and received valuable instructions from 
his lather in the art of husbandry, which he" has made his occupation 
through life. He acquired his education in the common schools and 
Waynesburg College, and engaged in teaching for a few years. He 
filled the office of auditor of the county one year, under the old con- 
stitution; was re-elected and served three years under the new. Mr. 
Bell and family are consistent members of the Baptist Church. 

B. F. BELL, farmer, Lippincott, Penn., was born in Morgan 
Township, this county, February 20, 1840, and is a son of Henry 
and Deborah (Adamson) Bell. His parents were natives of Greene 
County, where they were married and remained nntil Mrs. Bell's death, 
April 15, 1886. Mr. Bell subsequently married Marinda Spriggs 
[nee Keys), and they now reside in Washington County. He is the 
father of four children. B. F. is the oldest of the three living. He 
was united in marriage, February 10, 1867, with Mary E. Adamson, 
who was born in Franklin Township, this county, August 27, 1846. 
Mrs. Bell is a daughter of Thomas and Sarah (Hoge) Adamson, na^ 
fives of Greene County. Her mother is now deceased. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Bell have been born three children — Clementine, Samanthia and 
"William. Mr. Bell Avas raised on a farm, and has engaged in farm- 
ing from the time he first started out in life. He owns ninety-live 
acres of good land where he and family reside. He served his country 
in the late Rebellion, in Company. B, Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery. \ 
Mr. and Mrs. Bell are faithful members of the Baptist Church. * 

S. H. BRADEN", farmer, P. O. Lippincott, is a native of Morgan 
Township, Greene County, Penn., where he was born June 7, 1831. 
His parents were William and Rachel (House) Braden. His father 



msTOKY OF GKKENE COUNTY. 781 

was born in Washiiiirton County, and liis mother in Grecno, wliuro 
they were married and made their home until Mrs. Braden's death, 
in 1838. Her husband afterwards married Nancy Douglas, who died 
in 1842. Mr. Eraden married for his third wife, Miss Margaret 
Giljson, who departed this life in 1881. Mr. Bradcn still resides in 
Franklin Township, this county. In 1856 Samuel II. Braden mar- 
ried Charlotte (Iluss) Adamson, who was horn in Greene County, 
May IG, 1826. She is a daup:hter of David and Delilah (Rinehart) 
Iluss, natives of Washington and Greene counties, respectively. 
After marriage they settled in Greene County and remained until 
the death of Mr. Iluss in 1871. Mrs. Iluss then went West on a visit, 
where she died in 1876. Mr. Braden is the father of four children — 
Albert, M'ho married Anna Shriver; Eva, Smith and Lizzie. Mr. 
Braden is one of the substantial and enterprising citizens of Morgan 
Township. lie owns 140 acres of land where he and family reside. 
Mrs. Braden is a consistent member of the Baptist Church. 

HENRY BUCKINGHAM, tanner, Clarksville, Penn., was born 
in Washington County, Penn., December 10, 180'J. He is a son of 
Isaac and Hannah (Ileaton) Buckingham. His father was born in 
A'Vashington County, and his mother in Greene County, where they 
were married. They settled in Washington County, where they 
remained until their death. Mr. Buckingham died in 1833 and his 
widow in 1846. They were the parents of eight children, two living — 
Hannah, wife of John A. Greenlee; and Henry, the subject of 
our sketch. He was united in marriage, December 25, 1833, with 
Mary Morton, who was born in Washington County, October, 18, 

1814. Mrs. Buckingham's father, Thon\as Morton, was a native of 
Washington County, and her mother, Mary ^Cree) Morton, was born 
in Gi'eene County, where they died — Mr. Morton December 2, l86tJ, 
and his widow. June 6, 1880. To Mr. and Mrs. Buckingham have 
been born six children, live living — Isaac, Elizabeth, wife of Stephen 
Morton; Thomas C, Robert, Francis J., and Isabella J. (^de- 
ceased). Mr. Buckingham was reared on a farm, and has been en- 
gaged in farming and stock dealing all his life. He and his son Isaac 
own 143 acres of land where the family reside. Mr. and Mrs. Buck- 
ingham are leading members in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. 

A. S. BURSON, merchant, Clarksville, Penn., is a descendant 
of one of the pioneers of that village, where he was born November 
16, 1837. He is a son of Edward C. and Maria Burson (^?iee Stew- 
art). The former was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, April 20, 

1815, and the latter in Millsboro, Washington County, Penn., April 
3, 1815. His parents were married June 7, 1836, in Clarksville, 
where they settled and remained until their death. Mrs. Jsurson 
died July 23, 1874, and her husband January 19, 1880. Of their 
six children, A. S. is the oldest. He was united in marriage Decern- 



782 iiisTonY OF guekne county. 

l)er 19, 1866, with Mary A. Greenlee, who was born in Wasliington 
Count}' Septeuiher 11, 1839. She is a daughter of John and Mary 
(Balentine) Cxreenlee, the latter deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Burson 
have three children, two living — Harry L. and May; "William S., 
deceased. Mr. Burson was reared in Clarksville, and early in life 
began merchandising with his father. He has continued in that 
business all his life, with the exception of five years in which he 
learned and worked at the carpenter trade. Pie owns a general store 
in Clarksville. He has filled the offices of auditor and school di- 
rector of his township, and has served as postmaster for about six 
years. He has been a membei- of the Masonic fraternity for twenty- 
seven years. Mrs. Burson is a' consistent member of the Metliodist 
Episcopal Church. 

CEPHAS CART, retired farmer, Clarksville, Penu., is one of 
the pioneer farmers of Greene County. He was born in Washing- 
ton Township, August 6, 1812. His parents, Able and Eunice Cary, 
()iee Woodruff), were natives of this county, where they were mar- 
ried and resided until their death. Mr. Cary died in 1820. Mrs. 
Cary was afterwards united in marriage with John McGinuis. She 
departed this life in 1833. Cephas Gary was united in marriage 
January 11, 1844, with Mary Mitchener, who was born in Jefferson 
Borough October 8, 1820. Slie is a daughter of Mercena and Mary 
(Bh\ck) Mitchener, the former a native of West Virginia and the 
latter of Maryland. They were married in Greene County, Penn., 
whei-e thSy spent the remainder of their lives. Mrs. Mitchener died 
May 5, 1859, and Mr. Mitchener April 15, 1880. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Cary have been born five children, four living — Lizzie M., Sophrona, 
wife of Daniel Hoover; Mercena M. and Jesse W., and Sarah J. 
(deceased), who was the wife of Hiram Baker. Mr. Cary is a cabinet- 
maker by trade, but after marriage he engaged in farming. He 
owns 100 acres of land, besides valuable property in Clarksville. 
Mr. and Mrs. Cary are consistent members of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church; also each one of their children. J. W. is a minister 
laboring in the Pittsburg Conference. 

JOHN CLAYTON, deceased, farmer and stock-dealer, Lippin- 
cott, Penn., was born in Morgan Township, Greene County, June 
27, 1826. He is a son of William and Saraii Clayton i^nee Mickins), 
who were natives of this county, where they resided until their 
deatli. William Clayton was born December 30, 1796, and died 
February 1, 1851. His wife was born January 15, 1798, and de- 
parted this life October 12, 1869. They were the parents of ten 
children, three daughters and seven sons, of whom John is the 
oldest. He was united in marriage January 20, 1853, with Miss 
Elizabeth, daughter of Hugh and Priscilla (Hoge) Montgomery. 
Mrs. Clayton was born in Morgan Township, October 14, 1833. Her 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 783 

father, who was a native of Harford County, Maryland, was one of 
the early settlers of Morgan Township, Greene County, Penn. Jle 
died in June, 1882. His widow is a native of this county, and re- 
sides in Waynesbyrg, Penn. Mr. John Clayton and wife are the 
parents of four children, two deceased — Priscilla and Samuel; and 
two living, Sarah A., wife of Penjaniin F. Lippencott; and Maria, 
wife of J. L. Corbett. Mr. and Mrs. Corbett are the parents of live 
children. Mr. Clayton was raised on a farm, and owned at the time 
of his death, which occurred June 23, 1888, 400 acres of land in 
Morgan Township where the family lived. lie luis served his coun- 
ty as auditor one term, and was a member of the Masonic fraternity 
and I. O. O. F. Mrs. Clayton is a faithful member of the l>aptist 
Church. 

JOHN B. cox, farmer and stock-grower, Jefferson, Penn., was 
born in Morgan Township, this county, August 17, 1824. He is a 
son of Jesse and Dorcas (Bell) Cox, also natives of Morgan Town- 
ship, where they were married and remained through life. Mr. 
Jesse Cox died in Greene County, Maryland, in 182G, and was buried 
in that State. His widow, who was afterwards married to Thomas 
Patterson, died in Iowa, while on a visit to her daughters in 1872. 
Mr. Patterson died near Carmichaels, Penn. John B., the subject 
of this sketch, was two years old when his father died. He lived 
with his grandfather, John Bell, until twenty-one years of age. lie 
was then united in mai'riage April 17, 1845, with Maria Crayne, 
who was born in Morgan Townsiiip, April 29, 1825. Her jjarents 
were Samuel and Mary (IIuss) Crayne, deceased. Mr. and Mrs. 
Cox are the parents of eight children, six of whom are living — Mary 
A., wife of T. C. Buckingham; Samuel C, Dorcas L., widow of 
Adam Horn; Emeline, wife of Joseph Gordon; Stephen and Frank. 
The deceased are John B. and Calvin. Mr. Cox was raised on a 
farm, and has been greatly prospered in his farming and stock-raising 
for many years. He owns 380 acres of fine land on Castile. He is 
a member of the I. O. O. F. 

MILLER CRAYNE, farmer, Lippincott, Penn., who was liorn 
in Morgan Township April 22, 1817, is a son of Samuel and Mary 
Crayne {^nee LIuss). His mother was a native of Maryland, and his 
father was born in Greene County, Penn., where they were married 
and spent the remainder of their lives. Mr. Samuel Crayne de- 
parted this life October 27, 1853, and his wife June 14, 18()5. They 
were the parents of ten children, eiglit living. Miller is the third, 
and was united in the holy bonds of matrimony May 14, 1840, with 
Miss Lucinda Bell. Mrs. Crayne was born in Gree.e County Jan- 
uary 18, 1821. She is a daughter of John and Ann (Cox) Bell, also 
natives of this county, where they departed tiiis life — Mrs. Bell in 
1871, and Mr. Bell in 1880. Mr. and Mrs. Crayne are the parents 



784 histotjY of greene county. 

of four children, two of whom are living — Lonisa, wife of Dr. Silveus 
Smith; and John B., who mai'ried Martha A. Lippencott. Elmey 
and an infant are deceased. Mr. Crayne was raised on a farm, and 
has been an industrious tiller of the soil all his life. He owns eighty 
acres of improved land where he and family live. Mr. and Mrs. 
Crayne are consistent members of the Baptist Church. 

STEPHEN CEAYJStE, farmer, Jefferson, Penn., is one of the 
pioneer farmers of Greene County, and was born in Washington, 
Township, January 4, 181B. He is a son of Samuel and Mary (Huss) 
Crayne, the oldest of their ten children. The subject of our sketch 
was united in the holy bonds of matrimohy, March 18, 1834, with 
Miss Mary Bell, who was born in Morgan Township, May 26, 181G. 
Her parents were Isaac and Elizabeth (Herrod) Bell, natives of 
Greene County, where they remained until their death. Mr. and 
Mrs. Crayne are the parents of six children, four of whom are living — 
Isaac B., Eachel, wife of James Fulton; David, Anna M., wife of 
George Hughes, and Caroline and Martha, deceased. Mr. Crayne 
■was reared on a farm. He is one of the best known and most in- 
dustrious farmers in the township, and owns a good farm of 157 
acres. Mr. and Mrs. Crayne are faithful members of the Baptist 
Church. 

DAVID CRAYNE, farmer, Waynesburg, Penn., was born in 
Morgan Township, February 2, 1818. His parents were Samuel and 
Mary (Huss) Crayne. The former was a native of Greene County, 
and the latter of Maryland. They were the parents of ten children — 
four boys and six girls— of whom eight are living. David is the 
fourth in the family, and was united in marriage, December 8, 1841, 
with Caroline Harry. Mrs. Crayne was born in Morgan Township, 
March 8, 1825. Her parents, Jacob and Catharine (Buskirk) Harry, 
were natives of eastern Pennsylvania. They were married in Greene 
County, where they remained until their death. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Crayne have been born eight children, si.x of whom ai'e living — 
Samuel, Jacob, Emily A., Thomas, Stephen and Joseph. The de- 
ceased were Martha and Mary C. Mr. Crayne was reared on a farm, 
and has been successful as a farmer and stock-dealer through life. 
Fie (jwns 276 acres of land where he and family reside. Mr. and 
Mrs. Crayne are members of the Methodist Protestant Church. He 
also belongs to the I. O. O. F. 

SAMUEL FULTON, farmer, P. O. Castile, was born January 
10, 1818, on the farm where he and family reside in Morgan Town- 
ship. John Fulton, his father, was a native of Virginia, and his 
mother, Isabella (Barr) Fulton, was born in Ireland. They were 
married in Washington County, Penn., afterwards settling in Greene 
County, on the farm now owned by Samuel, where they remained 
through life. Only two of their nine children are living. In 1836 



HISTORY OF GREENE CQUNTV. 785 

Samuel Fultou inarried Harriet IIuss, a native of this county, and 
daughter of Jolin and Elizabeth (Eaton) lluss. Mrs. Harriet Fulton 
died in the same year in which she was married. In 1838 Mr. 
Fulton was again united in marriage, his second wife being Miss 
Louellen McClelland, who was born in Washington TownshiiD, this 
count}', in 1818. Her parents were John and Nancy (Montgomery) 
McClelland, deceased. Mr. Fulton is the father of eleven children, 
nine of whom are living — Eliza, Isabella, wife of Clark Denney; 
Cerry, Jatnes, Nancy, wife of James Tharp; Evan, Henrietta, wife of 
George Weaver; L. Herrod and William. The deceased are Albert 
and John. AVe take pleasure in mentioning Mr. Fulton among the 
pioneers of Morgan Township. He was raised on a farm, and after 
his second marriage moved to Ilichlaud County, Ohio. Ilemaining 
there about nine years, he returned to Morgan Township, Greene 
County, Penn., M'here he owns a nice farm of 215 acres. Mr. and 
Mi-s. Fulton are consistent members of Cumberland Presbyterian 
Churcli. 

JAMES GREENLEE, farmer, P. O. Castile, Penn., was born in 
Washington County, Penn., November 11, 1818, and is a son of 
Samuel and Nancy Greenlee {^nee Gantz). His parents were natives 
of Fayette County, Penn., but moved to Washington County, Penn., 
where they remained until death. On March 25, 1851, Mr. Green- 
lee married Catharine Bell, a native of Greene County, and daughter 
of Levi H. and Sarah Pell (^nee Fulton). By this marriage Mr. 
Greenlee is the father of live children, four living — James L., 
Margaret, wife of Abraham Burson; Samuel B. and William — and 
Levi, (deceased). Their mother died in 18(33. In 1865 Mr. Green- 
lee married Catharine Fulton, a native of Washington County, and 
daughter of Stephen and Puth Fulton (■nee Cary). James and Mrs. 
Catharine Greenlee are the parents of three children, two living — 
Lewis and John B. — and Stephen, (deceased). Mrs. Greenlee died in 
1882. On October 6, 1887, Mr. Greenlee married for his third wife, 
Eliza Armstrong (nee Gregg), daugliter of Alfred Gregg. Mr. 
Greenlee was reared on a farm, and has made farming his business 
through life. He owns 164 acres of land where and family reside. 
His present wife and both the. deceased were devoted members of 
the church. 

JAMES GPEENLEE, farmer, P. O. Clarksville, was born in 
Greene County, Penn., November 2, 1841. He is a son of John and 
Mary Greenlee (rte^ Balentine). His mother was a native of Scot- 
land. His father was born in Washington County, Penn., where 
they were married. They afterwards settled in Greene County, 
where Mr. Greenlee has since remained. Mrs. Greenlee died in 
Septend)er, 1855. Ilis second wife was Eliza J. Cain. Mr. James 
Greenlee was united in the holy bonds of matrimony, January 10, 



786 History op greene couwty. 

1871, with Mary E. Arnold, who was born in "Washington County, 
December 27, 1847. Mrs. Greenlee is a daughter of Michael and 
Harriet (Miller) Arnold, who reside in Clarksville. To Mr. and 
Mrs. James Greenlee have been born two children — Ida V., born 
March 6, 1875; and John C, who was born June 15, 1872, and died 
December 11 of the same year. Mr. Greenlee was reared on a farm, 
and has made farming his business through life. Pie owns sixty acres 
of land in Morgan Township, and valuable 'property in Clarksville. 
He and wife are consistent members of the Cumberland Presbyterian 
Church. 

HENRY GRIMES, farmer and stock-dealer, Lippincott, Penn., 
— Among the representative business men of Greene County, 
we take pleasure in giving the sketch of Henry Grimes, who was 
born in Centre Township, this county, September 4, 1820. He is 
a son of Peter and Mary (Sharon) Grimes. The former was born in 
New Jersey, February 17, 1789, and the latter near Baltimore, 
Maryland, February 5, 1786. They were married in Greene County 
where they remained through life. Four of their live children are 
now living. Henry Grimes was united in marriage, March 27, 1846, 
with Nancy McClelland, born in Washington Township, February 1, 
1823, and a daughter of John and Nancy McClelland (^nee Mont- 
gomery). To Mr. and Mrs. Grimes have been born live children, 
four living — Caleb, Carey, who married Lizzie S. Sellers; Samuel, 
who married Clara Adams; Mary E., wife of Samuel C. ITawkins, 
and Sarah J. (deceased). Mrs. Grimes departed this life September 
18, 1873, a consistent member of the Baptist Chiirch. Mr. Grimes 
was reared on a farm, and owns about 1,500 acres of land, 812 acres 
of which are in Greene County. When sixteen years of age, Mr. 
Grimes received $300, in gold from his father; and by means of in- 
dustry and carefnl management in his farming and stock-dealing has 
accumulated quite a handsome fortune, being considered one of the 
wealthiest men in Greene County. 

C. C. HARRY, farmer, Jefferson, Penn., was born September 
13, 1831, in the house where lie and his fainily live in Morgan 
Township. He is a son of Jacob and Catharine Harry (vieeVan Bus- 
kirk.) The former was a native of CUiester and the latter of North- 
ampton County, Penn. They were married in Greene County, 
where they departed this life — Mr. Harry in 1834, and Mrs. Harry 
December 1,- 1859. They were the parents of live children, of 
whom C. C. is the yoiingesl^ In 1857 Mr. Harry married Martha 
Iloulsworth, a native of Greene County, and daughter of Hugh C. 
and Isabella Iloulsworth, deceased. By this marriage Mr. Harry is 
the father of four children, two of whom are living — Catharine, wife 
of Andrew Rich, and Belle. Tlie deceased are Emma and James. 
Tiieir mother died March 4, 18(38. Mr. Harry afterwards married 



HISTORY OF GREENE COTTNTV. 787 

Elizabeth Bayard, October 11, 1877; she was born in Whitclcj- Town- 
ship, November 26, 1844, and is a daughter of John S. and Malinda 
Bayard {^lee Leonard). Tliey were natives of this comity, where they 
remained until Mrs. Bayard's death, March 26, 1888. Mr. Bayard 
is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Harry are tiie parents of two children 
— Charles C. and John B. Mr. Harry has been very successful in 
liis farming and stock-dealing, and owns 325 acres of excellent land. 
He is a members of tlie I. O. O. F. Mrs. Harry belongs to the 
.Presbyterian Church, of whicli the deceased wife was also a devoted 
member. 

WILLIAM HATFIELD, farmer, Morgan Township, Penn.,wa8 
born in Whiteley Township, this county, February 4, 1848 His 
parents, George W. and Mary (Richie) Ilatiield, are both living and 
reside in Whiteley Townshij). February 8, 1872, William Hatfield 
married Mary J. McClure, a native of Uunkard Township. Mrs. 
Hatfield was born September 2, 1843, and is a daughter of James 
and Susan (Brown) McClure. Mr. McClure died August 8, 1886; 
his widow is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Hatfield ai-e the parents of 
two children — Ida L., born March 9, 1873, and Sudie M., born July 
24, 1876. Mr. Hatfield was reared on a farm, and has been engaged 
in farming and stock-dealing through life. He owns about 168 
acres of land where he and liis family reside. Mr. Hatfield has been 
greatly prospered in his business, and is one of the leading citizens 
in his community. Mrs. Hatfield is a faithful member ofthe Baptist 
Church. 

JOHN C. HAWKINS, farmer, Zollarsville, Beun., was born 
in Greene County, Penn., December 15, 1825, in the house now oc- 
cupied by himself and family. He is a son of Ilichard and Cynthia 
Hawkins [nee Crawford). Ilis father was born in Maryland, and his 
mother in Fayette County, Penn. They were married in Wasliington 
County where they remained until 1814, at which time they moved 
to Greene County and remained until their death. Mrs. Hawkins 
departed this life in July 1845, and her husband February 6. 
1856. They were the parents of eleven children, four of whom are 
living. June 7, 1882, John C. Hawkins married Elizabeth McMur- 
ray, who was born in Washington County, December 5, 1840. She 
is a daughter of James and Catharine (Whitely) McMurray. Her 
father was a native of Ireland, and lier mother was born in Alle- 
gheny County, Penn., where they remained a few years, then moved 
to Washington County. Here Mrs. McMurray died November 26, 
1866, and Mr. McMurray, March 17, 1875. Mr. Hawkins has l)een 
engaged in farming and stock-dealing through life. His farm in 
Morgan Township contains about 289 acres of land in a high state of 
cultivation. Mr. and Mrs. Hawkins are consistent memliers of the 
IJaptist Church. 



i^S HISTORY Of GRBEiTfi COttNTY. 

R C. HAWKINS, farmer and stock-dealer, Jefferson, renti.j 
was born in Morgan Township, this county, November 14, 1814; 
He is a son of Richard and Cynthia (Crawford) Hawkins. The 
former was born in Maryland and the latter in Fayette County, Penn.- 
They were united in marriage in Washington Coiinty, where they 
remained a few yeai-s then moved to Greene County and spent the , 
rest of their lives. Mrs. Cynthia Hawkins departed this life in July 
1845, and Mr. Hawkins in February, 1856. The subject of this 
sketch was united in marriage November 25, 1841, with Emeline-' 
Wise, who was born in Washington County, November 28, 1820. 
Her parents were Frederick and Elizabeth (Burson) Wise, native of 
Washington and Grreene counties, respectively. They were married 
in Greene County, remained a short time, then moved to Washing- 
ton County where Mr. Wise died in 1877, and Mrs. Wise in 1881. 
Mr. and Mrs. Hawkins are the parents of nine children, of whom 
seven are now living: Joseph W., Maggie V., wife of William C. 
Bailey, Thomas, Clara E., wife of William Bodley; William B., 
Tressa, wife of Charles T. Harvey, and Samuel C. The deceased 
are Frederick W. and James F. Mr. Hawkins was reared on a farm 
and has been engaged in farming and stock-dealing all his life. He 
owns the fine farm of 280 acres where he and his family reside. Mr. 
and Mrs. Hawkins are faithful members of the Cumberland Presby- 
terian Church. 

J. F. HAWKINS, deceased, was born in Morgan Township, 
Greene County, Pennsylvania, April 13, 1845, and died May 1, 
1888. He was a son of Richard C. and Emeline (Wise) Hawkins. 
His father is a native of this county, and his mother of Washing- 
ton County, Penn., where they were married. They subsequently 
removed to Morgan Township, Greene County, whei-e they still re- 
side. J. F. is the third of their large family, and was united in 
marriage, March 3, 1870, with Anna E. Greenlee. Mrs. Hawkins 
was born in Morgan Township, September 10, 1846. She is a 
daughter of Jacob and Mary (Spencer) Greenlee, natives of Wash- 
ington and Greene counties, respectively. They were married in 
Greene County, where they remained until Mr. Greenlee's death, 
August 20, 1887; his widow survives him. To Mr. and Mrs. Haw- 
kins were born seven children, five of whom ai'e living — Walter R., 
F. Bernice, Wilber J., Emma M. and Edna B. Warren K. and an 
infant are deceased. Mr. Hawkins was reared on a farm. Like his 
ancestors, he made farming and stock-dealing the busines of his life, 
owning at the time of his death 200 acres of well improved land 
where his family now i-eside. Mrs. Hawkins and W. R. are con- 
sistent members of the Baptist Church. 

THOMAS J. HOLDER, farmer, P. O. Clarksville, was born in 
Greene County, Penn., July 27, 1827. He is a son of Abraliam and 



IIISTOUT OK GREENE COUNTY. 789 

Jane (Oreej Holder. The former was bora in Virginia and the latter 
in Greene County, Pennsylvania, wiiere tiiey settled after marriage 
and remained until their death. Mr. Abraham Holder died Jan- 
uary 9, 1846, and his wife in 186(5. They were the^ parents of seven 
children, four of whom are living. In 1851 Thomas J. Holder mar- 
ried Malinda Cox, who was Ijorn in Washington County, Penii., in 
1831. Her 2)arents, Andrew and Margaret (Hupp) Cox, were natives 
of Washington County, where they remained until the death of Mr. 
Cox. His widow is still living. To Mr. and Mrs. Holder have been 
born twelve children — Lebenas P., Margaret J., Calvin, Josephus, 
Perraelia, Emma, L. Dora, Lizzie, Elmer, Laura, Charlie and Will- 
iam. Although a farmer by occupation, Mr. Holder is also quite 
a genius in his way, and can accomplisli almost any kind of work 
he undertakes. He owns 131 acres of land, on which are good 
substantial buildings. He has iilled the office of auditor of his town- 
ship, has served as school directors, and is also a member of the 
Masonic fraternity. 

O. C. HUKNEIi, farmer, Clarksville, Penn., was born in Fayette 
County, Penn., March 15, 1839. He is a son of Hiram and Malinda 
(Reynolds) Horner, the former a native of Fayette County, and the 
latter of Greene. They were manied in this county, but made their 
home in Fayette until Mr. Horner's death, which occurred in No- 
vember, 1874. His widow is still living and resides on the old home 
farm. They were the parents of five chihJren, of whom O. C. is the 
oldest living. He was united in marriage, October 15, 1864, with 
Amy Cox, born in Jefferson Township, January 2, 1843. Her pai- 
ents, Christopher and Mary (Hush) Cox, were natives of this county, 
where they were married and remained through life. Mrs. Cox died 
in 1857, and her husband in 1861. Of their ten children, three are 
now living. Mr. and Mrs. Hoi'ner are the parents of eight children 
— James L., Sarah F., Anna M., Cora B., Hiram C, Emma A., 
William and Oliver G. Mr. Horner was reared on a farm, and 
mak^s a business of farming and stock-raising. Fie owns 170 acres 
of land where he and family reside. Mrs. Horner is a devoted 
member of the Disciple Church. 

HENRY KEYS, farmer, P. O. Castile, was l)orn in Morgan 
Township, Greene County, Penn., June 10, 1837. His parents were 
David and Mary Keys {^nee McGinnis). The former was a native of 
Washington County, and the latter of Greene County. After mar- 
riage they settled in Washington County and remained a few years, 
afterwards removing to Morgan Township, Greene County, where 
they spent the remainder of their lives. David Keys departed this 
life in August, 1872, and his widow in August, 1884. • They were the 
parents of ten children, six of whom are living. On January 14, 
1875, Henry Keys was united in marriage with Amelia Litzenburg, 



790 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

who was born in Morgan Township JS^ovember 14, 1854. Mr. and 
Mrs. Keys have an interesting family of children — John R., 
Mary 0., Wesley H., Priscilla R. and George W. Mr. Keys devotes 
his time principally to farming, and owns 104 acres of fine land 
where he and family now reside. He enlisted in behalf of his coun- 
try's cause, in Company F, One Hundred and Fourth Illinois, and 
served one year. Mr. and Mrs. Keys are faithful members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. 

SAMUEL LEWIS, farmer, Castile, Penn., was born on the farm 
where he and family reside in Morgan Township, this county. His 
parents were John and Hannah (Arnold) Lewis, who sjjent all their 
lives on the farm now occupied by their son. Seven of their nine 
children survive them. In 1854 Samuel married Martha Blackledge 
(7iee Sharpnack). Her parents were natives of Greene County. Her 
father was born October 15, 1797, and her mother February 14, 1801. 
After marriage they settled in JeflFerson Township and remained until 
their death. Mr. Blackledge died November 5, 1870, and his widow 
April 11, 1876. To. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis have been born six chil- 
dren, three living — Stiers, Margaret and Levi. The deceased are — 
Mary M., John and Ellsworth. Their mother departed this life in 
1863. Mr. Lewis is a farmer by occupation, and owns 325 acres of 
excellent land. In addition to the care of his land, he has also de- 
voted considerable time to the raising of stock, and is one of the 
most prosperous citizens of his township. 

SAMUEL MONTGOMERY, farmer, F. 0. Lippincott, Penn., 
is a descendant of one of the old families of Greene County, and was 
born in Morgan Township, July 17, 1835. He is a son of Hugh and 
Priscilla (Hoge) Montgomery. His father was a native of Maryland 
and when but a child came withhis parents to Greene County, Penn., 
where they were united in marriage. They remained in this county 
until Mr. Montgomery's death, which occurred in 1882. His widow 
survives him. Mr. Samuel Montgomery was twice married, his first 
wife being Mary Stentz, a native of Fayette County, and daughter of 
Thomas Stentz. By this marriage there are two children — Charles, 
and Anna, Avho is the wife of Nelson Goslin. Mrs. Montgomery died 
September 28, 1869. After her death, March 5, 1870, Mr. Mont- 
gomery married Cyrene Davis (nee Dales), who was born in Wash- 
ington County January 16, 1837. They are the parents of five 
children — Mary E., Priscilla, Lizzie, Hugh and John. Mr. Mont- 
gomery was raised on a farm and received many instructions from 
his father in the art of husbandry. He owns 130 acres of land 
where he and family reside. He filled the office of auditor of the 
county one term. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity. Mrs. 
Montgomery belongs to the Baptist Church, of which the deceased 
wife was also a devoted member. 



HISTORY OK OREENE COtTNTY. 791 

THOMAS ir. MONTGOMERY, farmer and stock-dealer, Lij)- 
pincott, Peun., was born in Morgan Townsliip January 24, 184:7, 
and is a descendant of one of the pioneer families of Greene County. 
Ilis fatiicr and mother were Hugh and Priscilla (Hoge) Montgom- 
ery. The former was born in Maryland and the latter in Greene 
County, I'enn., where they were united in marriage and remained 
until the father's death, June 14, 1882. His widow survives him. 
Thomas 11. Montgomery was united in marriage, October 17, 1878, 
with Virginia E. Gordon, who was born in Franklin Township, April 
14, 1853. Mrs. Montgomery is a daughter of IJazil and Maria 
finghram) Gordon, natives and residents of this county. Mr. and 
Mrs. Montgomery are the parents of four children — Walter C, born 
September 5, 187'J; Hernice L., born May 14, 1881; Florence M., 
born May 5, 1883; and Pauline E., born August 23, 1886. Mr. 
Montgomery has always lived on a farm, and owns 185 acres of good 
land where he and family reside. He is a member of the Masonic 
fraternity, and is tilling the office of justice of the peace in his town- 
ship. He is a Baptist, and has held the office of deacon since 1879, 
and his wife is a member of the Methodist Protestant Church. Pre- 
vious to marriage he was a teacher in tlie public scliools. 

SAMUEL MURPiAY, farmer, P. O. Jefferson, Penn., was born 
in Fayette County, Penn., January 28, 1822. His father, Jacob 
Murray, was also a native of Fayette County; and his mother, whose 
maiden name was Susannah Aukerraan, was born in Westmoreland 
County, where they were married. After marriage they settled in 
Fayette County and remained until their death — Mr. Murray dying 
in 1852, and his widow in 1880. They had twelve children, eleven of 
whom are living. On August 29, 1843, Samuel Murray married 
Agnes Fulkerth, who was born in Westmoreland County, Penn., Oc- 
tober 81, 1821. Her parents were Joseph and Esther Fulkerth (jiee 
Stauft'er), deceased. Mr. Murray and wife are the parents of eleven 
children, seven living — Cyrus, David, Anna, Jennie, Elias A. F., 
Joseph II. and Isaac G. — and Susannah, Rachel, Jacob and an infant, 
deceased. Mr. Murray was raised on a farm, and has devoted his 
time principally to agricultural pursuits.. He owns ninety acres of 
land where he and family reside. He and wife are faithful members 
of the Brethren Church. 

ABLE McCULLOLGH, retired merchant, Clarksville, Penn., 
was born in Washington County, Penn., October 18, 1845. He is a 
son of Aaron and Naomi McCullough («e<3 Turner). His father was 
also a native of Washington County, and his mother was born in 
Greene County. After their marriage they settled in Washington 
County and remained until their death. They were the parents of 
four childern, two living — William and Able, the subject of our 
sketch. He was united in the holy bonds of matrimony, September 



792 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

17, 1871, witli Leah Craig (iiee Horn), born in Washington Connty, 
Ai)ril 29, 1841. She is a daughter of John and Mary Horn (^lee 
Shape), residents of Washington County until their death. To Mr. 
and Mrs. McCnllough have been born three children — Olin W., 
Martha E. and Naomi L. Mrs. McCnllough, by her first marriage, 
is the mother of one child — Mary PI., wife of Samuel Teagarden. 
Mr. McCuUough has made farming and merchandising his business 
through life. He and wife are faithful members of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. 

J. C. POLLOCK, farmer, was born in Amwell Township, Wash- 
ington County, Fenn., September 5, 1824. His parents were Tiiornas 
and Cynthia (Carter) Pollock. The former was a native of Waynes- 
burg, and the latter of Washington County, where they were married 
and remained until 1835. They then moved to Greene County, 
where Mr. Pollock died January 3, 1876. He served as commissioner 
of the county three years., representative of the county two terms, in 
1841 and 1842, and associate judge one term. He and wife were 
the parents of eleven children, ten of whom are living — nine in this 
county. On November 8, 1854, 'J. C. Pollock was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Malissa Ailes, born in Washington County, Penn., 
January 27 1833. She is a daughter of Stephen and Mary (Nixon) 
Ailes, the former a native of Washington County, and the latter of 
Ireland. To Mr. and Mrs. Pollock have been born six children, three 
living — James M., William P., David L. — and Mary M., Stephen A. 
and an infant, deceased. Mr. Pollock was raised on a farm, and 
when twenty-one years of age he began merchandising with his 
father, in which he continued for three years. He afterwards served 
as a clerk four years, then engaged in purchasing stock and grain for 
a distillery. He worked in this capacity for six years, then engaged 
in farming and milling. He owns fifty acres of land and a half in- 
terest in a large flouring-mill. He belongs to the Masonic order, 
and he and wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian 
Church. 

WILLIAM PYLE, hotel-keeper, Clarksville, Penn., was born in 
Washington County, Pennsylvania, November 10, 1838. He is a 
son of Joseph and Albenah (Thornburg) Pyle, natives of Pennsyl- 
vania. His parents were married in Washington County, where they 
remained a number of years and then lived in Morgan Township, 
Greene County, for a short time. In 1858 they returned to Wash- 
ington County and remained until their death. Mrs. Joseph Pyle 
departed this life in 1861. Her husband afterwards married Catha- 
rine Kenann, who is still living. Mr. Pyle died in 1873. William 
is the only one of the family in this county. In 1859 he married 
Sarah Yonker, who was born in Washington County, August 10, 
1842. Mrs. Pyle is a daughter of Noah and Elizabeth Yonker [nee 



HISTOUY OF GHEENE COUNTY. 7<J3 

Wiittj. Her father was Ijorn in Pennsylvania, and lier mother in 
Maryland. They were married in AV^ashington County, Penn., and 
remained there until Mr. Yonker's death January 9, 1853. His 
widow remained in Washington County until 1859, at which time 
she came to Greene County and lived with her daughter, Mrs. Wil- 
liam Pyle, until her death, which occurred December 25, 1872, while 
she was on a visit to Pittsburg, Penn. William Pyle and wife are 
the parents of eight children — Joseph, Samuel, Frank, Lizzie, Jesse, 
Emma and William T., living; and Lucy, deceased. Mr. Pyle was 
reared on a farm, and lias devoted almost all his life to farming. lie 
owns property in Clarksville, where he has been proprietor of a hotel 
for the past two years. He and Mrs. Pyle are faithful members of 
the Christian Church. 

W. fl. F. RANDOLPH, farmer, Lippincott, Penn., was born 
in Jefferson Township, this county, July 14, 1836. His parents 
Abraham F. and Emily A. (Adarason) liandolpli, were natives and 
residents of Greene County until their death. His father died De- 
cember 8, 1866, and Mrs. liandolpli, March 9, 1885. They were 
the parents of three children, two living — J. A. F. and W. H. F. — 
and Sarah L., deceased. The subject of this sketch was united in 
marriage, November 25, 1855, with Mary A. Heaton, who was born 
Morgan Township, January 28 1834, and died April 30, 1888. She 
was a daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Woods) Heaton, the second 
of their six children, three of whom are now living. Mr. Heaton 
was born in Greene County, and Mrs. Heaton in New Jersey. They 
were inarried in Greene County, Penn., where they remained until 
their death. Mr. Heaton died August 21, 1856, and his wife Janu- 
ary 26, 1877. To Mr. and Mrs. Randolpli was born one daughter — 
Laura L., October 7, 1856. Mr. liandolpli was reared on a farm and 
is a farmer and stock-grower by occupation. He owns a well im- 
proved farm of seventy-five acres where he now resides. The family 
belong to the Baptist Church, of which his deceased wife was also a 
devoted member. 

W. D. ROGERS, physician, Jefferson Penn., was born near 
Beallsville, Washington County, Penn., April 5, 1816. His parents, 
Philip and Mary (Johns) Rogers, who were natives of Maryland, 
came to Washington County, Pennsylvania, about the year 1806, and 
remained there the rest of their lives. Mrs. Rogers died in 1838. 
Her husband subsequently married Mary Borom, who departed this 
life in 1869. Mr. Rogers died in 1870. He was the father of seven 
children, four of whom are living. Dr. Rogers is the only one 
of the family in Greene County.' He was united in marriage, Janu- 
ary 13, 1847, with Charlotte H. Black. Mrs. Rogers was born in 
Morgan Township, this county, November 26, 1820, and is a devoted 
member of the Presbyterian Church. Her parents were Honarale 



794 HISTORY OP GKEENE COUNTY. 

(ind Oliarlotte (lleatou) Black, who were among the hrst settlers of 
the county. Dr. and Mrs. Rogers are the parents of five children 
— Ellen D., wife of H. A. Rnssell, of Iowa; William B., who married 
Cora L. Rogers; John A., Mary L. and Nerval P. The Doctor ac- 
(jiiired his education in the common schools of his county and in the 
academy at Brownsville, JPenn. In 1842 he began reading medicine 
with W. L. Wilson, M. D., of Beallsville, Penn. In 1835 he gradu 
ated from the Medical University of Marlyand, at Baltimore. Since 
that time he has been engaged in the practice of his profession, most 
of which has been in Greene County, where he and family have re- 
sided for many years, and where he owns a fine farm of abont one 
hundred and ninety-five acres. During the late Rebellion, Dr. Rogers 
was examining surgeon of the first drafted men from this county, 
and afterwards appointed examining surgeon for pensioned soldiers. 
He was a delegate to the National Convention of 1872, at Philadel- 
phia, Penn., which nominated Grant and Wilson for President and 
Vice-President of the United States. 

JOHN ROSE, farmer, Lippincott, Penn., was born in Cumber- 
land Township, this county, August 29, 1832, and is a son of David 
and Marv (Hewitt) Rose. His mother was a native of Washington 
County, "and his father of Greene County, where they were married 
and remained until their death. After his wife's death, in 1874, Mr. 
Rose married Eliza Greenlee, who is still living. Mr. Rose died May 
14, 1879. He was the father of thirteen children, eleven of whom 
are living. John, who was their second child, was united in marriage, 
August 27, 1855, with Priscilla A. Litzenburg. Mrs. Rose was born 
in Washington County, Penn., January 20, 1886. Her parents, 
William and Charlotte (Rush) Litzenburg, were natives of Greene 
County, where they resided a short time, then moved to Washington 
County and remained until their death. Mr. and Mrs. Rose had 
one child, W. H., born October 6, 1857, and died September 16, 
1858. Mr. Rose is a farmer and owns one hundred and sixteen acres 
of fine land. He and wife are zealous members of the Cumberland 
Presbyterian Church. 

JACOB RUSH, farmer, Jefferson, Penn., was born January 27, 
1828, on his present farm in Morgan Township, this county. His 
father, Matthias Rush, was also born on the same farm now owned 
by Jacob and his mother, Sarah (lams) Rush, who was a native of 
St. Charles County, Maryland. They were married in Greene County, 
Penn., and resided their until their death. Mr. Rush died in 1863, 
and his widow in 1874. They were the parents of two children — Ja- 
cob, and William, who married Martha Hughes, and resides in 
Clarksville, Penn. Jacob Rush was united in marriage, November 
11, 1846, with Elizabeth Cox, born in Morgan Township, May 13, 
1'824. Her parents were William and Abigail (Rush) Cox, natives 



IIISTOliT OF GREENE COUNTY. 7!J5 

of (Ti'C'cue County, and residents therein until their death. Tu My. 
and Mrs. Rush have been born four cliikh'en, viz: Sarah A., wife of 
Stephen M. Hill; Isabella, wife of A. C. Myers; Micca and Benjamin 
F., who married Abigail Cox, now deceased. Mr. Hush was reared 
on a farm, and has been very successful in farming and stock dealing 
throughout his life, llis home farm contains 200 acres of valuable 
land. Mrs. Rush at the age of sixteen became a member of the 
Christian Church, to which she was very devoted until her death, 
December 17, 1887. 

JAMES RUSH, deceased, was born in Virginia, in 1770, and came 
with his parents to Clarksville, I'enn., when he was only four years of 
age. lie remained there until Ids death in 1842. He married Pris- 
cilla Case, who was a native of Greene County, and departed this 
life in 1825. They were the parents of nine children, eight daughters 
and one son. Only two of these are living — Priscilla and Sarah A., 
widow of Fletcher Allman, who was born near Clarksville in 1812. 
Mr. and Mrs. Allman were the parents of seven children. Mr. All- 
man departed this life February 10, 1877. James Rush was a farmer 
during his lifetime, and at one time owned 1,300 acres of land, 
of which the Allman heirs own 135 acres. Miss Priscilla Rush 
lives with her nephew Fletcher Allman, in Clarksville, Penn., where 
she owns nice property. She comes of a highly respected family, 
and is greatlv esteemed by a wide circle of friends. 

W. B. STEWART, farmer, Clarksville, Penn., was born in Mills- 
boro,WashingtonCounty, Penn., June 26, 1818. His parents, Alexan- 
der and Elizabeth (Metzlar) Stewart, were natives of Franklin County, 
Penn., where they were married. They made their home in Fulton 
County until 1813, tlien moved to Washington County, and in 1828 
came to Greene County, where tliey remained until their death. Mrs. 
Stewart died in 1858, and her husband in 18(32. They were the parents 
of eight children, of whom onh' three are living, viz.: Eliza L., widow 
of Francis Drake; Melvina, widow of H. P. Hurst; and W. B., the 
subject of this sketch. He was united in marriage, October 7, 1849, 
with Elizabeth Wise, who was born in Washington County, May 28, 
1828. Her parents, Joseph and Parmelia (Barnard) AYise, were na- 
tives of AVashington and residents their until their death. Mrs. AVise 
died in 1852. Mr. Wise subsequently married Julia Welch, who 
survives him. Mr. AVise died in 1875. Mr. and Mrs. Stewart are 
the parents of seven children, five living — Joseph AV., Elizabeth, wife 
of AVilliam Orr; Emma, wifeof AVilliam Iloge; AVilliam B., Jr. and 
John C. — and Alexander and Francis, deceased. Mr. Stewart is a 
tanner by trade, which he followed until twenty-tive years of age. 
After that his time was variously employed until 1851, when he 
turned his attention to farming, in which he has successfully engaged 
ever since. He owns 144 acres of land where he and family reside. 



I 



796 HISTOKY OF GUKKNE COUNTY. 

lie ]ias belonged to the Masonic fraternity for about twenty years, 
and he and his wife are devoted members of the Baptist Church. 

EDWAED VANKIRK, Se., retired farmer, Jefferson, Penn., 
was born in Wasliington County, Penn., October 14, 1813, and is a 
son of Arthur and Elizabeth (Parkinson) Yankirk. His father was 
a native of New Jersey, and his mother was born in Pennsylvania, 
where they were married, settling in Washington County. They re- 
mained there until 1835, lived in Greene County seven years, then 
returned to Washington County, where they remained until Mrs. 
Yankirk's death in 1847. Mr. Yankirk died in 1865. They were 
the parents of eight children, tliree of whom are living — Edward, 
Kalph and William. Edward was united in marriage, May 21, 1885, 
with Jane E. Blake, who was a native of Pennsylvania, and daughter 
of Samuel and Elizabeth (Carr) Blake. By this marriage Mr. Yan- 
kirk is the father of six children, only two of whom are living — 
Elizabeth, widow of W. H. Kline; and Emma, wife of A. J. Barr. 
The deceased are Samuel, William, George and Anna J., who was 
the wife of Hugh Montgomery, one of the substantial citizens of 
Morgan Township. -Mrs. Yankirk departed this life Jnly 27, 1852, 
a devoted member of the Christian Chnrch. After her death, De- 
cember 13, 1853, Mr. Yanki'rk married Sarah A. Gantz, who was 
born in Washington County, Penn., March 20, 1829. llev parents 
were John and- Christina Gantz, deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Yankirk 
are the parents of eight children, seven living — David, Edward, 
Thomas, Clark, Lucy, James, Bertha, — and John F., deceased. Mr. 
Yankirk was raised on a farm and met with great success as a farmer 
during his more active life. He owns 160 acres of land in this 
county, where he and family reside. Mr. and Mrs. Yankii-k belong ' 
to the Baptist Church. 

W. H. YIEGIN, farmer, Clarksville, Penn., was born in Mills- 
boro, Washington County, Penn., November, 17, 1840. He is a son 
of Jesse and Ophillipphia (Huntsberry) Yirgin, the former a native 
of Faj-ette County, Pennsylvania, and the latter of Maryland. After 
marriage his parents settled in Greene Coiinty, Penn,, subsequently 
removing to Millsboro, where they remained until Mrs. Yirgin's 
death in 1842. Her husband afterwards married Clarinda PIupp, 
who is still living. Mr. Yirgin died in 1880. He was the father 
of five children, of whom the subject of this sketch is the second. 
He was united in marriage, December 13, 1864, with Mary A. An- 
derson, born in Belmont County, Ohio, September 4, 1837. She is 
a daughter of John E. and Maria (Perry) Anderson, the former a na- 
tive of Greene County, Penn., and the latter of Guernsey County, 
Ohio. After marriage, Mrs. Yirgin's parents settled in Belmont 
County, Ohio, and remained until Mrs. Anderson's death, in 1855. 
Mr. Anderson afterwards married Mary Wildman, and they reside 



IIISTOUY OF GliEENK COUNTY. 7'J7 

in Harrison County, Ohio. To IM^r. and Mrs. Virgin have l)ecn born 
fonr children — Elizabeth II., Lena M., Hannah Y. and Jesse A. 
Mr. Virgin has aKways lived on a farm, and has made farming the 
principal occnpation of his life. He owns nice property in Clarks- 
ville. He is tilling the office of jury commissioner of the county, 
and has served as assessor and constable of his township. He enlisted 
in tlie service of his country, in Company D, Eighty-tilth Pennsyl- 
vania Volunteers, November 6, 1861, and served over three years, 
passing through a number of serious engagements. Mr. Virgin 
is a member of the G. A. R. Post, No. 265. Mrs. Virgin is a 
fiiithfnl member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. 

AMOS WALTON, retired merchant, P. O. Clarksville, was born 
in Washington County, Penn., October 12, 1807. He is a son of 
John and Sarah (Paul) Walton, who were also natives of Washington 
County, and residents therein until their death. Mr. John Walton 
died Octol)er6, 1834. His widow was afterwards united in marriage 
with Levi Burson,who died in 1863. Mrs. Burson departed this life 
in 1874. On March 11, 1830, Amos Walton married Sarah A. 
Stephenson, who was born in Clarksville in 1813. She is a daughter 
of Asa and Priscilla (Gregg) Stephenson. To Mr. and Mrs. Walton 
were born ten children, "tive of whom are living — Jesse, Louisa, 
widow of B. F. Swan; Priscilla, wife of Dr. Jam^es A. Sargent; 
Ellis B. and Isaac N. The deceased are John M., Joseph R., Amos 
G., Morgan M. and an infant. Though raised on a farm, Mr. Walton 
began merchandising when starting out in life for himself, and has 
continued in the business for fifty years. He owns 300 acres of land, 
and good property in Clarksville. Mr. Walton is an elder in the 
Cumberland Presbyterian Church, of which he has been a faithful 
member for fortv-four years. Jlrs. AValton died May 14, 1875. 

HENRY WATSON, farmer, Lippincott, Penn., was born in 
West Bethlehem Township, Washington County, July 28, 1845. He 
is a son of John and Mary A. (Almost) Watson. His father was a 
native of Ireland. His mother was born in Greene County, Penn., 
where they were married. They afterwards removed to Washington 
County, and remained until their death. He died September 3, 1856, 
and she JViay 27, 1869. September 6, 1866, Henry Watson was 
united in marriage with Mary A. Weaver, who was born in Wash- 
ington County, October 17, 1846. She is a daughter of Jacob and 
Sarah (Register) Weaver, residents of Morgan Township. To Mr. 
and M'rs. Watson have been born eight children — Jacob W., William 
11. , Charles F., Clara S., John F., Ida B., Lucy A. and Mary _E. 
Mr. Watson was reared on a farm, and owns ninety-six acres of tine 
land where he and family live. He and wife are prominent members 
of the Baptist Church. 



798 HISTORY OF greene county. 



MORRIS TOWNSHIP. 

HUGH AULD, farmer and stock-grower, Nineveli, Penu., was 
born in Morris Township, Greene County, Penn., October 1, 1824. 
His parents, Hugh and Sarah (Howard) Auld, were natives of Ire- 
hmd, and came to Greene County, Penn., in 1815. His father, who 
was a farmer, reared a family of six children, of whom Plugli js the 
youngest. He was reared in MoitIs Township, and has met with 
success in his chosen occupation. lie is the owner of a farm of 283 
acres of well-improved land where he now resides. In 1851 Mr. 
Auld married Mary J. Auld, and they are the parents of seven chil- 
dren—Sadie E., Will M., Howard li., Mattie J., Mary M., Tom 
B. and Ida B. Mr. Auld is a Democrat in politics, and in religion 
a Presbyterian, of which church his wife is also a devoted member. 

JASPER BANE, deceased, w^as born in Amity, Washington 
County, Penn., October 27, 1827, and died in Greene County in 
1866. Mr. Bane was a son of Jacob Bane, the ninth in his family 
of twelve children. He was reared on the home farm in Washington 
County, and was a successful farmer through life, owning at the time 
of his death 111 acres of well-improved land. In 1855 Mr. Bane 
married Jane, daughter of George Lightner. Mrs. Bane's ancestors 
were among the early settlers and farmers of Greene County. She 
is a sister of Henry Lightner, a prominent farmer of Morris Town- 
ship. Mr. and Mrs. Bane are the parents of five children — Sarah J., 
wife of Otho lams; George, who is a farmer by occupation and has 
charge of the home farm; Mary, wife of D. W. Hopkins; Samuel 
and Frank. George was born in Morris Township, October 28, 1857, 
and received his education in the district school. In politics Mr. 
Bane was a Republican, and in religion a Cumberland Pi-esbyterian, 
of which church Mrs. Bane is also a zealous member. 

CYRUS BRADBURY, farmer and stock-grower, was born in 
Mercer County, Penn., July 24, 1830. He is a son of John and 
Jahe (Tuttle) Bradbury, natives of New Jersey, and of English de- 
scent. In early life his father was a tanner, afterwards a farmer. 
He came from Washington County to Greene in 1838, and settled 
on the farm where Cyrus resides. He died at the advanced age of 
eighty-four years. His wife is eighty-four years of age, and makes 
her home with Cyrus, the only one of the three children, living. He 
grew to manhood on the farm, receiving his edixcation in the district 
schools. He has made a success of his farming, and owns 132 acres 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 799 

of well-improved land. In 1861 he married Nancy, daughter of 
Thomas and Rebecca (Hedge) Moore, who were natives of this county 
and of English descent. Mr. and Mrs. Bradbury have live children 
— Mary Ann, Emma B., wife of John Penn; Ella R., wife of George 
B. lams; Lizzie J., wife of Thomas A. Welsh, and Dora B. They 
have also an adopted child — William Washington. Mr. Bradbury is 
a Democrat in politics. He and wife are members of the Cumber- 
land Presbyterian Church, in which he is one of the trustees. 

ENOCH BROOKS, farmer and stock-grower, Swart's, Penn., 
was born in Morris Township, this county, November 24, 1837, and 
is a son of Enoch and Mary (Russell) Brooks. His father, who was 
a farmer, spent his whole life in this county, and died in 1838. His 
family consisted of seven children, all of whom grew to maturity. 
Enoch is the youngest, was reared on the farm and attended the com- 
mon school. He made choice of farming as his occupation, in which 
he has engaged through life. He has made his own way in the 
world, and is the owner of a well-improved farm containing 137 
acres. He was united in marriage, April 3, 18G9, with Elizabeth M. 
Rush, and they are the parents of seven children — Mary Laura, 
George R., Anna Bell, Maud L., Perry M., AYilliam H. and Robert 
E. Mr. Brooks is a Democrat, and a member of the I. O. O. F. In 
1801 he eidisted in Company D, Eighty-fifth Pennsylvania Volunteer 
Infantry. He was taken prisoner and sent to Richmond, Va., wliere 
he remained for five weeks. He also passed through many of the 
principal battles and engagements. Mr. and Mrs. Brooks are promi- 
nent members of the Ba]itist Chnrch. 

STEPHEN C. CARY, farmer and stock-grower. Swarfs, Penn., 
was born in Morris Township, January 27, 1846. His parents were 
Abel and Delilah (Mitchell) Gary, natives of this county and of Eng- 
lish origin. His ancestors came among the early settlers from New 
Jersey to Greene County. They were usually fanners, of whom his 
father was one of the most successful. He died in 1875. Stephen 
was the ninth in a family of eleven children, six of whom reached 
maturity. Mr. Gary was reared on a farm, attended the common- 
schools, and has followed the occupation of his father. He has met 
with great success in his business, being the owner of a line farm of 
443 acres well stocked and improved. His success in life has been 
due largely to his own efforts. He was united in marriage April 27, 
1872, witli Miss Harriet, daughter of Harrison and Elizabeth (Long- 
don) Conger. Mrs. Gary was born in AYashington County, and is of 
English and Irish descent. Mr. and Mrs. Gary are the parents of 
six children — William H., Lizzie B., Lawrence G., James W., Fannie 
D. and Ilattie M. In politics Mr. Gary is Republican. His wife is 
a devoted ineml)L'r of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. 



800 HISTORY OF GREEl*Ti: OOtfKTt. 

JOHN M. CONKLIN, fanner and stock-grower, Sycamore, Peiiii., 
was boru in Washington County, Penn., October 17, 1830, and is a 
son of Isaac and Lydia (Sayers) Conklin, also natives of Washington 
Conntj. His father, who was a farmer by occupation, had a family 
of seven sons and four daughters, all living but one. John was 
reared on the farm in Washington County, attended the common- 
schools, and learned the painter's trade. He worked for several years 
at Claysville, Penn., where he took contracts for painting, and was 
one ot the few who made a iinancial success of the business. Through 
his energy, good management and careful investments, he was able, 
in 1859, to buy a good farm near Beulah Church in Greene County. 
Ten years later he sold this farm, and in 1872 he again invested in 
291 acres of land, where he has since resided. He is a Urst-class 
farmer, is the owner of a saw-mill, and is also largely interested in 
the roller flour-mill at Waynesburg, Penn. Mr. Conklin was united 
in marriage in Washington County, Penn., in 1855, with Delilah, 
daughter of Abraham and Elizabeth (Craft) Heukins, natives of 
Washington County. Mrs. Conklin's father was a farmer by occu- 
pation and had a family of seven children. Mr. and Mrs. Conklin 
have had fourteen children, of these eight are living, viz.: Ida M., 
wife of James P. Sargent; Lizzie L., Shriver C, Elver D., Charlie 
T., Annie E., Willie O., Oliver G. and Hollis P. liollis P. was the 
oldest son, and met with a very untimely death by falling on a circular 
saw which cut him almost to pieces. He was one of the promising 
young men of his neighborhood, and at the time of his death was a 
consistent meipber of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

H. DRIER, farmer and stock-grower, Nineveh, Penn. — Among the 
successful business men of Greene County, we mention the subject of 
this sketch as one who started out in life in a strange land, with only 
twenty-four dollars in his pocket, the amount of his earthly posses- 
sions when he landed in Pittsburg, in 1865. He was born in Ger- 
many February 16, 1844, a son of William and Elizabeth (Barger) 
Drier. His father, who was a farmer, spent all his life in Germany 
and reared a family of Ave children, of whom the subject of our sketch 
was the third. He received his education in his native country, and 
also went to school a short time in Allegheny City, Penn., where he 
learned the carpenter's trade. At the close of his apprenticeship, he 
had saved sixty-five dollars. Mr. Drier was united in marriage, in 
1867, with Sophia, daughter of William Tennemire, and they have a 
family of five children — William, John, Minnie, Christian and Lizzie. 
Mr. Drier was a good carpenter, receiving as high as twenty-three 
dollars for a week's wages. He worked so hard that his health 
became impaired, and at the suggestion of a physician he went to the 
country in 1873 and engaged in the huckstering business in Greene 
County, Penn. Tlie next year he took his family for a visit to his 



HISTORY OP (4REENE COtNTY, 801 

native country. Ileturning in 1875, lie started a creamery at Nine- 
veh, Penn., wJiere he owns a tine farm of 221 acres. Mr. Drier is a 
Republican. Mr. and Mrs. Drier are devoted members of the Lu- 
theran Church. 

JOSEPH DUNN, deceased, who was a farmer and stock-grower, 
was born in Washington County, Penn., June 2, 1801, and was a 
son of Samuel and Jemima (McEntyre) Dunn. His mother was a 
native of Pennsylvania, and his father of New Jersey. They were of 
English and Irish origin. Joseph was the oldest of a family of six 
children, lie spent the greater part of his active life in Mori'is 
Township. In his chosen occupation of farming and stock-growing 
he met with marked success, being at the time of his death, January 
6, 1S5G, the owner of more than 1,000 acres of land. He jvas mar- 
ried in Washington County, Penn., October 25, 1827, to Miss Eliza- 
beth, daughter of Richard Montgomery. Her parents were of English 
and Irish descent. Mrs. Dunn was born in Washington County, J une 
10, 1807, and now resides with her youngest son in Morris Township. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Dunn were born six children, five living — 
three sons and two daughters, all prosperous and succeeding well 
in life. 

WILLIAM DUNN, of West Union, Penn., is the youngest son 
of Joseph and Elizabeth (McEntyre) Dunn. He was born in Morris 
Township, Greene County, Penn., July 4, 1847. His mother, to 
whom he is greatly attached, resides with him, and although eigiity 
years of age, is still quite bright and active. William was reared on 
the farm, received a common-school education, and also attended 
WaynesbTirg College for some time. He has met with more than 
average success in his chosen occupation of farming and stock- 
growing. In 1809 he married Miss Florence, daughter of Jacob 
Swart. Mr. and Mrs. Dunn are the parents of two children — Dora, 
wife of John C Loughman, and Ida. Mr. Dunn is Republican in 
politics, and one of the influential citizens of his community. Mrs. 
Dunn is a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

JESSE L. HAYS, merchant, Nineveh, Penn., was born at Par- 
kersburgh, West Virginia, October 3, 1857. He is a son of Hon. 
James W. and Hannah (Minor) Hays, natives of Pennsylvania. His 
ancestors were among the early settlers of Pennsylvania. Ilis father, 
who rs an editor by profession, served two terms as a member of the 
State Senate. His family consisted of eight children, of whom Jesse 
L. is the seventh. Mr. Hays has spent the most of his life in Greene 
County, and received a good English education. He began clerking 
in his father's store in early life, and continued in the capacity of a 
salesman until he engaged in the mercantile trade at Nineveh, Penn., 
in September, 1882. His long experience as a salesman eminently 
qualities him for the business, and he meets with deserving success. 



802 HISTORY OF GREENE COtJKfY, 

In politics he is a Democrat, and is postmaster at Nineveh. In 1881 
Mr. Hays married Sadie, daughter of Seth Goodwin. Mrs. liays' 
father was of German origin, and her mother was English, a descend- 
ant from William Penn. They have one child, Harold G. Hays, born 
May 30, 1883. 

SAMUEL HOPKINS, farmer and carpenter. Swarfs, Penn., was 
born in Greene Connty, January 10, 1820, and is a son of Daniel and 
Esther (Johnson) Hopkins. Plis mother was a native of Washing- 
ton County, Penn. liis father was born in Maryland near Balti- 
more, and died in 1828. They were of English descent, the first 
Hopkins having come to this country in the Mayiiower and settled 
at Plymouth, Mass., where Samuel Hopkins' great-grandfather was 
a Puritan minister. He was also an author of some note, having 
written several important works on religious subjects. , Samuel was 
the fifth in a family of eight children. He spent his early life on a 
farm, and received his education from subscription schools. Early 
in life he learned the carpenter's trade, which, together with farming, 
he has followed through life. In 1860 he bought his present farm 
of 150 acres, which is well stocked and improved. In 1845 he mar- 
ried Miss Martha, daughter of David and 'Lydia (Rogers) Milliken. 
Mrs. Hopkins' grandfather, John Kogers, laid out the town of Eogers- 
ville, and was a prominent citizen of Greene County, where her par- 
ents died. They were among the. early Presbyterian settlers. Mr. 
and Mrs. Samuel Hopkins are the parents of three children-^Abigail, 
wife of John Reese; David, a farmer; and Margaret, wife of Dr. 
Hamilton Borroughs. In politics Mr. Hopkins is a Eepublican. 
Following in the footsteps of his grandfathers, who w^ere both soldiers 
in the Revolutionary war, he enlisted in 1862 in Company A, One 
Ilnndred and Sixty-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantrj'-, and 
served one year. He and wife are members of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church, in which he has served as trustee and superintendent 
of the Sabbath-school. 

D. W. HOPKINS, farmer and stock-grower, Swart's, Penn., was 
born October 31, 1850, on the farm where he now resides in Morris 
Townshi]). His parents, William and Ellen (Simpson) Hopkins, 
were natives of this county, and of English and Irish descent. His 
father was born April 22, 1816, and was the son of Daniel and 
Esther (Johnson) Hopkins. He died August 12, 1870, being at 
that -time owner of 148 acres of well improved land. His family 
consisted of live cliildren, three daughters and two sons, four of whom 
grew to maturity. D. W. was the third in the family, spent his 
early life on the home farm, and chose farming as his occupation, in 
which he lias engaged very successfully. On February 3, 1880, he 
married Miss Mary, daughter of Jasper and Jane (Lightner) Bane. 
Mr. and Mrs. Hopkins have an interesting family of two children — 



TIISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 803 

Nellie Maud and Sarah Lizzie. Their mother is a devoted member 
of tlie Methodist Episcopal Ohiircli. Mr. Hopkins is a Republican 
in. politics, and one of the enterprising young men of his township. 

JOSEPH HUEFMAN, farmer and stock-grower, Nineveh, Penn., 
was born in Greene County, Penn., July 7, 1838. His parents, 
John and Nancy (Johns) Huffman, were of English descent. His 
father was a farmer all his life. Joseph is next to the yonngest of a 
family of eight children, and was reared on the farm in this county, 
where he attended the common school. He is quite successful as a 
farmer, and owns a good farm ot 150 acres adjoining tlie village of 
Nineveh. He sold the lots on which about half of this village now 
stands. In 1869 Mr. Huffman married Miss Nancy, daughter of 
John ileese. Mrs. Huffman is also a native of this county. Their 
family consists of four children — Lizzie, II. E. Lee, Jessie Blanche 
and John D. Mr. Huffman is a Democrat, and has served as school 
director in his township. lie and wife are zealous members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, in which Mr. Iluftman is assistant 
superintendent of the Sabbath-school. 

OTHO lAMS, farmer and stock-grower, Swarfs, Penn., was born 
on linff's Creek, this county, September 4, 1846, and is a son of 
Thomas and Delilah (Huffman) lams. His grandfather, Otho lams, 
came to Greene County from New Jersey in 1790, and settled in 
Morris Township, and was one of the most prominent and success- 
ful farmers of his day. Thomas lams, his father, died in 1881, 
leaving to his three sons about 600 acres of valuable land. Otho is 
the second in a family of seven children. He was reared in Morris 
Township, where he has been a successful farmer through life. In 
June, 1881, he was united in marriage with Miss Sarah, daughter of 
Jasper Bane, and they are the parents of one child — -Allen. Mr. 
lams is an enthusiastic Democrat, and one of the most enterprising 
citizens of the community. His wife is a devoted member of the 
]\[ethodist Episcopal Church. 

J. L. lAMS, Swarfs, Penn., is a farmer, stock-grower and school 
teacher. He was born in Morris Township, this county, January 2, 
1857, and is a son of Thomas and Delilah (Huffman) lams. His 
parents were natives of Greene County, and of English and German 
ancestry. His father was a prominent and successful farmer and an 
influential Democrat during his lifetime. His party elected him to 
several prominent county offices — among others, that of treasurer. 
He also served a terra on the bench as associate judge. Judge lams 
and wife were the parents of eight children, live of whom are living. 
Benjamin H. enlisted in the Eighteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, under 
Captain James Hughes, and died in the service of his country. The 
five living are all residents of this county, except F. P. lams, Esq., 
of Pittsburg, Penn. James L. was reared on the farm in Morris 



804 HISTOET OP GREENE COUNTY. ■ 

Townsliip, and attended the district scliool. He also sjpent some 
time in Waynesbiirg College. In 1877 he married Miss Belle S., 
daughter of Jacob Swart. Mr. lams is one of the enterprising yonng 
men of the county, is an enthusiastic Democrat, and a member of 
the State Democratic Central Committee. 

HENRY LIGHTISIEE, retired farmer, Nineveh, Penn., was 
born in Center Township, this county, January 30, 1823, and is the 
oldest son of George and Sarah (Woods) Liglitner. His parents 
were also natives of Center Township, and among the earliest settlers 
of the county. His father died in 1867. The family have usually 
been farmers; some of them, however, have entered the different 
professions and met with success. Henry's grandfather, Micajah 
Woods, was an Orderly Sergeant in the Revolutionary war. The 
subject of our sketch was reared in Center Township until nine years 
of age. He then came with his parents to Morris Township, where 
he grew to manhood. He attended the common school and chose 
farming as a business, in which he has met with marked success. 
Mr. Lightner's farm consists df 300 acres of well improved land. 
He was united in marriage in Athens County, Ohio, December 12, 
1850, with Eliza J., daughter of Thomas Jefferson and Elizabeth 
Tewksbury, who were of English descent. • Mr. and Mrs. Lightner 
have a family of nine children — Thomas Jeiferson, George M., 
Samuel, Micajah, William, James, Martha Ellen, Mary Jane and 
Bertha Ann. Their parents are leading members of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. 

DANIEL LOUGHMAN, retired farmer and stock-grower, of 
West Union, Penn., was born June 15, 1813, on the farm where he 
now resides. His parents, Frederick and Catharine (Hammers) 
Loughman, came to this county in 1812. They were natives of 
Maryland, and of German origin. His father was a blacksmith and 
wagon-maker in early life. He subsequently engaged in farming, 
and was among the pioneer settlers of Morris Township, where he 
spent most of his life. He reared a family of thirteen children, of 
whom Daniel is the twelfth. He was reared on the home farm at- 
tending the subscription schools, and has devoted his time principally 
to agriculture. He owns a well improved farm where he now resides. 
Mr. Loughman was united in marriage, January 15, 1833, with 
Rachel, daughter of John and Mary (Red) Stagner, who were of 
German descent. She was born in Maryland in 1812. Mr. and 
Mrs. Loughman are the parents of sixcliildren — Thaddeus, a farmer; 
Frederick, a blacksmith; Mary, wife of Oliver McVay; Susan, wife 
ofWarren Conklin; Adaline, wifeof S. B. Clutter, and John, (deceased). 
Mr. Loughman is a Democrat, and he and his wife are prominent 
members of the West Union Cumberland Presbyterian Cliurch. 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 805 

WILLIAM LOUGHMAN, West Union, Penn., was born in 
Morris Township, this county, October 22, 1822, and is a son of 
David and Christine (Fonner) Loughnian. Ilis mother was born in 
Ireland. His father, wlio was of German oi'igin and a native of 
Maryland, spent most of his life as a farmer in Greene County, 
Penn., where he died in Morris Township. William, the second in 
a family of seven children, was reared on the home farm, and at- 
tended the district schools. He chose farming as an occupation, and 
when twenty-one years of age he received from his father seventy 
acres of land which, through industry and a strong determination to 
succeed, he has increased to 400 acres, well stocked and improved. 
Mr. Loughman has been twice married: first, in 1846, to Mary J., 
daughter ofWilliam Day, and they were the parents of three children 
— Lucretia A., Elymus and Irvin. Their mother died in 1852. For 
his second wife, Mr. Loughman married Elizabeth, daughter of John 
and Mary (Miller) Longdon, and widow of Harrison Corger. Her 
parents were natives of Washington County, and of English descent. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Loughman have been born three children: Han- 
nah C, wife of John Conger; Alicfe, wife of John Auld, and John G. 
Mrs. Loughman is a member of the Mount Hermon Baptist Church; 
and her husband is a Cumberland Presljyterian, in which churcli he 
has been an elder for sixteen years, and has also served as superin- 
tendent of the Sabbath-school. Mr. Loughman stands high in the 
community as an enterprising citizen and a sound business man. He 
never sued or was sued by any one. 

DANIEL LOUGHMAN, farnaer and stock-grower. Sycamore, 
Penn., was born in Morris Township, Greene County, Pennsylvania, 
April 25, 1832. He is a son of Henry and Nancy (Smith) Lough- 
man, also natives of this county, and of Dutch origin. The Lough- 
mans, who are among the prominent citizens of Greene County, have 
usually been farmei-s, and were among the early settlers in Morris 
Township. Mr. Daniel Loughman is the second in a family of ten 
children, and attended the schools of his township. He makes a 
success of farming, and is the owner of a good farm of 307 acres 
where he resides. In 1853 Mr. Loughman married Miss Sarah, 
daughter of Dennis and Matilda (Huffman) lams, who were of Ger- 
man origin. Her father was born in Greene County, Penn., and met 
with great success as a farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Loughman are the 
parents of ten children — Dennis, George, Belle, Matilda, Dora, Jack- 
sou, Ida, Charley, Mattie and ]>ertha. Their mother is a devoted 
member of the Baptist Church. In politics Mr. Loughman is a 
Democrat. He is greatly interested in the educational affairs of 
liis township, and has served as school director for several years. 

SILAS M. McCULLOUGH, farmer and stock-grower, Nineveh, 
Penn., was horn in Morris Township, November 9, 1852. He is the 



806 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

only child of Jolm and Caroline (Jennings) McCnllongh, natives of 
Greene County, and of Dutch and English descent. They were mar- 
ried in 1852, and his motlier died in 1854. Ills father, wlio was 
born October 21, 1832, was a son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Shape) 
McCuUongh, who were of Dutch origin. Silas grew to manhood in 
Morris Township, receiving his education in the district schools. 
He is a self-made man, and through great industry and economy has 
been prospered in his farming, which he has made his life work. lie 
owns a good farm of seventy-three acres. In 1877 he married Miss 
Jeunie, daughter of Elymas and Mary (Ross) Pettit, who were of 
English descent. To Mr. and Mrs. McCnllongh have been born five 
children — Clarence A., Grace M., Oscar Lee, Jessie Blanche and 
Elymas. Mr. and Mrs. McCnllongh are leading members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he is a trustee and prominent 
worker. 

OLIVER McYAY, a prominent business man of West Union, 
Fenn., was born in Morris Township, Greene County, August 7, 
1842. His parents, Silas and Dorcas (Jennings) McVay, were na- 
tives of Washington County, Penn., and of Scotch-Irish lineage. 
His father was a stone-mason by occupation, and later in life he en- 
gaged in farming and huckstering for many years. He died in 
Washington County. His family consisted of twelve children, 
eleven of whom grew to maturity. Oliver was the fourth in the fam- 
ily, and was reared in Greene and Washington counties, receiving a 
common-school education. In 1870 he engaged in merchandising, 
his present business, which he makes a gi-eat success. In 1867 
he married Mary, daughter of Daniel Loughman. Her motlier's 
maiden name was Rachel Stigner, whose father, Frederick Stigner, 
was among the earliest settlers of the county. Mr. and Mrs McVay 
have one child, Silas E., who married Elizabeth, daughter of Elias 
Conger. They have one child, Pearl. In politics Mr. McVay is a 
Republican. Septeml)er 16, 1861, he enlisted in Company D, Eighty- 
Fifth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and was discharged for dis- 
ability in 1862. He is a member of the G. A. R. Post. Mr. and 
Mrs. McVay are prominent members of the West Union Cumberland 
Presbyterian Church. 

THOMAS PATTERSON, deceased, was born March 17, 1809, 
in Morris Township, Greene County, where he spent his entire life. 
His parents, Mark and Nancy (Gregory) Patterson, were natives of 
Ireland, and among the early settlers of this county. His father, 
who was a farmer, reared a family of nine children, of whom Thomas 
was the third. He received his education in the district schools. He 
spent all his life on a farm, devoting his time chiefly to farming 
and stock-growing, and at the time of his death, 1876, was the owner 
of a good farm of 200 acres. In 1831 he marrieil Miss Margaret 



III.STOKY OF (IKEENE COUNTY. 807 

Hopkins, and tliey were the parents of nine children — Daniel, Levi, 
Mark, John, Esther, Eliza, Catharine, Mary and Margaret. Mr. and 
Mrs. Patterson were prominent members of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. In politics Mr. Patterson was a Republican. 

ELYMAS PETTIT, farmer and stock-grower, Nineveh, Penn., 
was born March 27, 1834. He is a son of Charles and Keziah(Coc) 
Pettit, natives of Washington County, Penn. Elymas is the fourth 
in a family of eight children, seven of whom are still living. lie 
was reared on the farm and attended the district scliooh He made 
choice of farming as his life-M'ork, and is now the owner of a well 
improved farm of 157 acres, and a neat, substantial dwelling. In 
1856 he married Mary, daughter of Isaac and Sarali (McGlumphy) 
Ross. Mrs. Pettit is of Irish descent, and is a faithful member of 
the Baptist Church. Their union has been blessed with three chil- 
dren — Melissa, wife of Henry Preese; Jejmie, wife of Silas McCul- 
lotigh, and Charles F., a student at Delaware College in Ohio. In 
politics Mr. Pettit is a Democrat. In 18C2 he enlisted in the first 
Ringold liattalion, and served two years and ten months, being 
discharged for disaljilitj', at Cumberland, Maryland, in 1865. 

MATTHIAS PETTIT, farmer, Swal-t's, JPenn., who was born 
April 23, 1831, is a prominent farmer and stock-grower of Morris 
Township. lie is a son of Charles and Keziah (Coe) Pettit. His 
father, who was a farmer by occupation, was born July 2, 1801, and 
died in 1871. He spent most of his life in Greene County, where 
he reared a family of eight cliildren — five girls and three boys. 
Matthias is the oldest in the family, and was reared in Morris Town- 
ship. He has been engaged in agricultui'al ]iursuits from his youth, 
and is the owner of a well improved farm of 125 acres where he 
now resides. He was married in this county, December 11, 1868, 
to Miss Ruth, daughter of Nathan Penn. Mrs. Pettit's father was 
a farmer, of English descent. Her mother's maiden name was Rachel 
McCullough, who was of Irish descent. Mr. and Mrs. Pettit have a 
family ot four children — Jennie, Mary, Rachel and Richard. In 
politics Mr. Pettit is a Democrat. He and wife are leading members 
of the Baptist Church. 

THOMAS M. ROSS, ex-county commissioner, Sycamore, Penn., 
is a prominent farmer and stock-grower ot Morris Township. He 
was born in Washington Township, Greene County, Penn., 
March 10, 1831, aiid is a son of Jacob and Abigail (Ross) Ross. 
Though of the same name, his parents were not related. They were 
natives of this county, and of English and German origin. His 
father, who was a farmer, died in 1856. Thomas M. was the sixth 
in a family of nine children. He was reared on the farm in Rich- 
hill Township, where he attended the district schools and made 
farming his njain occupation. He was united in marriage, March 



808 HISTORY OF GKEENE COUNTY. 

13, 1856, with Sarali Elizabeth, daughter of Benjamin Franklin and 
Mary (Goodwin) Kickey, who were of English and Dutch origin. 
Mr. and Mrs. Eoss are the parents of eleven children, ten living — 
Celesta Ann, wife of Benjamin F. Orr; Hiram Franklin, who mar- 
ried Dora, daughter of Daniel Loughman; Catharine I. Y., wife of 
John Chnrch; Philena, wife of Jesse F. Hill; Sadie A., Timothy 
J., Mary, Emma, Arthur, Stella and Thomas L. A. (deceased). In 
1875 Mr. Boss sold his farm and engaged in the business of huck- 
stering until 1881, when he was elected commissioner of Greene 
County. In 1884 he bought his present farm of 155 acres. He has 
served three years as director of the poor. He belongs to the 
Masonic fraternity and the I. O. O. F. Mr. Boss took an active in- 
terest in the Granger movement. He is a public-spirited, progress- 
ive citizen. He belongs to the Bates' Fork Baptist Chnrch, of which 
his wife, who died in 1887, was also a devoted member. 

BEUBEN SANDEBS, farmer and stock-grower, West Union, 
Penn., was born February 17, 1834, on the farm where he now re- 
sides. He is a son of Beuben and Fannie F. (Butan) Sanders. 
Beuben Sanders, Sr., was an early settler and prominent farmer of 
Morris Township. His family consisted of thirteen children, ten of 
whom grew to maturity. The subject of our sketch, who was next 
to the youngest in the family, was reared on the farm he now owns, 
and attended the district school. He has made farming his occupa- 
zion through life, and is the owner of 182 acres of land well stocked 
and improved. In 1857 he was united in marriage with Miss Mar- 
garet, daughter of Charles and Keziah Pettit. Mrs. Sanders is a 
. sister of Matthias and Elymas Pettit, prominent farmers in this 
township. Mr. and Mrs. Sanders have one child — Hester Ann, who 
is the wife of Jonathan Supler. Mrs. Sanders is a faithful member 
of the Baptist Church. 

GEOBGE SHAPE. — Among the descendants of the early set- 
tlers we mention the name of George Shape, one of the representa- 
tive farmers and stock-growers of Greene County. He was born in 
1842, on the farm where he resides in Morris Township, and is a son 
of John and Elizabeth (Huffman) Shape, the former a native of 
Maryland. His grandfather, Peter Shape, came from Maryland to 
Greene County, Penn., in 1814, and settled on a farm. Here 
George's father was raised, and spent his life as a farmer. He died 
in 1858, in his sixty-tliird year. He reared a family of twelve chil- 
dren, eleven of whom are now living. They are — Peter, Katie, Mary, 
Julia Ann, Elizabeth, Beasin, George, Eliza J., William, Minerva, 
Deborah and S. B. Their parents were members of the Cumberland 
Presbyterian Church. George was the seventh in -the family. He 
has made farming his business, owning at present a fine farm of 135 
acres. His brothers are all farmers, except Beasin, who is a first- 



iiisTouy OF (ii;kene county. 80!J 

class carpenter; lie also owns a farm where he resides in this town- 
ship, (reorge is a member of the Cumberland Presl)yterian Church 
at Kineveh, and has served as elder. 

JACOB SIIOUP, farmer and stock-grower, Swart's, Penn., was 
born in Fayette County, Perm., May 24, 1825. His parents, John 
and Margaret (Miller) Shoup. were also natives of Fayette County, and 
of English and German origin. His father was a uiillwriglit and 
miller by trade and occupation, and followed his chosen biisiuess 
throuirh life. His family consisted of three children. Jacob was 
the second, and spent the first si.xteen years of his life on the home 
farm in Fayette County. He attended the common schools in Greene 
County, and chose farming as his occupation, in which he has met 
with more than average success. Through his own enterprise and 
industry he has secured a fine farm of 117 acres. In 18G0 Mi-. 
Shoup was united in marriage with Miss Catharine, daughter of 
Frederick and Rebecca (Stewart) Hunnell, natives of this county. 
Mr. and Mrs. Shoup have four children — William Spencer, Rebecca 
Ann, wife of Samuel McCullough; George E. and Ulysses Gi'ant. 
Mr. Shoup is a Republican in politics, and he and Mrs. Shoup belong 
to the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

HUGH SIMPSON, farmer and stock-grower, Swart's, Penn., was 
born in Morris Township, this county, February 21, 1833, and is a son 
of John and Mary (x\nld) Simpson. His father, a native of this 
county, of Irish descent, was a mechanic, and died in 1846. Hugh 
was the oldest of a family of five children, was reared on a farm and 
received a common-school education. He chose farming as an occu 
pation, and has engaged therein all his life. He is the owner of a 
well-stocked and improved farm consisting of 162 acres. He was 
united in marriage,'in 1859, with Esther, daughter of Thomas Pat- 
terson, and they are the parents of three children — Waitman T., 
Annie and Maggie. Mr. and Mrs. Simpson are prominent meml)ers 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he is trustee, and 
superintendent of the Sabbath-school. In politics Mr. Simpson is a 
Republican. He has served as school director in his township. 

J. W. SIMPSON, farmer and stock-grower, Swart's, Penn., was 
born in Morris Township, this county, April 23, 1842, and is a son 
of William and Ruth (Fulton) Simpson. His mother was a native 
of Washington County, Penn. His father was born on the farm 
where J. W. resides. This farm first came into the possession of the 
family through their grandfather. Rev. John Simpson, who was born 
in Ireland, March 13, 1758. He landed in America August 12, 
1791, and came to Greene County in the fall of 179(5. He married 
Miss Rebecca Gregory, who was born in Farmingah, Ireland, August 
12, 1767. In 1816 they opened their dwelling as a place for public 
worship, and the neighbors held meetings there for near forty years. 



810 ' HISTOKY OF GEEENE COUNTY. 

J. W. Simpson was an only child, was reai-ed on the farm and re- 
ceived a common-school education. lie has made a business of 
farming and has met with success. His farm consists of 197 acres 
of land well stocked and improved. He was married, September 27, 
1866, to America Ann, daughter of Jacob and Permina (Allum) 
Swart, who were of English oi-igin. To Mr. and Mrs. Simpson have 
been born seven children — Carrie, Mary, Ruth, Swart, Flora, John 
and William. Their mother is a zealous member of the Metliodist 
Episcopal Church. In politics Mr Simpson is a Republican. In 
1864 he enlisted in Company E, Fourteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, 
and was discharged May 30, 1805. He belongs to the Masonic 
fraternity. He is a member of the Wayuesburg Encampment, No. 
119, and Waynesburg Lodge, No. 467, I. O. O. F., and also of the 
G. A. R., Post No. 367, Department of Pennsylvania. 

JACOB SWART, farmer and stock-grower, Swarfs, Penn., Avas 
born in Washington County, Penn., December 25, 1820. His par- 
ents, Phillip and Ascnah (Walton) Swart, were also natives of Wash- 
ington County, and of Dutch and Irish ancestry. Jacob is the second 
in a family of nine children. He was reared on a farm in Amwell 
Township, where he received his education in one of the old log 
school-houses of that day. He chose farming as a business, to which 
he devoted his entire time until forty years of age. He came to 
Greene County in 1842, and was united in marriage, May 5, with 
Paulina, daughter of Charles and Jemima (Barnhart) Allum, who 
were of English descent. Mr. and Mrs. Swart have twenty-seven 
grandchildren. They have a family of four sons and live daughters — 
America A., wife of J. W. Simpson; Amos C, a farmer; Florence 
B., wife of William Dunn; Virginia I., wife of James lams, and 
Senie Jane, Mary E., John N., Henry Clay and Franklin L., deceased. 
Mr. Swart bought a farm in Washington Township in 1848, and in 
1880 he .bought his present farm. In 1861 he purchased an interest 
in a general store, and they continued in business together for two 
years, when Mr. Swart became sole proprietor. He continued in the 
mercantile business for fifteen years, and sold his store in 1877. Mr. 
Swart is a Republican, but is always willing to vote for a good man 
for office, independent of party or politics. He has been postmaster 
at Swarfs for the past seventeen years. Mr. Swart is a self-made 
man, his success in life having been due largely to his own enterprise 
and industry. He is a progressive citizen, ever ready to aid a good 
entei-prise, and was one of those most instrumental in the building 
of the W. & W. Railroad. He was a member of the building 
committee and superintendent of the road for two years. 

WILLIAM SIMPSON THROCKMORTON, physician and sur- 
geon, Nineveh, Penn., was born March 2, 1838. He is a sou of 
Mofford and Nancy (Simpson) Throckmorton, who were of English 



IIISTOHY OF GREENE COUNTY. 811 

and Irish origin. His mother was born in this county, and his father 
was a native of JSJew Jersey, and among the early settlers of Greene 
Connty, Penn., where he died in 1884. The Doctor is the ninth in 
a family of thirteen children, and was reared on the farm in C'enter 
Township, where he obtained his early education. He subsequently 
attended Allegheny College, but afterwards completed his collegiate 
studies at AVaynesburg College, Penn. lie chose the practice of 
medicine as his profession, and in 1863 entered Jeffeison Medical 
College at Philadelphia, where he graduated in 1865. He then 
began the practice of his profession at Nineveh, in Greene County, 
where he has been actively engaged ever since, with the exception of 
the time spent at the lectures. The Doctor has thoroughly 
prepared himself for his work, liaving taken a regular course of 
lecturers in five of the most noted medical colleges in the United 
States. He has an extensive library and keeps his office well supplied 
with the leading publications in medical science. He is much attached 
to his profession* and also takes an active interest in the welfare of 
his town and community. He is a leading member of tlie State 
Medical Association, aud belongs to the Greene County Medical 
Society, of wliich he luis been president and co7-responding secretrry. 
He was married in 1866, to Miss Caroline M., daughter of Jesse 
Hill, of Waynesburg, Penn., and they have four children — Jessie, 
Charley, Willie and Mofibrd. Doctor Throckmorton aud wife ai-e 
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he is trustee, 
steward, superintendent of the Sabbath-school, and has been an official 
member for thirty years. He has been identihed with the Masonic 
and Odd Fellowship fraternities and is forward in every good word 
and work, a blessing to his generation and community. 



PERRY TOWNSHIP. 

HON. JOHN P.LAHI, the present member of the Legislature 
from' Greene County, Penn., is a farmer and stock-grower by occupa- 
tion, and was born in Wayne Township, December 25, 1841. He is 
the only son of Isaac and Elizabeth (Ross) Blair, the former a native 
of Greene Connty, and the latter of Crawford County, Penn., and 
of Dutch and Irish extraction. His father, who was a farmer and 
stone-mason, was born in 1810 and died August 26, 1846. Mr. Plair 
was rearejl on the home farm in this county, and attended the district 



812 HISTOEY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

schools. lie has been a successful farmer all his life, and owns a 
fine farm of 250 acres. In 1861 he was united in marriage, in 
Monongalia County, W. Va., with Miss Amy, daughter of Jonathan 
and Charlotte (Bightodah) Brown. Mr. and Mrs. Blair's children 
are William F., G. W. W., a teacher; Anna, wife of Oliver Lemley; 
Belle, wife of William Wright; L. L., Olive, C. B. and Eoss B. Mr. 
and Mrs. Blair are members of the Disciple Church. He is a Demo- 
crat, and was elected to the Honse of Representatives in 1886. He 
had previously held the office of justice of the peace for five years, 
and was school dii-ector for a period of twelve years. 

T. W. BOYDSTON, proprietor of the Mount Morris Tan- 
nery, was born in West Yirginia, November 1, 1844. He is the 
son of E. L. and Euhama (Jackson) Boydston, who were of English ■ 
and Irish origin. They resided in Dunkard Township, this county, 
where the father died in 1853, leaving a family of six children. Of 
these the subject of our sketch is the oldest, and was reared in West 
Virginia, where he received his education in the Military Academy 
at Morgantown. Early in life he learned the printer's trade, which 
he followed successfully for some time. He had charge of the print- 
ing for the Legislature at Harrisburg, Penn. Since 1877 he has 
been engaged in his present business at Mount Morris. In 1862 
Mr. Boydston enlisted in Company K, Fourteenth West Virginia 
Infantry, in which he served first as a private, then as Seargeant, and 
Second Lieutenant. He was united in marriage, in 1877, with Han- 
nah, daughter of James L. Donley. They are the parents of four 
children — Clara, Sallie, Frederick and Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. 
Boydston are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which 
he holds several official positions, and is also greatly interested in the 
Sabbath-school. He is a Republican, also member of the I. 0. O. F., 
and is Quartermaster of G. A. R. Post, No. 450. 

THORNTON E. BOYDSTON, Mount Morris, Penn.— Among 
the most highly respected citizens of Perry Township is the gentle- 
man whose name heads this sketch. He was born at Mount Morris, 
October 12, 1833, and is a son of B. and Mary (Wiley) Boydston. 
His father was also a native of this county, and his mother was born 
in West Virginia. His father was a farmer all his life, and reared a 
family of twelve children. The subject of this sketch was next to 
the youngest in the family, and was reared in his native township. 
He received his education in the common schools, and engaged in 
farming as his life work. Mr. Boydston has been successful in his 
business affairs, and now owns a fine farm of 160 acres. In 1858 he 
married Susannah, daughter of Joseph R. Donley. Their children 
are — Emma, wife of L. C. Evans; Sarah A., wife of Lewis Lemley; 
Mary, Charles B., James and Anna M. Mr. and Mrs. Boydston are 
consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in, which he 



HISTORY OF C4KEElSrE COUNTY. , 813 

serves as trustee. He is a Republican in politics, and has Ijcen a 
member of the school board in his townshijj. 

O. J. BROWN, farmer and stock-grower. Mount Morris, Penn., 
was born in Perry Township, Greene County, Penn., May 21, 1852, 
and is a son of Reuben and Rel)ecca (McClure) Brown, also natives 
of this county. His ancestors were early settlers of Dunkard Town- 
ship, and of Irish, Welsh and German extraction. His father is a 
prominent farmer in this county. The subject of our sketch is the 
youngest in a family of live children. He was reared on the farm 
and received a good English education. He subsequently attended 
Jefferson and Waynesburg colleges, and made a special study of sur- 
veying and civil engineering. He turned his attention to farming 
and stock-growing, however, and has a line little farm of sixty-live 
acres. In 1884 Mr. Brown married Miss Mary, daughter of Jacob 
and Fannie (Lenimon) Eakin, and they have one daughter — Hallie 
May. They are Methodists in jeligion, and Mr. Brown is superin- 
tendent of the Sabbath-school in that church. He is a Democrat in 
polities, and judge of elections in 1888. 

REUBEN BROWN, is a descendant of the early settlers of 
Greene County, his ancestors having settled near the source of 
Dunkard Creek in 1801, and removed to Perry Township in 1812. 
Reuben still owns and resides on the farm where they settled, near 
Mount Morris, Penn. He was born August 26, 1816, on this farm, 
where he has spent all his life, except the short time he lived in 
Monongalia County, W. Va. Here he grew to manhood, receiving 
his early education in the old log school-house. His father was Reu- 
ben Brown, and his mother's maiden name was Rebecca John. They 
were of Welsh and German origin. His father was born in Lou- 
doun County, Va., was a farmer by occupation; and died in Greene 
County in 1867, at the advanced age of ninety-seven years. The 
history of the family shows them to have been farmers and stock- 
growers, and usually successful in their business affairs. Reuben 
is one of the prosperous farmers of his township, and owns 200 acres 
of valuable land. He was married September 20, 1839, to Rebecca 
McClnre, who is a native of Dunkard Township, and the daughter 
of William and Jane (King) McClure. Her ancestors, who were of 
Irish extraction, came to Greene County in 1817 and settled in 
Dunkard Township. Mr. and Mrs. Brown are the parents of live 
children — James j\I., who is now engaged in farming and railroading 
in the West; Susan C, wife of B. Ross; O. J., a farmer in Perry 
Township; Samantha Jane, who was the wife of L. A. Morris (de- 
ceased), and William, who was shot through mistake by a deserter in 
the late Rebellion. Mr. and Mrs. Brown are active members of the 
Baptist Church. He takes an active interest in the schools, and has 
frequently served as school director in his township. 



814 HISTORY OF GREECE COUNTY. 

S. A. COWELL, farmer and stock-grower, Mount Morris, Penn., 
was born in Wliiteley Township, Greene County, Penn., October 15, 
1864. He is a son of Solomon and Eliza (Mike) Cowell, who were 
of English extraction. His mother was a native of West Virginia. 
His father, who was a farmer and stock drover, was born in Greene 
County, Penn., where he died, leaving a family of fourteen children. 
Of these the subject of our sketch is the youngest, and was reared 
in this county, receiving his education in the common schools. He 
is one of the industrious and enterprising young farmers of his town- 
ship, and owns a good farm of ninety-eight acres. In 1885 Mr. 
Cowell was united in marriage with Miss Sarah, daughter of Dennis 
Fox, a prominent farmer iii Perry Township. Tliej have two bright 
and interesting children — Vincent Earl and Dennis Floyd. Mr. 
Cowell is a Republican in politics. 

D. L. DONLEY, farmer and stock-grower. Mount. Morris, Penn. 
Among the most prominent members of the large family of Donleys 
in this county, none are more noted for their liberality and progres- 
sive spirit than D. L. Donley, the subject of our sketch. He was 
born in Perry Township, Greene County, Penn., Jiine 11, 1836, and 
is the son of J. P. and Sarah (Lemley) Donley. His mother was the 
daughter of David and Puhana (Snider) Lemley, and of German and 
Irish origin. His father is a native of Dunkard Township and is 
still living at the advanced age of seventy-six years. D. L. Donley's 
grandparents, James and Susannah (Robinson) Donley, came from 
"Washington County, to Greene County in 1790, and settled on a 
farm. The subject of our sketch is a nepliew of Hon. Patrick Don- 
ley, and a cousin of ex-congressman J. B. Donley, of Waynesburg, 
Penn. He was reared in Perry Township, attended the common 
schools and early in life was put to work on the farm. He has been 
successful in his business and is the owner of 500 acres of valuable 
land. It was through Mi\ Donley's influence that the oil field has 
been opened up in that section, and the largest gas and oil wells are 
situated on his land near Mount Morris. Mr. Donley was married 
in West Virginia, August 20, 1861, to Miss , Louisa, daughter of 
Alexander and Sarah (Hague) Evans. Her father was born near 
Garard's Fort in January, 1806, and is the son of Eleazar and 
Martha (Vance) Evans. Mrs. Evans is a native of I^ew Jersey and 
Mr. Evans of Loudoun County, Virginia. He is a retired farmer, 
owning over 400 acres of land. Mr. and Mrs. Donley have seven 
children — Laura, wife of Dr. Owen, of Oak Fore.st, Penn.; Josephine, 
wife of D. B. Adams, of Waynesburg, Penn.; Evans, Leanna, Meda, 
Ellsworth J. and Edward G. Mr. and Mrs. Donley are prominent 
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He takes great in- 
terest in educational matters, and has served as school director at 
Mount Morris. 



' HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 815 

DENNIS FOX, who is probably as well known as any private 
citizen of Greene County, is a successful farmer and stock-grower, 
and was born April 5, 1827, on tlie farm where he resides. His 
parents, Henry and Susan (Dulaney) Fox, were descended from the 
Dutch, and natives of this county. Peter and Alary (Thomas) Fox, 
his grandparents, came to this county from New Jersey, and settled 
on the farm which Dennis now owns. Here Peter Fox planted a 
little willow sprout which he brought with him, and the tree is now 
twenty-one feet in circumference, by actual measurement. This tree 
is to remain standing, as Dennis says, a monument to the memory 
of him who planted it so many years ago. Mr. Fox has a fine farm 
of nearly SOO acres, well stocked and improved, his barns being 
among the best in Perry Township. lie was united in marriage, 
January 18, 184:8, with Miss Betsey, daughter of David and Eliza- 
beth (McCannj John. She is of Irish and English extraction. Mr. 
and Mrs. P^ox have ten children — Henry, David, Osborn, Ivinsey, 
James, Marion, Susan, wife of Spencer Cowell; Sarah Jane Cowell, 
and John and Elizabeth, deceased. Mr. Fox is a Republican in 
politics. 

SAMUEL GUTHRIE, a farmer and stock-grower of Perry Town- 
ship, was born in Greene County, Penn., December 18, 1820, and is 
a son of Archibald and Elizabeth (Lendey) Guthrie, also natives of 
Greene County, and of Irish and Dutch origin. His father, who 
was a farmer and a pioneer settler in Whiteley Township, died in 
this county in 1845. Samuel is tiie seventh in a family often chil- 
dren and grew to maturity on the home farm, attending the sub- 
scription schools. He has successfully followed farming as his chief 
pursuit, and is the owner of 133 acres of valuable land where he re- 
sides near Kirby P. O. Mr. Guthrie's wife was Miss Nancy, 
daughter of James and Nancy (Stephens) Patterson. Her parents 
were natives of this county, and of Irish and German descent. Mr. 
and Mrs. Guthrie's children are — Elizabeth, wife of Alfred Moore, 
of West Virginia; James P., a farmer; Hannah Martha, wife of 
Franklin Henderson; and Priscilla, deceased. Mr. Guthrie is a Re- 
publican. His wife is a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. 

GEORGE W. GUTHRIE, farmer and stock-grower, Kirby, 
Penn., was born in Wliiteley Township, this county, J\Iarch 2(3, 
1848. His parents, Solomon and Elizabeth (Fry) Guthrie, are also 
natives of Greene County, and of English and German origin. His 
father, for many years a farmer and stock-grower, has now retired 
from the more active duties of life and resides in Whiteley Town- 
ship. George is the fifth in a family of six children, and was reared 
on the farm in Whiteley Township. He is an industrious farmer, 
paying close attention to his business, and is the owner of a good 



816 HISTORY OF GEEENE COTTNTY. 

farm of 123 acres. In 1870 he married Adaline, daughter of John 
and Hannah (Rose) Cowell, natives of Greene County, and of Dutch 
extraction. Mr. and Mrs. Guthrie have one daugliter — Ida Estella. 
They are members of the Southern Methodist Church, in which Mr. 
Guthrie is trustee, and superintendent of the Sabbath-school. He is 
a Ilepubhcan, and has served as assessor in his township. 

CYBENIUS HAINES, farmer and stock-grower, was born in 
Greene County, Penn., April 1, 1823. His parents, George and 
Jane (McCordj tiaines, were natives of New York. His mother 
was of Scotcli and Dutch ancestry. His father, who was of English 
extraction, was a farmer by occupation, and died in 1850 in his 
seventy- seventh year. Cyrenius is the eighth in a family of eleven 
children and was reared on the farm in this county, where he at- 
tended the common school. Early in life he spent some time as a 
bookseller but subsequently turned his attention to farming and 
stock-growing, and is the owner of a farm of 255 acres, well stocked 
and improved. Mr. Haines has been twice married. His first wife 
died in 1851, but a few weeks after her marriage. His second wife, 
whom he married in Virginia in 1852, was Mary Ann, daughter of 
Burton and Nancy (Sutton) Pride. She is of English origin. Her 
father was born in 1800 in Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Haines' chil- 
dren are Francis B., George D., William G., Lewis Spencer, D. D., 
a farmer; John J. and Melinda A. They have eleven grandchildren — 
Lewis E., Emerson, John C. and Clarence, children of their oldest 
son ; Franklin, Margaret, Cora Bell and Viola, whose father is George 
D.; and Ida E., William L., Cyrenius, George and Sarah A., whose 
father is William G.; Noah L. and D., whose father is Lewis S. 
Mr. and Mrs. Haines are Methodists in religion. He has been 
trustee in the church and superintendent of the Sabbath-school. 

JACOB HATFIELD, physician and surgeon, Mount Morris, 
Penn., was born in Monongahela Township, this county, December 
19, 1839, and is a son of G. W. and Mary (Ricliey) Hatfield, who 
are of English descent and natives of Greene and Fayette counties, 
respectively. Dr. Hatfield's father is a farmer by occupation. Of 
his seven children, six are now living, of whom the Doctor is the oldest. 
He was reared with his parents on the farm in Whiteley Township, 
where he attended the district schools. At an early age he man- 
ifested an inclination for the study of medicine, and went to Colum- 
biana Counter, Ohio, where he took a regular course. In 1864 he 
began his professional career at Mount Morris, Penn., where he has 
since remained in active practice. Dr. Hatfield is very much at- 
tached to his profession, and has thoroughly informed himself in its 
different branches. He has successfully performed several extremely 
difficult surgical operations. On May 12, 1863, Dr. Hatfield was 
united in marriage with Caroline, daughter of Henry Morris, of 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 817 

"Wliiteley Township. Mrs. Hatfield is of German origin. They have 
three cliildren — G. W., Maggie N. and Henry Morris. Their oldest 
son is a physician and is now in practice with his father. He was 
born and reared in Mount Morris. He first studied medicine with 
his father, after which he went to Baltimore and attended the College 
of Physicians and Surgeons, for two years; subsequently took the 
regular course at the Western Pennsylvania Medical College, at 
Pittsburgh, Penn., graduating in 1887. Dr. Hatfield and wife are 
prominent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which 
he has held various official offices. He is a Republican, and has 
served on the school board at Mount Morris, Penn. 

G. T. IlEADLEY, teacher and surveyor, Brock, Penn., was born 
in Perry Township, Greene County, Penn., June 27, 1853. His par- 
ents, Ephraini and Maria (Haines) Headley, were also natives of this 
county, and of Scotch and English extvaction. His father, a prom- 
inent farmer in Perry Township, is a son of Jesse and Maria (Cox) 
Headley. G. Y. Headley 's grandfather was born in Greene County, 
Penn. His great-grandfather, Ephraim Headley, was among the 
pioneer settlers of New Jersey, and one of the first farmers and 
liunters who came to Greene County, Penn., while it was still in- 
habited by the Indians. The family have usually l^een farmers and 
drovers. The subject of our sketch grew up on the farm, being the 
second in a family of three children. He attended the High School 
at Mount Morris, Penn., and also took a college course. For thir- 
teen years Mr. Headley has been successfully engaged as a teacher. 
He has also given considerable attention to tlie study of surveying, 
and devotes a part of his time to that work. He is also a farmer 
and stock-grower by occupation and owns a good farm where he re- 
sides. In 1879 Mr. Headley married Miss S. A., daughter of John 
Conner, of Perry Township. Mrs. Headley is of German and Irish 
origin. Their children are Florence B., Julius B., Fred and Ger- 
trude. Mr. Headley is a Republican. He and his wife are mem- 
bers of the IMethodist Episcopal Church. In connection with our 
subject's sketch, we give a brief sketch of his ancestor's advent into 
Greene County, Penn.: Sometime prior to the American Revolu- 
tion, the great-great-great-grandfather, Richard Ileadlee, who was 
an English sailor, in tlie tlie service of Great Britain, concluded 
to desert the standard of the Stuarts, and seek an asylum in the 
wilds of North America. After making his escape from the 
British service, he settled in New Jersey, where he afterwards 
married. But according to English law, "Once an Englishman 
always an Englishman," he was not allowed to enjoy the quiet 
of his new home very long. The British authorities finding out 
liis whereabouts, had him arrested, which was done by a party 
of twenty British sailors, not however until he had given them an 



818 HISTOKT OF GREENE COUNTY. 

exhibition of his prowess, and felled several of them to the ground 
in good old British style. He was overpowered, taken back into ser- 
vice and kept seven years from his family. But his long service as 
a sailor made him familiar with the seaport towns and the American 
coast, so taking advantage of the situation in the darkness of the 
nio-ht, while near shore, he leaped overboard and swam ashore, and 
tinally united with his family. We know little of his family, except 
that his son John, who was G. F. Ileadley's great-great-grandfather, 
died while in the Patriot army, he being old en(jugh to have a son 
engaged in the same struggle. Robert ileadlee, a nephew of .John, 
was in the expedition sent against tlie Indians, who committed the 
Wyoming massacre. Ephraim, G. F. Headley's great-grandfather, 
lived during the Revolution in New Jersey, not far from Trenton, 
beino- within sound of the battle fought at that place. After the 
war he emigrated to North Carolina, but disliking the country, he 
removed to Greene County, Penn., where he reared a large family. 

W. O. HEADLEE, farmer and teacher. Mount Morris, Penn., 
was born January 27, 1858, in Perry Township, where he grew to 
manhood. He was reared on the farm with his parents, receiving a 
common school education. He also attended the High School at 
Mount Morris. Mr. Headlee has been for eight years teaching in 
Perry Township, but engages in farming as his chief pursuit, and 
owns a well improved farm of 100 acres. In 1880 he was united in 
marriage with Miss Margaret, daughter of Phineas Headley. Mrs. 
Headlee is of English origin. They are the parents of four children, 
viz: Cora, Ray, James Fay and Effie. Mr. Headlee is a Democrat. 
He and wife are prominent members of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. He is a self-made man, is industrious and energetic, and 
has a great many friends throughout the county. 

JOSEPH HEADLEE, farmer and stock-grower, is descended 
from the early setttlers of Greene County. He was born September 
9, 1834, and is a son of Jesse and Maria (Cox) Ileadlee. His mother 
was a native of New York. His father who was born in this county, 
was eminently successful as a farmer and owned 400 acres of land at 
the time of his death, March 15, 1876. Of his ten children, Joseph 
is the fourth and was reared on tiie farm in Perry Township. Mr. 
Headlee is an energetic, industrious farmer and owns ninety- 
three acres of well improved land where he resides, near Mount 
Morris, Penn. He was u,nited in marriage in Greene County, 
in 1869, with Catherine, daughter of Alexander Henderson. Her 
mother's maiden name was Catharine Lemley. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Headlee were born four children, viz: Earnest, Clyde, Mark and 
M. D. Mr. Ileadlee has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church since 1852. He is a member of the board of trustees, and 
talifi great interest in the welfare of his chosen denomination. lie 



HISTORY OK GREENE COUNTY. 819 

was drafted in 1863 and served liis regular term in the army. Mr. 
Ileadlee is a member of the ft. A. R., belonging to the Jesse Taylor 
Post, No. 450, of Mount ]\rorris, Penn. 

J. S. HOY, farmer and stock-grower, born in Whiteley Township, 
tliis county, January 18, 1843, is a son of James and Isabella 
(Kuhn) Hoy, also natives of ftreene County, and of German origin, 
llis father died in 1880. He was a farmer and stock-grower, and 
reared a family of eight children, of whom the subject of this sketch 
is the third. J. S. was reared in Perry Township, where he has lived 
since he was one year of age. He received his education in the 
common schools in this townsliip, and has made farming his life 
work. Mr. Hoy's farm contains 159 and three quarters acres of well 
improved land. He was married in this county, January 13, 1869, 
to Melissa, daughter of Isaac and Anna (Myers) Lemley. Her 
mother was born in Virginia, and her father in Perry Township, 
this county. Mr. and Mrs. Hoy have an interesting family of four 
children; viz., Eliza J., James Isaac, David Arthur, and Cassie Ellen. 
Mrs. Hoy died in 1884, a faithful member of the Southern Metho- 
dist Episcopal Church. Mr. Hoy is a Democrat. He is a genial, 
agreeable gentleman, and lias a wide circle of friends in the county. 

MORRIS LEIMLEY, farmer, stock-grower and drover, was born 
in Perry Township, April 2, 1834. His parents, Samuel and Mar- 
garet Lemley, were natives of Greene County, and of German ex- 
traction. His father, who was a farmer by occupation, moved to 
Iowa in the latter part of his life, wliere he died at the age eighty- 
six. Morris, the lifth in a family of ten children, was reared on the 
farm and attended the common school. He made his own way in the 
world, and is the owner of eight hundred acres of land — 360 in his 
home farm. Mr. Lemley's example is worthy of emulation. He 
first engaged in farming on rented property, and by his patient toil 
and unfailing industry has succeeded in accumulating a handsome 
fortune. In 1854 Mr. Lemley married Miss Martha Jane, daughter 
of Job and Margaret fSimington) l^hillips. Their children are: 
Margaret A., wife of William Ileadlee; Samuel, a farmer; Emeline, 
Elizabeth, Joseph us, and Spencer who died at the age of twenty-one 
years. Mr. Lemley is a Democrat. He and his wife are prominent 
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

CLARK LEMLEY, farmer and stock grower. Brock, Penn., was 
born in Perry Township, November 20, 1849, and is a son of Isaac 
and Anna (Myers) Lemley. His mother was born in West Virginia. 
His father is a native of this county and a prominent farmer of 
Whiteley Township. Clark is the third in a family of six children. 
He was reared in this county, where he received a common school 
education. Mr. Lemley has met with success as a farmer and owns 
152 acres of uood land where he resides. In 1870 he married Miss 



820 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

Eacliel, daughter of Eli and Mary (Dulaney) Headlee. Mr. and 
Mrs. Lemley's children aie Haddie L., William L., and Alva G. 
Mr. and Mrs. Leraley, with their oldest daughter are members of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a Democrat in politics. 

ASBERE.Y LEMLEY, farmer and stock-grower, was born June 
20, 1823, on the farm where he now resides in Perry Township. 
He is a son of David and Ruhana (Snider) Lemley, being the oldest 
of their eight children. His parents spent the most of their lives on 
a farm in this county, where Asberry was reared and received liis 
education in the common schools. Pie has made farming his chief 
pursuit, and is the owner of 300 acres of well improved land. Mr. 
Pemlej' was united in marriage, October 12, 1849, in Greene County, 
Penn., with Miss Rachel, daughter of John and Lydia Headlee. 
Mrs. Asberry Lemley is of English and German origin. They have 
eight children; viz., Kuhana, wife of William Howard; Elizabeth, 
wife of Thomas Patterson; L. L., David, Ijjdia, Martha, wife of 
Jonathan Kennedy; and Mary. Mr. Lemley is one of the most indus- 
trious and successful business men in his township. 

J. W. LONG, deceased, was born in Perry Township, this 
county, December 3, 1836, and died October 4, 1885. He was a 
highly respected citizen and one of Greene County's most successful 
business men, being at the time of his death the owner of over 800 
acres of land. Mr. Long was the son of George and Mary (Berge) 
Long who were natives of Ohio, and of English descent. They 
spent most of their lives in Greene County, Penn., where his father 
made fa,rming and stock-growing his chief pursuit. In 1860 the 
subject of our sketch married Minerva C, daughter of L. G. Yan- 
voorhis, a prominent farmer of Dunkard Township. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Long were born six children — F. G., proprietor of the Com- 
mercial Hotel at Oakland, Maryland; Frank W., a farmer; Fannie 
E., John J., Loyd L.and Lawrence George (deceased.) Mr. Long 
was a Republican in politics. He took an active interest in the 
schools of his township, and for many years served as school director. 

WILLIAM LONG, a farmer and stock-grower, residing near 
Mount Morris, Penn., was born near Garard's Fort, this county, 
December 22, 1831. He is a son of Samuel and Adaline (Mestrezat) 
Long, who were of French and Irish lineage. His father, who was 
farmer all his life, was twice married, and reared a family of six 
children, of whom William is the oldest, by the last marriage. He 
was reared on the farm in Whiteley Township, receiving his early 
education in the subscription schools. He made farming his chief 
pursuit, and has met with success-, being at the present the owner 
of 400 acres of good land in this township. In politics Mr. Long is 
a Democrat, as is also his son, Merritt Leonard Long, who was born 
in this township, March 7, 1869. His daughter Fannie E., was born 



HISTORY OF GREKNE COUNTY. 821 

March 30, 1876, in Perry Township. "William Long's father died 
in 1886, and his mother in 1880. 

COLEMAN LUELLEN, carriage and wagon manufacturer at 
Mount ]\Iorris, Gi-eene County, Penn., was born in Monongalia 
County, West Virginia, February 8, 1840. He is a son of William 
G. and Mary (Norris) Luellen, also natives of West Virginia, and of 
Welsh and English extraction. Mr. Luellen was reared on the home 
farm in West Virginia, where he received his education. He worked 
on the farm until 1861, when he went to Greene County, Penn., to 
learn the blacksmith trade. He then enlisted under Capt. J. B. 
Morris, in Company F, Seventh Virginia Volunteer Infantry and 
served three years and two months. After his return from the war, 
Mr. Luellen learned the wagon-maker's trade and has successfully 
engaged in that bu.siness at Mount Morris since 1868. He was 
united in marriage October 5, 1876, with Catharine, daughter of 
Philip and Rhoda (Dulaney) Hite. Their children are: Carrie L., 
Benjamin F., James W. and Luretta B. Mr. Luellen is a liepubli- 
can and a member of the G. A. P. Post, No. 4o0. He and wife 
belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

SPENCER MORRIS, M. D., Ph. D., of Greene County, Penn., 
was born at Garard's Fort, Penn., October 26, 1820. He is a son of 
Jonathan and Sarah (Clymer) Morris, who were of German and 
English extraction. His mother was a native of Bucks County, 
Penn. His father was born in Greene County; was a physician and 
merchant at Garard's Fort, and died July 19, 1848. Dr. Morris is 
a grandson of the Rev. John Corbly. The Doctor is the third in a 
family of four children. He was reared in the place of his nativit}-, 
and attended the common schools. He subsequently attended Greene 
Academy at Carmichaels, Penn., afterwards attended college in Vir- 
ginia. He then began the study of medicine at Cincinnati, Ohio, 
where he graduated in 1846, and was for some time thereafter in 
successful practice of his chosen profession in Greene County, Penn. 
In 1871 he received the degree of Doctor of Medicine from the 
medical department ot the University of Pennsylvania, afterwards 
the degree of Doctor of Philosopliy from the same institution. In 
1873 he graduated from the Jefferson Medical College in Philadel- 
])hia. For fifteen years he was a popular quiz teacher in that city, 
having large classes of medical students. In the summer of 1886 
he was elected to the chair of lecturer on the symptoms of diseases 
in the Medico-Chirnrgical College of Philadelphia. In 1851 Dr. 
Morris was united in marriage, in West Virginia, with Belinda A., 
daughter of John II. Bowlb^', and their summer residence is near the 
Mason and Dixon Line in Perry Township This has been their quiet 
retreat for several years. Here the Doctor is sought after for his 
excellent medical advice by patients for miles around. 



822 HISTOKY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

LEVI MOKRIS, son of George and Margaret Morris, was born 
on the waters of Whiteley Creek, on the 14th day of April, 1783. 
His mother was the oldest child of Kev. John Corbly, whose second 
wife and several of their children were massacred by the Indians at 
Garard's Fort, on the 10th day of May, 1781. Levi Morris was mar- 
ried to Lncretia Stephens in 1809. lie bought a farm and went to 
housekeeping on Dunkard Creek, near the present site of Mount 
Morris. This farm was all in the woods and the nearest store was 
at Greensboro, twelve miles distant. There was but little use for a 
store, however, at that early history of the country, for the clothing 
worn by both sexes was domestic, or home-made, and coffee was used 
but once a week — Sunday morning. Mr. Morris, with three of his 
brothers, volunteered and served in Captain Seeley's cavalry company 
in the war of 1812. Soon after the war he bought another farm and 
laid out the town of Mount Morris, which bears his name, and re- 
sided there until his death. Soon after the war he was appointed 
justice of the peace, which ofhce he held until near the close of his 
life. Living near the State of Yirginia, a State in which a marriage 
license was required, and none being required in Pennsylvania, his 
oflice was the Gretna Green, to which many of the lads and lassies 
hied to have their nuptials consummated. Mr. Morris kej)t the. first 
liotel in Mount Morris, and engaged in milling, farming and stock- 
raising, always keeping the best blooded stock in the county. Pie 
raised a family of eleven children, seven sous and four daughters, all 
of whom grew to maturity, each raising a family. Margaret married 
Patrick Donley ; Louisa, George Lemley; Hannah, Abner J^arrison; 
Josephus li.. Temperance Smith; "W. G., Emily Kirby; Jefferson S., 
Sarah Ingram; Edward E., Elizabeth Smitli, and for second wife, 
Rhetta Roberts; Thomas I., Sarah Way; James B., Keziah Way; 
Levi A., Samantha Brown; and Lncretia, C. C. flardin. Levi Mor- 
ris died an honored and respected citizen on the 20th day of Janu- 
ary, 1842, his widow and all their children surviving him. Lncretia 
Morris, his widow, died April 15, 1885, at the ripe old age of ninety- 
five years and four months. Her children, grandchildren, and great- 
grandchildren number over two hundred, and reside in several States. 
Their son, Major James B. Morris, is perhaps the best known man 
in the county. He is respected for his liberality and true manliness, 
both as a soldier and a citizen. He was reared and educated in 
Mount Morris, and has been employed in farming, milling and stock- 
growing. He was married in Monongalia County, W. Va., August 
26, 1848, to Keziah, daughter of Gideon and Jane (Sturgis) Way, of ■ 
English extraction. They were natives of Fayette County, Penn., 
but spent most of their lives in Monongalia County, W. Ya. Major 
Morris and wife have a family of seven children — Mary J., wife of 
W. F. Lewellen, of West Virginia; Belle M., wife of Jerome Van- 



IIISTOKY OF GltKENE CO|tNTY. 823 

vooihis, of Dimkard Township; Emma L., wife of J. W. Hatfield; 
George G., a physician at Washington, D. C, and F. K. and S. W., 
deceased. Their mother is a devoted member of the Baptist Cliurch. 
Major Morris is a Republican, has been school director at Mount 
Morris, and was special agent for the U. S. Treasury Department for 
several years. In 1861 he enlisted in Company F, Seventh West 
Virginia Volunteer Infantry, and served as Captain until 1862, wiien 
he was pi-omoted to the position of Major, in which capacity he 
served until the expiration of his term, then returned to Mount 
Morris. The tirst man killed from Greene County belonged to Cap- 
tain Morris' Company, and was killed October 26, 1861. 

JOSEPH PATTERSON, farmer and stock-grower. Brock, Perm., 
was born in Whitelej Township, this county, March 29, 1829. He is 
the oldest son of William and Rhoda (Whitlatch) Patterson, who 
were natives of Greene County, and of German and Irish ancestry. 
Like his father, Joseph has been a successful farmer through life. 
In 1850 he married Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth 
Mooney. Mrs. Patterson is of German and English origin. They 
have eight children, of whom William Franklin is the second. He 
also is a farmer and stock-grower, and was born in AVhiteley Town- 
ship February 18, 1854. lie received a common-school education, 
and early in lite engaged in the mercantile trade at Waynesville for 
three years. He has since dev'oted his time to farming and has met 
with success. He is the owner of 135A- acras of well improved land. 
Mr. Patterson was united in marriage in Greene County, December 
22, 1872, with Elizabeth, daughter of Jacob Whitlatch, and they are 
the parents of seven children, viz: Ros5, David, Enlow, Arthur, 
Norval, Ada and Harvey. Mr. and Mrs. Patterson are members of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church, in M'hich he is a trustee. He is a 
Democrat in politics. 

MINOR N. REAMER, dentist,was born in Monongahela Town- 
ship, Greene County, Penn., February 2, 1846. He is a son of 
Benjamin and Anna Maria (Minor) Reamer who were of AVelsh and 
German ancestry. His father, a farmer, died in 1866. Minor, the 
third in a family of four children, was reared in his native township 
attended the district schools and was subsequently a student in 
Waynesburg College for one year. Early in life lie studied dentistry 
in Greensboro, where he commenced the practice of his profession 
in 1871, remaining there three years. He then located at Mount 
Morris, Penn., where he has since been actively engaged in the prac- 
tice of dentistry. The Doctor is a Republican. In 1861 he enlisted 
in Company G., Eighty-Fifth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and 
served two years. He is an active member of the G. A. R., belono-s 
to the I. O. O. F. and is officer of the day in Post No. 450, for 188^8. 
In 1871 Dr. Reamer married Miss Fannie, daughter of G. C. Black. 



824 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

Her mother's maiden name was Rebecca Sowers. Thej were of Ger- 
man extraction. Doctor and Mrs. Reamer are the parents of three 
children — Harry B., Nellie E. and Emma D. Their mother is a 
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

Z. T. SHULTZ, farmer and stock-grower, Kirby, Penn., was born 
in Whiteley Township, this county, July 20, 1848, and is a son of 
Elijah and Ruth A. (Bailey) Shultz, who were of German and English 
descent. His mother died in 1881. His father, now seventy-four 
years of age, is a resident of Waynesburg, Penn. The subject of 
our sketch was reared in Perry Township, where he has engaged in 
farming most of his life. He received a common-school education, 
also attended Waynesburg College and subsequently taught for live 
years. liis home farm contains one hundred and twenty-seven acres 
of well improved land. Mr. Shultz taught in this county, in Iowa, 
and West Virginia, but has devoted his time wholly to farming since 
1872 — the year he was married. liis wife was Miss Hettie A., 
daughter of Justus and Mary (Bowen) Cowell, and their children are 
Minnie M., Harmon R., Elijah F., Gurney W. and Harold L. Mr. 
and Mrs. Shultz are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 
politics he is a Republican, and has served as a school director in his 
township. 

A. SNIDER, a retired blacksmith of Mount Morris, Penn., was 
born in Monongalia County, West Virginia, October 8, 1813. He is 
a son of Jeremiah and Anna (Rich) Snider who were also natives of 
West Virginia, and of German lineage. His great-grandfather came 
from Germany to America and settled in Virginia. Jeremiah Snider 
was twice married and reared a family of thirteen children. The 
subject of our sketch was the third child by the second marriage. 
He was reared on a farm and attended the subscription school in his 
native township. He was employed as a farm laborer early in life 
and in 1853 learned the blacksmith's trade with Daniel Bowen, in 
Waynesbnrg, Penn. He then engaged in that business at Mount 
Morris and has met with success. Mr. Snider is the owner of 
valuable town property and one hundred and sixty acres of land in 
Perry Township. In 1838 he married Mary Bowers; they have had a 
family of six children; viz., Lucretia, wife of James Fox; Elmer, a 
blacksmith, and Lindsey. Jacob Rolla, Mary J. and Eliza, deceased. 
Mary J. was the wife of Oliver Evans, now deceased. Mr. Snider is 
a Democrat in politics. He has served as school director and three 
terms as assessor in his township. He and wife are prominent 
members of the Methodist Protestant Church. 

JESSE SPITZNAGEL, farmer and stock-grower, Brock, Penn., 
was born in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, February 24, 1888. He 
is a son of Simon and Jemima (Miller), Spitznagel, who were also 
natives of Fayette County, and of English and German origin. His 



HISTORY OF GRKKNE COUlNfTY. 825 

father was a successful farmer daring his life-time. His family con- 
sisted of eleven children, of whom Jesse is tlie lifth. He was 
reared on the farm, has been successful in his chosen occupation and 
owns the larni of one hundred and live acres where he now resides. 
In 1856 Mr. Spitznagel married Miss Dorotha Whitlatch, who was a 
native of this county and of German extraction. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Spitznagel were born five children, viz. — Loziella, wife of Alpheus 
Wade; Simon E., John, Lewis G. and Lucinda. Mr. Spitznagel is a 
Republican in politics and belongs to the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, of which his deceased wife was also a devoted member. 
Mrs. Spitznagel died March 5, 1887, a faithful wife and kind and 
loving mother. 

SPENCER STEPHENS, farmer and stock-grower, Mount Morris, 
Penn., was born in Greene Township, this county, September 15, 
1839. He is a son of Washington and Joan (Steel) Stephens, being 
the oldest of their eight cliildren. His parents were of English an- 
cestory. His fatlier was a farmer all his life. Spencer was reared 
on the farm with his parents, where he attended the district school. 
He has made farming his main occupation and owns the farm wiiere 
he resides in Perry Township. In 1865 he was united in marriage 
in Greene County, with Miss Abigail, daughter of Joseph Conner. 
Mrs. Stephens is of Irish and English extraction. Their children 
are Rebecca, Albert, S. C, Leroy, Mary Alice, Stacy and Clara. The 
family belong to the Baptist Church of which Mr. Stephens is 
an official member. He is a Republican in politics. He takes an 
active interest in the education of liis children, the oldest two of 
whom are teachers. In 1862 Mr. Stephens enlisted in Company A., 
One Hundred and Fortieth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. He 
was a non-commissioned officer and served under Gen. Hancock. 
Mr. Stephens was in the battles of Gettysbnrg,[]Chancellor8ville and 
the Wilderness and served until the close of the war. 

LEWIS WHITLATCH, farmer and stock-grower. Brock, Penn., 
was born in Perry Township, Greene County, Penn., January 10, 
1855. His parents, Jacob and Catharine (Ileadiee) Whitlatch, were 
also natives of this county and of English extraction. His father, who 
was a farmer througli life, died in 1884, a highly respected citizen. 
His family consisted of eleven cliildren, ten of whom grew to matu- 
rity. Lewis is the ninth and was reared on the farm in his native 
township, where he attended the common school. Mr. Whitlatch 
has made farming his chief pursuit, and has also engaged to some 
extent in the mercantile trade. He has made a success of his busi- 
ness and owns a farm of one hundred and seventy acres. In 1884 
Mr. Whitlatch married Hannah, daughter of William Conley. She 
is of English and German origin. They have one child — Goldie 
Lee. Mr. and Mrs. Wliitlatch are members of the Methodist 



826 HiSTOijy OF geeene county. 

Episcopal Church. He has been a steward, class-leader and trustee 
in the church, and held various important positions in the Sabbath- 
school. In politics he is a Eepublican. 



RICHHILL TOWNSHIP. 

F. W. BALDWIN, farmer and stock-grower, Eyerson's Station, 
Penn., was born in iiichhill Township, this county, July 15, 1846, 
and is a son of S. W. and Nancy A. (J3arnett) Baldwin, who were of 
English, Irish and Dutch lineage. His mother was a native of 
Greene County. His father, who was born in Washington County, 
Penn., was a mechanic and farmer by occupation, and died in 1884. 
The subject of this sketch is the only member of his father's family 
who grew to maturity. He was raised on the farm with his parents 
and chose agricultural pursuits as his business through life. He 
also worked in his father's mill for years until the mill was sold. 
Mr. Baldwin is the owner of three farms, containing in all 271 acres. 
He has been very successful in his undertakings. Mr. Baldwin was 
united in marriage September 14, 1871, with Susan, daughter of 
George and Elizabeth (Nuss) Woodruff, who are of English and 
German origin. They have six children, viz. — Eva E., John W., 
Mary A. L., George M., Ira C. and Michael, who died in his in- 
fancy. Mr. and Mrs. Baldwin are members of tlie Baptist Church, 
in which he has served as deacon and treasurer. 

ELLIS BANE. — Among the prominent farmers and stock-grow- 
ers who spent a long life in Greene County was Ellis Bane, deceased, 
who was born in Eichhill Township, March 6, 1804, and died in 
1882. He was a son of Jesse Bane, a pioneer settler of this county. 
The history of the family shows them to have been farmers, and 
usually successful. At the time of his death Mr. Bane was the 
owner of 400 acres of land. His remains lie in Leazure Cemetery; 
a handsome monument marks the last resting place. He was twice 
married. His second wife was Elizabeth Conkey. Three of their 
children are now living, the oldest being Ellis Bane, who now resides 
on the home farm, and owns 237 acres of well improved land. He 
was born in Eichhill Township, received a common-school education, 
has been an industrious, energetic farmer, and successful in his busi- 
ness. Mr. Bane was married in October, 1886, in West Virginia to 
Lelia, daughter of Joshua and Eebecca (Fitzgerald) Hipsley. Mrs. 



IIISTOKY OF GREENE COUNTY. 827 

Bane is of English and Irish descent. They have one child — Clyde. 
Mr. Bane is a strict adherent of the Democratic party. His wife is 
a member of the Presbyterian Church. 

A. B. BARNETT, teacher, farmer and stock-grower, was born 
in Richhill Township, July 11, 1842. He is a son of John and 
Margaret (Stougliton) Barnett, natives of Greene County, and of 
Irish and Welsh extraction. His father, who was a farmer, died 
June 12, 1859. The gentleman whose name heads this sketch is 
the seventh son and the youngest in a family of eleven children. 
He was reared on the farm he now owns, and received his education 
in the district school. He subsequent!}' attended the State Normal 
School, ciioso teaching as a profession, and enjoys the well deserved 
reputation of being one of the foremost educators in the county. 
He also takes an active interest in the teachers' institutes. Mr. 
Barnett owns and manages a farm of 151 acres of land well stocked 
and improved. He was united in marriage February 21, 1873, with 
Miss Jennie, daughter of Stephen Durbin. Mrs. Barnett is of Irish 
descent. Their children are — Leni Clare, Neicie and Bessie B. 
Mr. and Mrs. Barnett are members of the Baptist Church. 

JOHN BEBOUT, farmer and stock-grower, was born in Moi'ris 
Townsliiji, Greene County, Penn., January 17, 1845. His parents 
were Moses and Elizabeth (Sraalley) Bebout, natives of Pennsylvania, 
and of English lineage. His father was a farmer and stock-dealer, 
and at tlie time of his death resided in Greene County. He had a 
family of eight children; of these, seven are living, John Bebout, 
the subject of our sketch, being the youngest. He received his 
education in the common school, and from an early age up to the 
present has been engaged in farming. He owns 337 acres of valu- 
able land where he resides in Riclihill Township. Mr. Bebout was 
married in this county in 1863 to Lizzie, a daughter of Joseph 
Tilton, a brother of Rev. Charles W. Tilton, a Baptist minister of 
Jefferson, Penn.; also a brother of Rev. Morgan Tilton, of Rutan, 
Penn. Mr. and Mrs. Bebout's children are — Charles B., John L., 
I. Tilton and Willie S. living, and two infant daughters deceased. 
Mr. Bebout is a Democrat. His wife is a consistent member of the 
Baptist Church. 

I. C. BOOIIER, justice of the peace, Ryerson's Station, Penn., 
is a native of Washington County, Penn., and of A\'"elsh and German 
ancestry. His father has dealt extensively in horses, and now re- 
sides in Richhill Township, Greene County. His family consists of 
live children, of whom the subject of our sketch is the second. He 
was reared on the farm and received his education in the common 
schools, and Greene Academy at Carmichaels, Penn. He remained 
at home with his parents until he reached his majority, tlien clerked 
in a general store for two years. He has, however, devoted his time 



828 HISTOKY Oi' GRKENE COUNTY. 

principally to farming, stock-growing and milling, and for several 
years owned and operated a valuable mill at Ryerson's Station. The 
mill was burned down February 19, 1885, resulting in a loss to Mr. 
Booher of $7,000. He owns the farm where he now resides, con- 
taining 130 acres. In 1854 Mr. Booher married Miss Eebecca' J., 
daughter of John Barnett. She was of Irish and Welsh extraction. 
Their childreh are — Anderson R., James L., S. E., Jesse L., J. 
Bentley, Mary M., M. Lattie, Wilmetta and Birdie. Mr. and Mrs. 
Booher are members of the South Wheeling Baptist Church. He is 
deacon in the ehnrch, and takes an active interest in the Sabbath- 
school. He is serving on his fourth term as justice of the peace. 

JAMES H. BRADDOCK, Harvey's, Penn.— Among the des- 
cendants of the ear.y settlers of this county we mention the gentle- 
man whose name heads this sketch. He was born on the farm he 
now owns, September 18, 1819, and is a son of Francis and Ann 
(Gray) Braddock. His mother was the daughter of Judge Gray, one 
of the first associate judges in this part of the State. Mr. Braddock's 
parents were born in the old fort near Washington, Penn., and were 
of Irish and English origin. His father died in 1856. Mr. James 
H. Braddock is the seventh in a family of nine children. He has 
been a very successful farmer, accumulating quite a good deal of 
property, the greater part of which he has given to his childi'en. In 
1845 Mr. Braddock was united in marriage with Miss Jane, daugh- 
ter of William and Sarah (Cox) Henderson. Their children are — 
Adda, wife of Thomas Blair; Frank, a clerk in the War Depart- 
ment at Washington, D. C; and Sadie, wife of Dr. Teagarden, of 
West Yirginia. Mrs. Braddock died in 1876. In 1883 Mr. Brad- 
dock married Miss Belle, daughter of Ephraim McClelland. They 
are members of the Presbyterian Church, in whicb Mr. Braddock 
has been an elder for a period of fifteen years. He also takes an 
active interest in the Sabbath-school, of which he is now assistant 
superintendent. In politics he is a Republican. 

NEWTON H. BRADDOCK, farmer and stock-grower, was born 
in Richhill Township, June 1, 1834, and is a son of David and Susan 
(Crow) Braddock. He is a descendant of the pioneer settlers of this 
county, a brief history of whom is given in the biographical sketch 
of F. M. Braddock, also a resident of this township. Newton Brad- 
dock is the fourth of a family of nine children. He was reared on the 
farm in Richhill Township, and attended the district school. He has 
made farming his occupation and owns 160 acres of valuable land, 
where he now resides. In 1869 Mr. Braddock married Miss Jane, 
daughter of Alexander Burns. Their children are — Lizzie N. and 
David G., Jr. In 1864 Mr. Braddock enlisted in Battery B, First 
Pennsylvania Light Artillery, and was with the army of the Potomac 
at Lee's surrender. He taught in the schools of Richhill Township 



IIISTOUY OF GKEENE COUNTY. 829 

eacli winter from 185G till 1873, except the time he spent in the 
army, and has also served as school director, and was secretary of said 
board. lie is a Republican, and a member of the G. A. R. Post. 

F. M. BKADDOCK, farmer and stock-grower, born August 14, 
1830, is a son of David G. and Susan (Crow) Braddock, who were of 
English and Irish and German origin. His father was born in Rich- 
hill Township in 1807, and still resides on the old Braddock farm, 
which has been in the possession of the family for more than a hun- 
dred years. His family now living consists of nine children. Francis 
Braddock, great-grandfather of F. M. Braddock, was one of the pioneer 
settlers of this county when the western part of it was all a wilder- 
ness. He first settled in Richliill Township, he settling on the old 
Braddock farm which he took from the Government. F. M. Brad- 
dock's maternal grandfather, Jacob Crow, was also among the first 
settlers in this part of the connty, and his family of two boys and 
three girls were murdered by the Indians in Richhill Township. In 
the Braddock family there are many successful farmers and prominent 
professional men. As a farmer the subject of our sketch has been 
very successful, and now owns a 150 acre farm which is in a high 
state of cidtivation. Mr. Braddock was united in marriage November 
20, 1862, with Maria J., daughter of Dr. W. B. Porter. Mrs. Brad- 
dock was of English and Scotch-Irish ancestry. She died in 1880, 
leaving a family of three children — Eva L., wife of Charles Bucking- 
ham; Sherman F., and Mary, now deceased. In politics Mr. Brad- 
dock is a Republican. He has been an able member of the school 
board in his township. 

D. A. BRADDOCK, the fourth son of David G. and Susanna 
(Crow) Braddock, was born in Richhill Township in May, 1840. He 
was raised on the farm, attended the common-schools, and has made 
farming and stock-growing his business, although he has worked at 
the carpenter's trade to some extent. He owns a good farm of 106 
acres near Harvey's, Penn. Mr. Braddock was married in December 
1877, near Marysville, Union Connty, Ohio. His wife's maiden 
name was Lucella Henderson, daughter of Thomas and Ethel 
(McGee) Henderson, She was born in West Virginia. Mr. and 
Mrs. Braddock have one son — J. li. Braddock. Mrs. Braddock is a 
meml)er of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Braddock is a Republican 
in politics. The Braddocks were originally from Loudoun County, 
Virginia, and were among the first settlers of Greene Connty, Penn. 

ROBERT BRISTOR, deceased. — Among the prominent citizens 
of Richhill Township, and descendants of the earliest settlers of 
Greene County, we mention the gentleman whose name heads this 
sketch. He was born May 31, 1835. His mother's maiden name 
was Delilah Ilixenbaugh. His father was a farmer and surveyor, 
and one of the most prominent citizens of the county. He was of 



830 HISTORY OF GREKNE COUNTY. 

German and English ancestry. Robert Bristor, the third in a family 
of seven children, was reared on a farm in Richhill Township. He 
was a successful farmer and stock-grower during his lifetime, being 
at the time of his death, in 1873, the owner of a farm of 171 acres, 
where his family now resides. In April, 1856, Mr. Bristor married 
Eliza, daughter of John and Ann (McNeely) Gillogly, who were of 
Irish extraction. To Mr. and Mrs. Bristor were born the following 
named children: John F., J. G., J. 11., L. L., W. S., Anna, wife of 
L. Booher; Lizzie, Eobert and William. Mr. Bristor belonged to the 
Christian Church, of which his widow is also a member. In politics 
he was a Republican. 

ABRAHAM CLUTTER, farmer and stock-grower, was born in 
Morris Township, Washington County, May 18, 1822. He is a son 
of William and Sarah (McNaj) Clutter, also natives of Washington 
County, and of German extraction. John Clutter, grandfather of 
Abraham Clutter, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, serving 
under General Washington. The subject of this sketch grew to 
maturity in his native county, attended the district schools and has 
made farming his chief occupation. He was married January 12, 
1845, to Jane, daughter of James Meek, ex-treasurer of Greene 
County, and now a resident of Jackson Township. Mr. and Mrs. 
Clutter are the parents of eleven children, ten of whom are now living, 
viz.: John, Luella, wife of Thomas Hare; Andrew J., George W., 
Sadie, wife of William Conkey; Mary J., wife of B. Temple; Rachel, 
wife of John F. Donley; A. Judson, Frank and Clarabel. Elizabeth 
is deceased. Mr. Clutter has given his children the advantages of 
good schools, and they are highly respected in the community. He 
is a member of the Disciple Church, in which he is a deacon, aiid 
takes great interest in the Sabbath-school. In politics he is a 
Democrat. 

WILLIAM CLUTTER, farmer and stock-grower, is a native of 
Morris Township, Washington County, born March 2, 1828. His 
parents are Cephas and Laney (Day) Clutter, natives of Pennsylvania, 
and of German and Irish descent. Llis father, a farmer of Cen'er 
Township, is now eighty-five years of age. Lie reared a family of 
seven children, five of whom are now living. The subject of this 
sketch, having been reared on a farm, has made farming his chief 
pursuit and has met with success in his business, owning a good farm 
of 132 acres where he resides in Richhill Township. In 1847 Mr. 
Clutter married Miss May J. Ilunnell. They have nine children — 
Lana, deceased, who was the wife of F. Conger; John M., Jane, wife 
of S. McYay; Elizabeth, wife of Simon Pettit; Catharine, wife 'of 
Thomas lams; Belle, wife of George Kinney; Ida Ella, and Cephas. 
Mrs. Clutter died in 1880; she was a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. In 1881 Mr. Clutter married Mary Shape, of 



HISTORY OP GREENE COUNTY. 831 

Morris Township. Mr. Clutter is a Democrat. In 1862 he enlisted 
in Company A, One Hundred and Sixty-eighth Pennsyh'ania Volun- 
teer Infantry, and was discharged in 1863, at the expiration of his 
term of sei'vice. 

J. M. CO^KEY, farmer and stock-grower, was born in liichhill 
Township, November 9, 1836. His parents, John and Mary (Prong) 
Conkey, were respectively natives of Virginia and Greene County, 
Penn., and were of English and Irish and German origin. His 
father was a plow-maker, and served in the war of 1812. He was 
also a successful fai'mer, and accumulated a handsome fortune. He 
died in 18S4. Of his family of nine children, J. M. Conkey is next 
to the youngest. He was raised on a farm, attended the common- 
schools and has served three years in the war of 1861; he has been a 
successful farmer and stock-grower. He owns a well-stocked and 
improved farm of 137 acres in Richliill Township, and in 1886 pur- 
chased the grist-mill at Grays vi lie, which he now operates. In 1866 
Mr. Conkey was married to Miss Celestia Moninger, daughter of 
George and Susan (Piddle) IMoninger, who were of English descent. 
Mr. and Mrs. Conkey 's children are Royal, Ada and Jennie. Mr. 
Conkey is a Democrat. He and his wife are members of the Presby- 
terian Church. 

JAMES HAEVEY CONKEY, farmer and stock-grower, born 
in Richliill Township, August 2, 1840, is a son of John and Mary 
(Prong) Conkey, who wei-e respectively natives of Pennsylvania and 
Virginia, and of English, Irish and German origin. His father was 
a farmer daring his lifetime, and died in 1884. His family consisted 
of seven children, of whom James Harvey is the youngest. He has 
from his youth been engaged in agricultural pursuits, in which voca- 
tion he has met with success and is the owner of 135 acres of well 
improved land in Richliill Township. In 1867 Mr. Conkey married 
Anna Eliza Marsh, who is a daughter of Phillip Marsii, and of Eng- 
lish descent. Mr. and Mrs. Conkey have seven children — John, 
Mary, James, Thomas, Emmett, Elsie and Otto. Mr. Conkey is a 
Democrat. He and wife are members of the Cumberland Presby- 
terian Church. 

HIRAM DAY, retired farmer and stock-grower, was born in 
Morris Township, this county, December 18, 1814. lie is a son of 
William and Mary (Sutton) Day, who were of English descent. 
His father, who spent the latter part of his life as a farmer, was a 
shoemaker in earlier years, and among the first settlers in Morris 
Townsliip. The subject of this sketch is the fifth in a family of ten 
children and was raised on the farm, receiving a limited education 
in the common schools. He came to Richhill Township when he 
was a young man and opened a farm in the wild woods, M'here his 
only possessions were an ax, a maul, iron wedge and a grubbing 



832 HISTORY OF greene county. 

hoe. He has since accumulated enough to keep himself and family 
in luxury, and owns 250 acres of well improved land. Mr. Day was 
first married November 28, 1839, to Miss May E., daughter of Sam- 
uel Thompson. Mrs. Day was of German origin; she died March 
14, 1863. Their children were Eliza Jane, wife of "Warren Burns, 
and William A. Mr. Day's present wife was the widow of David 
Dougal. Her maiden name was Dorcas Blair, a daugliter of Alex- 
ander Blair, who was of Irish descent. Mr. and Mrs. Day have 
one son, Harvey. Mrs. Day is a member of the Presbyterian Church, 
Mr. Day is the treasurer of the Sabbath-school. He is a Democrat 
in politics. 

W. S. DRAKE, merchant and dealer in agricultural implements, 
Jacksonville, Penn., was born in Morgan Township, February 11, 
1838. He is a son of Francis and Eliza (Stewart) Drake, who were 
respectively natives of New Jersey and Washington County, Penn., 
and of English, Scotch and German origin. His father was a chair 
maker and painter, and was also skilled in other trades. He died 
February 20, 1878. The subject of this sketch is the oldest of a 
family of live children, four of whom are living. He was raised in 
this county, receiving his education in the common schools of Mor- 
gan, Jefferson and Richhill townships. He taught for several 
years and, in 1860, being desirous of seeing more of the woi-ld, he 
went to Texas, where he again engaged in school teaching until 1862. 
He then enlisted in the Twenty-ninth Texas Cavalry, was Orderly 
Sergeant, and served until 1865. While his service was in the Con- 
federate army, yet at heart he was a Union man. In 1865, he, with 
about one-hundred others, started for the Union lines and were 
captured and returned, and were in prison when the war closed. 
After the close of the war Mr. Drake again taught school for a year 
in Denton County, Texas, and in 1866 returned to Richhill Town- 
ship, for four years engaging in farming and carpenter work. In 
1870 he formed his present partnership with Perry Sowers, dealing 
in general stock, wool and farming implements. In 1861 Mr. Drake 
married Miss Julia E., daughter of George C. and Julia E. (Ohl- 
hausen) Parker. Her father was born in Virginia and her mother 
near Philadelphia, Penn. They were of English and German origin. 
Mr. and Mrs. Drake have six children — Anna, wife of Silas Jen- 
nings; May, John, W. C, George and Emma. Mr. Drake is a 
Democrat, and a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity. 

GEORGE W. FERRELL, a shoemaker by occupation, was born 
in Center Township, April 16, 1828, and is a son of Peter and 
Nancy (Ilnffman) Ferrell who were, respectively, natives of New 
Jersey and Pennsylvania, and of German extj-action. His father was 
a farmer and his family consisted of ten children, of whom George 
W. is the eighth. lie received a common-school education and 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 833 

early in life learned the shoemaker's trade, which he has made his 
main occupation. Mr. P'errell has lived in Jacksonville, Penn., since 
1848. He has been twice married — first, in 1850, to Sarah Isabella 
Pettit, and they were the parents of three children — James M., a 
merchant at New Freeport, Penn.; "VV. S., a shoemaker, and Clara 
I., wife of William John. Mrs. Ferrell died in 1858, and in 1859 
Mr. Ferrell married Nancy, daughter of James R. Throckmorton. 
At the time of their marriage she was the widow of Stephen Durbin. 
Mr. and Mrs. Durbin were the parents of two cliildren — Jennie, 
wife of A. P. Parnett, and Mary, wife of W. A. Day. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Ferrell have been liorn the following named children — Ida May. 
deceased, M'ho was the wife of John Henderson; Lizzie C, wife of 
Perry F. Wright; Efiie A. and Harvey D. W. Mr. and Mrs. Ferrell 
are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, in which 
he is a trustee. In politics he is a Pepublicau. He is a member and 
present chaplain of the G. A. Ti. Post, No. 428. In 1864 Mr. Fer- 
rell enlisted in Company F, Eighty-iifth Pennsylvania Volunteer 
Infantry and served till the close of the war, being present at Lee's 
surrender. 

H. B. FLETCHER, farmer and stock-grower, was born April 
12, 1830, on the farm he now owns, and where he has spent all his 
life, in Pichhill Township. He is a son of William and Nancy (Bane) 
Fletcher, who were of Irish and English descent. His father was 
born in Ireland in 1808, came to Philadelphia, Penn., in 1821, and 
soon after came to Jefl'erson Township, Greene County, and spent 
the remainder of his life. He died in 1869. The subject of this 
sketch is his only child who grew to maturity. He received a com- 
mon-school education, and has made a success of farming, beino- at 
present the owner of 200 acres of valuable land. In 1858 Mr. 
Fletcher married Mary, daughter of Abraham Rickey, and they have 
a family of seven children — Edward, J. W., William, Frank, W. C-, 
Lydia and Clara B. Mr. Fletcher is a Repuljlican. His wife is a 
member of the Presbyterian Church. 

WILLIAM R. FONNER, retired farmer and stock-grower, was 
born in Morris Township, Greene County, Penn., September 5, 1824. 
He is a son of Henry and Abigail (Taylor) Fonner, who were of 
German and English descent. His father was a teacher in early life, 
in later years a farmer. He came across the mountains and settled 
in Greene County in 1801, and died in 1851, at the age of seventy- 
five years. William R. Fonner is the fourth in a family of seven 
children, six of whom grew to be men and women. He received his 
education in the schools of the county. In his business as a farmer 
he has ever exercised good judgment and practiced economy and now 
owns a fine farm of 200 acres in Richhill Township, where he now 
enjoys a life of retirement. In July of 1849 Mr. Fonner married 



834 HISTOET OP GREENE COUNTY, 

Eliza, daiigliter of Samuel and Nancy (Flicls) Rail, and they had a 
family of two son, both now deceased, and two daughters — Mary Ann, 
wife of Daniel Miller, and Hannah J., wife of Miles Meek. In re- 
ligion Mr. Fonner is a Baptist, in politics a Republican. 

A. J. GOODWIN, merchant, Jacksonville, Penn., was born in 
Washington County, Penn., February 2, 1817, and is a son of John 
and Sarah (Gardner) Goodwin, natives of Washington County, and 
of German origin. His father was a weaver and farmer, and reared 
a family of ten children. The subject of this sketch is the second 
child, and lived on the farm with his parents until he was fifteen 
years of age. The family then came to Greene County, and settled 
on a farm in Center Township. Mr. Goodwin attended school in an 
old log school-house. He naturally took up his father's occupation, 
and was engaged therein until he reached his majority. He then 
began working at the carpenter's trade and stone work, and took con- 
tracts for buildings. He was engaged in this business for a period 
of twelve years or more, and succeeded in gaining a good start in the 
world. From 1850 to 1874 he devoted his time principally to farm- 
ing and stock-growing. Since that time he has been in his present 
business, in the store owned by his son for five years previous to 
1874. In 1842 Mr. Goodwin married Miss Eliza, daughter of Will- 
iam and Lydia (Russell) Sargent, and they have four children — Eliza- 
beth, wife of Martin Supler; Lydia, wife of Samuel Grim; J. T., 
wholesale druggist in Wheeling, W. Ya., and William (deceased). 
Mrs. Goodwin was a member of the Baptist Church until her death 
in 1871. Mr. Goodwin belongs to the Christian Church, in which 
he has been superintendent of the Sabbath-school. Mr. Goodwin is 
(1888) the Prohibition candidate for sheriff of Greene County. 

DANIEL GOODWIN, farmer and stock-grower, Wind Ridge, 
Penn., was born in Washington County, Penn., April 3, 1820. and is 
a son of John and Sarah (Gardner) Goodwin, natives of Pennsylvania 
and of German origin. His father was a weaver and farmer, and 
reared a family of nine children, the subject of our sketch being the 
oldest. He was i-eared on the farm on Ten-Mile Creek in Center 
Township, where he attended the district school. Mr. Goodwin is a 
very successful farmer, industrious, economical and prudent in his 
business. He has succeeded in accumulating a handsome fortune. 
He started in life a poor boy, his first investment in land being the 
purchase of thirty acres on time when land was very cheap, and when 
he did not have money enough to pay for five acres at present prices. 
But through energy and determination to succeed he has been able 
to add to his possessions, until now he is the owner of 600 acres of 
valuable land, well stocked and improved. Mr. Goodwin was nnited 
in marriage, in 1844, with Miss Julia Ann, daughter of Ezekiel and 
Catharine (Huffman) Braden, who were of Irish and German origin. 



History of greene county. 835 

Mr. and Mrs. Goodwin were the parents of five cliildren — Eliza J., 
wife of Richard Supler; Sarali, wife of D. W. Vanatta; John, Mary 
A. and Daniel Mack. Mrs. Goodwin died March 5, 1888. Mr. 
Goodwin is a member of the Baptist Church, in which he has served 
as deacon for many years. He takes an active interest in the schools 
of his district, and has served a number of years as school director. 

THOMAS L. GRAY, farmer and stock-grower, was born in 
Marshall Connty, W. Va., August 19, 1824, and is a son of Matthew 
and Sarah (Lazear) Gray. They were natives of Pennsylvania, his 
mother having been born on the farm where the subject of our sketch 
now resides. His father, wlio war a farmer all his life, died in 1884. 
Thomas L. Gray is a member of a family of nine children. He was 
reai-ed on the farm where he now resides, and has made farming his 
main occupation, in connection with which he has engaged in the coal 
business extensively, having opened a valuable bank on his farm 
about twenty years ago. Mr. Gray is the owner of 600 aci'es of land, 
170 acres being in his home farm in Richhill Township, and .300 
acres in Washington County. In 1859 Mr. Gray married Miss Han- 
nah, daughter of James and Hannah Barnhart. Their children are 
— John W., a farmer; James M., Sarah L., wife of Peter Gibbons; 
Benjamin Franklin, Margaret, wife of James Braden; Hannah, Jesse 
L. and Thomas L. Mr. Gray is a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. In politics he is a Democrat, and has served as clerk and 
inspector of elections. 

ELIAS K. GRIBBEN, farmer and stock-grower, was born in 
Richhill Township, Greene Connty, Penn., September 27, 1843, and 
is a son of James and Nancy (Kerr) Gribben. His mother was a 
native of Allegheny County, Penn. His father was born in Ireland 
and came to America at the age of twenty-one, was a farmer all his 
life, and died in Greene County, Penn., in 1885. His family con- 
sisted of eleven children, nine of whom are still living, Elias K. 
being the third in the family. He has spent his life in farming, and 
still continues in that business. He is the owner of a tine farm of 
140 acres wdiere he resides in Richhill Township. In 1802 he 
enlisted in Company A, Eighteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, was in 
the battles of Hagerstown, Gettysburg, and Brandy Station, Va., was 
wounded three times, and was discharged in 1864. In 1809 Mr. 
Gribben married Hester Jane, daughter of Jacob Loar, a prominent 
citizen of Ricidiill Township. Mrs. Gribben is of Dutch lineage. 
Their children are — Jacob L., James Harvey, Olive M. and Cliarley 
T. Mr. and Mrs. Gribben are members of the Methodist Protestant 
Church, in which he is a trustee and superintendent of the Sabbatli- 
school. In politics he is a Democrat, and has served as school 
director. 



836 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

CAPT. SAMUEL GEIM, farmer und stock-grower, who was 
born in Eichhill Township, March 24, 1837, is a son of Armstrong 
and Marj Ann (Scott) Grim, natives of this county, and of German 
and English origin. Plis father spent his life as a farmer. Of his 
family of nine children, all grew to be men and women and are now 
in active life. Capt. Grim is the third in the family, was reared on 
his father's farm, and received his education in the common schools 
and Waynesburg College. When the war broke out he gave up his 
studies and enlisted in Company B, First West Yirginia Cavalry, 
was elected First Lieutenant and served three years. He was after- 
wards promoted to the jposition of Captain, and among other engage- 
ments he was in the second battle of Bull Ri;n and the battles of 
Gettysburg and Winchester. After returning from the war, Febru- 
ary 25, 1865, he embarked in the mercantile trade, opening a general 
store at West Finley, Washington County, Penn. After a period of 
nine years he returned to Pichhill Township, settled on a farm, and 
has since continued in that occupation. He owns the farm where he 
now resides, which is well stocked and improved and contains 216 
acres. Capt. Grim was united in marriage, February 14, 1864, with 
Lydia J., daughter of A. J. and Eliza (Sargent) Goodwin, natives of 
Greene County, and of German extraction. Their children are — 
Francis Sherman, Rosala, wife of James Allison, of Waynesburg, 
Penn.; Robert Lincoln, Henry Ward Beecher, Edna Blanche, James 
G. Blaine, Loa Logan and Frances Lydia. In politics Capt. Grim is 
a Republican. He is Adjutant of the William Smith G. A. R. Post, 
No. 428. 

REY. WILLIAM HANJSTA, Presbyterian minister, is a native 
of the Buckeye State, having been born in Trumbull County, Ohio, 
May 6, 1820. He is a son of Isaac and Martha (Davis) Hanna, who 
were natives of Pennsylvania, and of Scotch- Irish descent. The 
subject of this sketch is a descendant of Robert Hanna, the founder 
of Hannatown, Westmoreland County, Penn. The Hanna family 
are usually farmers and as a rule have been successful in their busi- 
ness. Rev. Hanna wrote one volume of a history of Greene County, 
but did not complete the work as it was financially a failure. He 
has been quite successful in business, and is the owner of a large and 
well improved farm in Richhill Township, where he resides a part of 
each year. He also owns two business blocks in Cannonsburg, Penn., 
and a splendid winter residence at Beck's Mills, Penn., and has con- 
siderable personal property. When Mr. Hanna was six years of age 
his father died. His early life was spent in Fayette County, where 
he attended the Geoi'ge's Creek Academy. At an early age he became 
a member of the Presbyterian Church, and was licensed to preacli in 
1850. His first charge was at Masontown, Fayette County, Penn., 
where he remained for a period of nine years. He then preached in 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 837 

Graysville, Richhill Township, Greene County, Penn., six years, and 
for some time had a charge at West Elizabeth in Allegheny County. 
He is an earnest temperance man and votes the prohibition ticket. 
He is a member of the Sons of Temperance. In 1844 Mr. Hanna 
married Sarah, daughter of Hon. Samuel Nixon, of Fayette County, 
Penn., who was of Scotch-Irish descent. This union has been 
blessed with ten children, tliree of whom are now living, viz: Will- 
iam C, Martha J., and James W. The family are members of the 
Presbyterian Church. 

JAMES HUGHES, farmer and stock-grower, was born near 
Jefferson, Penn., February 12, 1829. He is the son of James and 
Margaret (Heller) Hughes, and grandson of Thomas Hughes, founder 
of Jefferson Poi'ough. His father was a farmer and land speculator, 
and acted in the capacity of high sheriff of Greene County. He 
died in 1861. The subject of this sketch is the eighth in a family 
of ten children. He was reared on a farm near Jefi'erson, where he 
acquired his early education. In 1804 he moved from his Ijirthpiace 
to Richhill Township. He owned a general store at Bristoria for 
twelve years, l)ut has devoted most of his life to farming. He owns 
over 400 acres of valuable land where he now resides in Richhill 
Township. Mr. Hughes was united in marriage, October 25, 1854, 
with Hester, daughter of Valentine Nichols. Her mother's maiden 
name was Nancy A. Cooper. They were of English origin. Her 
father was a farmer. He was among the early settlers. Mr. and 
Mrs. Hughes have four children — Winfield S., whose" wife died in 
1885, leaving two children — Lulu Z. and Bessie Pearl; Anabel, de- 
ceased, who was the wife of J. L. Supler, and mother of one child — 
Willis W.; George V. and William. Mrs. Hughes is a member of 
the Cumberland Presbyterian Cliurch. Mr. Hughes is a Republican. 
He took an active inferest in the Granger movement. During the 
late Rebellion he took an active part in trying to put it down, help- 
ing to raise money and men. He also reared his nephew, William G. 
Milllken, who at the age of seventeen enlisted in Company G, of the 
Eighteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. The Hughes, Swans and Van- 
aters were among the first settlers of Greene County, they settled 
along the Monono, at or near Jefferson. 

WILLIAM JACOBS, ex-treasurer of Greene County, was born 
in Ilicldiill Townsliip, August 18, 1835. He is a son of Daniel B. 
and Hannah (Rail) Jacobs, natives of Maryland. His father is a 
pi'ominent farmer and resides in Franklin Township. William was 
reared on the farm, attended the common schools and made farming 
his main occupation until 1884, when he was elected to the office 
of treasurer of the county. Mr. Jacobs was an efficient officer and 
made many friends while in that capacity. He was ably assisted by 
his son, D. W. Jacobs, a steady, industrious young man and a first- 



838 HISTOET OF GEEENE COUNTY. 

class penman. Mr. Jacobs owns a well improved farm in Richhill 
Township where he resides. He was united in marriage, January 
17, 1856, with Plester J., daughter of John Loar, and they have two 
children — D. W. and Anna B., wife of Eobert R. Headley. Mr. and 
Mrs. Jacobs are members of the Methodist Protestant Church. Mr. 
Jacobs is a Democrat, aud has served as school director of his town- 
ship. He is also a prominent member of the I. O. O. F. 

S. KNIGHT, undertaker and furniture dealer, Jacksonville, Penn., 
was born in Monroe County, Ohio, September 4, 1829. His parents, 
Stephen and Sarah (Wells) Knight, were natives of Pennsylvania, 
and of English origin. His father was a farmer by occupation, and 
died in Ohio. His family consisted of fifteen children, twelve of 
whom grew to maturity. The subject of our sketch is the ninth in 
the family. He was reared on his father's farm, received a common 
school education, and early in life commenced his present business, 
which he has carried on at Jacksonville, Penn., for nearly half a 
century. During that time he has been director at twenty -five hun- 
dred funerals. Mr. Knight has been twice married — first, December 
20, 1849, to Lucy L., daughter of John Conkey, and they were the 
parents of six children, four living — Anna, J. M., William and Eliza- 
beth. Mrs. Lucy Knight died in 1886. In 1887 Mr. Knight mar- 
ried Charlotte, daughter of Andrew Smith, and sister of the present 
county treasurer. She is of Scotch descent. His wife is a member 
of the Church of God, and Mr. Knight is a Cumberland Presby- 
terian, of which church he is a trustee. He is a Democrat. He has 
served as school director, and as justice of the peace for ten years. 
He is a member of the I. O. O. F., belongs to the Encampment, and 
is one of the best and most highly respected citizens of the county. 
JESSE LAZEAR was born in Guernsey County, Ohio, June 25, 
1825. He is a son of Francis and Mary (Crow) Lazear, natives of 
Greene County, Penn., and is among the earliest settlers. His mother 
was of German origin. His father was of French descent. He died 
in 1871, at the advanced age of seventy years. Tliomas Lazear, 
grandfather of Jesse Lazear, was apointed magistrate by the Gover- 
nor, served for years in that capacity. The family have usually been 
farmers and successful in all their business ventures. Jesse Lazear is 
the oldest in a family of six children. His parents came to Richhill 
Township in 1827,' where he was raised on the farm and received his 
education in the common schools. He has made farming and stock- 
growing his business through life, and has met with success, being at 
present the owner of a large, well improved farm where he resides 
near Ryerson's Station, Penn. His residence is a substantial lirick 
building, beautifully located. Mr. Lazear was united in marriage, 
March 25, 1856, with Miss Alice, daughter of Morfibrd and Nancy 
(Simpson) Throckmorton, who were of Irish and English extraction. 



lIISTOliV OF GREENP; COUNTY. 839 

Mr. and Mrs. Lazear are the parents of the following named child- 
ren — William, Mary, wife of J. C. McCracken, M.D., Cameron, W. 
Va. ; Fannie, wife of Silas Inghrara; and John. In politics Mr. 
Lazear is a Democrat. 

JOHN J. LESLIE, farmer and stock-grower, born in Richliill 
Township, December 3, 1836, is a son of Samuel and Sarah (Jones) 
Leslie, who were respectively natives of Ireland and Pennsylvania. 
Ilis father worked on public-works during his early life, but devoted 
his time to farming after coming to Greene County in 1834. He 
settled on a farm in Richhill Township, remaining there until his 
death in 1869. The gentleman whose name heads this sketch was 
reared on the farm in his native township, where he attended the dis- 
trict schools. He took up farming as his occupation and has made it 
a success, owning at present one hundred and tifty-three acres of land, 
well stocked and improved, where he now resides near Harvey's, Penn. 
JMr. Leslie was united in marriage, in this county in 18(i9, with 
Miss Nancy A., daughter of Spencer Bebout. They were the parents 
of four children — two now living, Florence and Samuel S. Mrs. 
Leslie died in 1877. In 1879 Mr. Leslie was again united in mar- 
riage, liis second wife being Mary G., daughter of Munson Post. 
They are the parents of one child — Robert P. Mr. Leslie is a 
member of the Christian Church. In politics he is a Democrat. 
He takes an active interest in school affairs, and has served on the 
school board of the township where he now resides. 

JACOB LOAR, farmer and stock-grower, was born in Allegany 
County, Maryland, February 6, 1817. His parents were John and 
Hester (Stephens) Loar, natives of New Jersey, and of (xerman 
lineage. His father, who was born in 1794, was a farmer by occupa- 
tion. He came to Whiteley Township, Greene County, in 1820, 
and died in 1873 at the advanced age of eiglity-four years. His 
family consisted of fourteen children, eleven of wliom grew to matu- 
rity. Three of his sons were physicians and two ministers. Jacob, 
the second in the family, settled in Richhill Township, in 1837, and 
has been very successful in business. He owns the valuable farm of 
of two hundred and twenty acres where he now resides. Mr. Loar 
is prominent and influential in his community, has been a nieml)er 
of the school board and served as the justice of peace for a period 
filteen years. He has been three times married — first, in 1836, to 
Maria Nelson, and they were the parents of nine children, six 
of wJiom are now living, viz., John M., a farmer; Nelson, a physi- 
cian in Bloomington, Illinois; George, a physician in Munroe, Iowa; 
Margaret Ann, wife of A. K. Allum; Hester Jane, wife of E. J. 
Gribbcn and Anna, wife of Oliver Burns. The deceased are James 
Apoloe, Jacob II. and Catharine who was the wife of B. F- Temple. 
Mrs. Hoar died in 1864. Mr. Loar's second wife was Sarah AVilliams 



840 HISTOKY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

widow of Morrison Applegate, who died February 11, 1875. They 
had one son — William C, a medical student in Indianapolis, Ind., 
and one daghter, Ora who died April 1888. Mr. Loar was again 
married, in 1881, to Mary Dinsmore, widow of Benjamin Dnrbin. 
She was the mother of six children; viz., Mary, Harvey, Elizabeth, 
Thomas, William and Bothenia. Mr. Loar is a member of the 
Methodist Protestant Chnrch, of which he has been steward and 
trustee. He wife is a Presbyterian. 

J. K. LOUGHE.IDGE, farmer and stock-grower, was born in 
Wheeling, W. Ya., May 21, 1823, is a son of William and Mary 
(Kettler) Loughridge. His father was of Scotch origin, born in 
Coleraine, County Derry, Ireland, came to America dui-ing the war 
of 1812, being six weeks in making the passage. Was married in 
Phildelphia, Penn., in 1814, where he remained for some time. He 
afterwards came to Pittsburg and next moved to Wheeling, W. Va., 
where he engaged in the hotel and livery business, these being the 
first established in the city. He purchased a portion of the farm on 
which J. K. Loughridge now resides in 1817. Here he removed his 
family, in 1827, where he remained until his death, in 1867, being 
ninety-five years of age. He was one of the first school directors 
under the free-school system in Richhill Township, Greene County, 
Perm., and elder of the Unity Presbyterian Church. His mother 
was of German origin, was born in Philadelphia, Penn., in 1787, 
where she was married to Briton Sollars. Their eldest child, Levi, 
was married to Elizabeth Burns and resides in Richhill Township. 
Their daughter Elizabeth married Alexander Burns and is now 
deceased. They were both educated at Wheeling, W.Va. Elizabeth 
was the first female school teacher in Richhill Township, and pro- 
duced some of the finest specimens of penmanship of the day. After 
the death of her husband, Mrs. Sollars married Mr. Smith, a painter, 
in Phiiadelphia, who lost his life in the war of 1812. She next mar- 
ried William Loughridge, by whom she had nine children, of wliich 
seven grew to man and womanhood. Margaret married R. S. Dins- 
more, a Presbyterian minister, both are now deceased ; Mary taught 
in the high school at l^evf Castle and afterwards in Ohio, where she 
married Jesse McBride, a Wesleyan Methodist minister, both are now 
deceased. William A. married Hannah Grey and is now a carpenter 
and farmer in Keokuk County, Iowa; Alexander W. married Susan 
Jennings and is how a stock-merchant in Iowa; Dr. J. H. married 
Candace Power, was a physician and surgeon in the late war and is 
now located in Rensellaer, Ind., where he has an extensive practice. 
Emnaa, the youngest, married John C. Booher, and is now deceased. 
John K., the fourth in his father's family, married Harriet Campsey, 
daughter of James and Isabella (Dougherty) Campsey, Claysville, 
Penn, Tlie family of Mr. and Mrs. Loughridge, are James H.,Will- 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 841 

luette, wife of Dr. T. B. Hill; William W., John W., Maud I., 
David G. C. and Ilettie M. Mr. Loughridge took an active interest 
in the Sabl)atli-schools at au early day; also took a great interest in 
the progress of the district schools, acting in the capacity of school 
director for seven years in succession. His education and the greater 
portion of his property has been acquired principally by his own 
efforts, his farms are well situated for farming and grazing, well 
improved, contains nearly 500 acres and has been his place of residence 
from early childhood. lie is a Democrat in politics. A man of good 
moral pi-inciples and was the first chosen on the jury which found 
George Clark guilty of the murder of William McCauslain near Car- 
mieliaers, Penn. 

PHILLIP MARSH, deceased, was one of Ptichhill Township's 
representative citizens. He was born in New Jersey in 1811. His 
parents were Joseph P. and Nancy (Minton) Marsh, natives of New 
Jersey, and of English lineage. His father was a shoemaker by 
occupation, which vocation he followed for many years. He had 
eight child)-en, the subject of this sketch being the fifth. Phillip 
Marsh was raised in Washington County, Penn., where he had re- 
moved with his parents about the year 1824. He caine to Greene 
County and engaged in farming until the time of his death in 1877. 
He was an elder in tne Cumberland Presbyterian Church and super- 
intendent of the Sabbath-school. In politics he was a Republican. 
Mr. Marsh was married, November 20, 1835, to Martha, daughter of 
Epliraini and Martha (Elliott) Post, and they were the parents of the 
following named children — Ann Eliza, wife of Harvey Conkey; Car- 
oline, widow of Samuel Tliompson; Eveline, Lucy, wife of George 
Jennings; Laura F., wife of Cassius Jennings; Leroy, a farmer; and 
Ellsworth. Mrs. Marsh is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian 
Church. 

WILLIAM G. MILLIKEN, merchant, of the firm of Milliken 
& Supler, Bristoria, Penn., was born on Wheeling Creek, in this 
county, Januaiy 21, 1845. His parents, Joseph and Mary (Hughes) 
Milliken, were of Irish and English origin. His father, who was a 
cooper and farmer by occupation, died in this county. Of his family 
of six children, AV^illiam is the third, and was reared in Jeffersun 
Township, where lis received his education. In 1862 he enlisted in 
Company G, Eighteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, and was a non-com- 
missioned officer. He was taken prisoner at Hanover, Penn. Mr. 
Milliken participated in the battles of The Wilderness, Spottsylva- 
nia, Cold Harbor, Cedar Creek and Winchester, and many others, and 
was discharged at the close of the war in 1865. He then returned to 
Richhill Township and engaged in farming until 1881, when he em- 
barked in his present business, in which he has a liberal patronage 
and meets with success. In 1806 Mr. Milliken married Mar:faret, 



842 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

daughter of Valentine Nichols. To Mr. and Mrs. Milliken were 
born live children — Isadora, Mary F., John "W"., Mettle, and Loyd 
(deceased). Mrs. Milliken departed this life in 1885. She was a con- 
sistent member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Mr. 
Milliken is a member of the G. A. R. Post, in which he has served 
as Quartermaster. 

JOHJST M. MURRAY, physician and surgeon, Jacksonville, 
Penn., was born in the State of Iowa, April 23, 1846. He is a son 
of Joseph and Leah (Larimer) Murray, who were natives of Penn- 
sylvania, and of Scotch-Irish descent. His father was a school- 
teacher in early life, in later years a farmer. His family consisted 
of nine children. Dr. Murray being the sixth. He was reared in 
this county and received his literary education in the State Normal 
School of Erie and Waynesburg College. He studied medicine with 
Dr. J. T. lams, then a practicing physician of Richhill Township. 
Dr. Murray afterwards attended Bellevue Medical College at New 
York City, where he graduated in 1876. He began the j)ractice of 
his profession at Wind Ridge, Penn., during the same year, and has 
met with a liberal and successful patronage. He is an active mem- 
ber of the Greene County Medical Society. In 1879 Dr. Murray 
married Miss Jennie, daughter of Morrison Applegate. Mrs. Mur- 
ray was of English descent. She died in 1885, leaving two children 
— Austin and John C. Mrs. Murray was a member of the Methodist 
Protestant Cliurch, and Mr. Murray is a member of the Presbyterian. 

T. J. McCLEARY, farmer, stock-grower and attorney at law, was 
born February 20, 1837, in Claysville, Washington, County, Penn., 
and is the son of William and Susan G. (Wilkinson) McCleary. Plis 
father was born near Winchester, Virginia, and his mother was a 
native of Fayette County, Penn. His grandfather, Thomas McCleary, 
came from Ireland to America in company with his three brothers. 
They were all in the army of Washington during the Revolutionary 
war, Thomas being the only one who lived to the cl ose of the 
war. After peace was declared he settled near Winchester, Virginia, 
and engaged in farming, T. J. McCleary's father, who died in Wash- 
ington County in 1881, had a family of eleven children, of whom 
the subject of our sketch is the oldest son. He was reared on the 
farm and received his education in the common schools, the academy 
and normal school. He taught in Greene and Washington counties 
a number of terms. He afterwards read law, and has given it his 
particular attention, although he has lived on the farm the greater 
part of his life. He owns and deals in Western lands. Mr. Mc- 
Cleary was married in Washington County, August 8, 1860, to 
Martha J. Rossell, daughter of Rev. Job and Mariah L. (Layton) 
Rossell, and tlieir children are — W. Clarence, Arthur V., Thomas 
W., Z. Linn; one daughter, Idesta Ethleen. Mr. and Mrs. McCleary 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 848 

are members of the Baptist Church, and he belongs to the I. O. O. F. 
and Patrons of Husbandry, or the Grange. He is a Democrat, and 
accustomed to addressing the public when called upon to do so. Tlie 
father of Mrs. McCleary, Ilev. Job llossell, is deserving of special 
mention. He was born July 19, 1813, in Fayette County; was 
licensed to preacli b}' the Platwoods Baptist Church. For nearly 
fifty years he labored in the Master's cause. During all these years 
to the many people who knew him in Westmoreland, Fayette, Wash- 
ington and Greene counties, the name of Job Rossell was not uttered 
without bringintr to those who heard it a train of thought by which 
their better natures were more fully developed, and their love for 
tiieir fellow man strengthened and broadened. He moved to this 
township in 18()1, locating near Ryerson's Station; was for a number 
of years pastor of South Wheeling Church. He passed to the other 
shore on September 21, 1884, there to realize more fully the fruits 
of his labor here. He is the only man, so far as the writer knows, 
who gave his whole time to the Baptist Churches and missionary 
work in this region, in which work he was successful. Many organi- 
zations by him were started which are to-day prosperous churches; 
among wliicli is Fork Ridge, West Virginia. I have told you he 
was the only man, and yet he was not the only one. During these 
many years to his good wife was left largely the care of the home 
and family, and she did her part nobly; her sacrifices were many; 
for many years she was an invalid, but ever cheerful and bright. 
She passed to her rest November 30, 1887. During the last years 
of their lives they were tenderly cared for l)y Mrs. McCleary and her 
husband, T. J. and children. Eternity alone can reveal the greatness 
of these lives, in producing fruit for the Master's kingdom. A 
handsome bronze monument now marks their last resting place. 

B. H. McNAY, farmer and stock-grower, was liorn in Franklin 
Township, Greene County, Penn., December 20, 1880. Flis parents, 
James and Anna (Dickerson) McNay, were natives of Pennsylvania 
and among the early settlers of this county. They were of Irish and 
English extraction. His father was a farmer during his lifetime, 
and died in this county in his eighty-first year. He reared a family 
of eleven children, ten of whom grew to maturity. The subject of 
our sketch is the ninth in the family. He was reared on the farm, 
obtained a common-school education, and afterwards attended 
Waynesburg College. Fie has since been engaged in agricultural 
pursuits, and owns 240 acres of land where he resides in Richhill 
Township. Mr. McNay has been twice united in marriage, his first 
wife being Frances Carson, and they were the parents of three chil- 
dren — J. W., Anna Maud and Leonora M. Mrs. McNay died in 
1879. Her husband was afterwards married, in 1882, to Miss Mary, 
daughter of Thomas Stewart, and they have three children — Mabel 



844 IIISTORT OF GREENE COUNTY, 

M., H. Earl and Louie. Mr. McNay is a Republican. He and wife 
are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. 

JOHN OE.NDOFF, farmer and stock-grower, born in Greene 
County April 9, 1839, is a son of William and Salone (Wisecarver) 
Orndoff. His mother was a native of Greene County. PHs father, 
who was born in Old Virginia, was a farmer all his life, having over 
sixty years ago settled in Center Township, where he resided until 
his death in 1885. His family numbered eleven children, of whom 
the gentleman whose name heads this sketch is the sixth. He was 
reared on his father's farm, attended common school in Center Town- 
ship, and has made farming a success. He is the owner of 435 acres 
of valuable land and a fine country residence. Mr. Orndoff is ener- 
getic and industrious, having followed the example of his father who, 
when he came to this county, was a poor boy with no earthly pos- 
sessions but his clothing and a horse and saddle; but by economy 
and a determination to succeed, he owned at the time of his death 
900 acres of land. John Orndoff was united in marriage, November 
2, 1867, with Minerva, daughter of Matthias Roseberry, and they 
are the parents of six children; viz., Oscar F., Amanda S., Alice 
M., John B., Jessie L. and Benjamin H. In politics Mr. Orndoff 
is a Republican. His wife is a member of the Baptist Church. 

H. H. PARRY, blacksmith, Bristoria, Penn., was born in West- 
moreland County, Penn., February 16, 1845, and is the son of Royal 
L., and Elizabeth (Lidea) Parry. His parents were natives of Wales. 
His father was a blacksmith, and followed the trade during his life- 
time. He had a family of thirteen children, five of whom are now 
living. Mr. H. H. Parry was raised on a farm in Richhill and 
Washingtown townships. He received the benefit of a common 
school education, and learned his trade early in life. In 1863 he 
enlisted in Company D, Twelfth West Virginia Infantry, and was 
in several engagements — among which were the battles of Peters- 
burg, Cedar Creek, Hunter's Raid and Winchester. At the close of 
tlie war he was discharged by general order. After his return home he 
opened a blacksmith shop, and worked for four years in Aleppo Town- 
ship, and since that time has been located at ]3ristoria. He owns a 
small farm, in connection with his shop, also a neat and substantial 
residence. In 1869 Mr. Parry married Miss Mar^', daughter of James 
McVay, Aleppo Township, one of the prominent farmers and stock- 
growers in this county. Mr. and Mrs. Parry's children are Charles 
McVay, M. Jane, Flora B., James M., Harry L. and Mary M. Mr. 
Parry is a Republican, and a member of the G. A. R. Post. 

J. E. PATTERSON, physician, was born near Claysville, 
Washington County, Penn., March 20, 1848. His parents were 
John and Mahala (Patterson) Patterson, who were of Irish and 
German extraction. His father, who was a farmer all his life, came 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 845 

to Greene Cuunty in 1854, and settled in Center Township on tlie 
farm wliere tlie subject of this sketch was reared. Dr. Patterson 
acquired a common school education, after M'liich he attended 
Waynesburg College and the State Normal School. He began the 
study of medicine with Dr. Gray, of Jacksonville, Penn., and suli- 
sequently attended the Medical College at Cleveland, Ohio. He lirst 
engaged in his profession, in 1871, in the vicinity of Graysville this 
county, where he has since been in active practice, with the excep- 
tion of a short time spent in Nineveh, Pennsylvania. In 1874 Dr. 
Patterson married Anna, daughter ot Mulford Burroughs, and they 
are the parents of four children, viz., Charles, John, Alma and 
Bashie. In politics Dr Patterson is a Democrat. 

MASON SCOTT, farmer and stock-grower, was born in Rich- 
hill Township, Greene County, Penn., May 3, 1837, and is a son of 
Capt. John and Charlotte (Mason) Scott, who were of German and 
Irish descent. His father is a farmer and a resident of Jackson 
Townshij:), this county. Mr. Mason Scott is the oldest of six children 
now living. lie grew to maturity on his father's farm and received 
a good common-school education. Early in life he taught school for 
a time, but he made farming and stock-raising his chief pursuit. 
He is the owner of 252 acres of land well stocked and improved, 
where he resides near Bristoria, Penn. Mr. Scott was united in 
marriage, December 22, 1866, with Sarah, daughter of James and 
Jane (Sanders) Lemmon. They were of Dutch and English descent. 
Mr. and Mrs. Scott's children are Albert, Clara Alice; and Westley, 
(deceased). Mr. Scott is a Democrat, and an efficient member of the 
school board of his township. 

HIRAM SCOTT, farmer and stock-grower, who was born in 
Center Township, Greene County, Penn., May 13, 1841, is a son o*" 
Elias and Harriet (Kent) Scott, natives of this county, and of Dutch 
and Irish exti-action. His father spent all his life as a farmer, and 
died in Greene County in 1884. His family consisted of eight 
children, of whom Hiram Scott is the third. Having been reared 
on a farm, he has followed farming as his chief pursuit and is the 
owner of 180 acres in Richhill Township, where he now resides. In 
1861 Mr. Scott was united in marriage with Miss Mary, daughter of 
the late Dennis laras, who was a wealthy and influential farmer. 
Mrs. Scott is of German lineage. Their children are Thomas, George 
B. MeClellan, a medical student; Matilda, wife of James Throck- 
morton; Florence and Charles. Mr. Scott is a Democrat. He and 
his wife are members of the Baptist Cliurch. 

ROBERT SMITH, county treasurer, was born in Washington 
County, October 29, 1836, and is a son of Andrew and Ellen (Little) 
Smith, His mother, who was of English extraction, was born in New 
Jersey. His father was a native of Scotland, where he was a farmer 



846 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

and herdsman. lie died in this county in 1870 at the age of seventy- 
four years. His fainily consisted of twelve children, of whom 
Robert is the oldest. He has spent most of his life in Greene 
County, having received his education in the schools of Richhill 
Township. He also attended school for some time in Fayette County. 
Mr. Smith engaged in farming and stock-growing until he was 
elected to his present position in 1887. He was married in this 
county. May 26, 1859, to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas and 
Elizabeth (Caine) Milliken, and thoj' are the parents of the following 
children, viz., Mary Ellen, who died at the age of fourteen ; Arabella, 
W. D., A. J., T. E., R. M. and J. H. P. Mr. Smith is actively in- 
terested in educational matters. In 1872 he was elected county 
commissioner and served two years and ten months in that position. 

JAMES L. SMITH. — Among the enterprising young business 
men of Greene County, few have met with better success than the firm 
of Smitli Bros. Dealers in general merchandise, Graysville, Penn., 
successors to J. "VV. Hays. James L. Smith, the senior member of 
the firm, was born in Center Township, this county, March 12, 1856, 
and is a son of Thomas and Susan (Scott) Smith, natives of Greene 
County, and of Scotch-Irish extraction. His father, a successful 
farmer, now resides in Center Township on a finely improved farm 
of 300 acres. The subject of our sketch is the oldest of a family of 
seven children. Early in life he learned tlie blacksmith and wagon 
maker's trade, in which he engaged for several years. He was a 
good mechanic and made a first-class wagon. Since 1879 Mr. 
Smith has been in the mercantile business with his brother at 
Graysville. He is a Democrat in politics, and is postmaster at 
Harvey's Penn. He was married in 1879 to Miss May, daughter of 
Hon. James "W. Hays, ex-member of the Legislature. They have two 
children — Jesse F. and Nora. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are active mem- 
bers of the Baptist Church. 

MARTIN SUPLER, farmer and stock-grower, was born in Ricli- 
hill Township, Greene County, Penn., July 29, 1840, and is a son of 
William and Lucinda (Cnmmings) Supler, who were natives of tiiis 
county, and of English lineage. His father was a farmer and hotel 
keeper at Jacksonville, Penn., and died August 20, 1872. His 
family consisted of seven children, of whom the subject of our sketch 
is the second. He was reared on the farm, attended the common 
schools and has made farming and stock-growing his occupation all 
his life, with the exception of the time he spent in the army and a 
few years during which he engaged in the mercantile trade at Jack- 
sonville. In 1862 he enlisted in Company C, Eighteenth Pennsyl- 
vania Cavalry, and served as Seargeant for his company. While on 
picket duty on one occasion lie received a gunshot wound which 
caused him to lose three and one-half inches of bone from his left 



HISTORY OP GREENE COUNTY. 847 

arm. He was discharged in 1864, having passed thron^^h many 
serious engagements, among which were the battles of Williamsport, 
South Mountain and Gettysburg. After his return home Mr. Supler 
engaged in the mercantile Ijusiness for two years, and has since de- 
voted his time to farming. He owns 135 acres of land with tirst- 
class improvements. He was married in this county in September, 
1862, to Elizabeth, daughter of A. J. and Eliza (Sargent) Goodwin. 
Tliey have four children, viz., Jessie L., wife of T. J. Carpenter; 
Fannie D., A. J. and John B. Mr. Supler is a Democrat, and a 
member of Smith's Post, No. 428, G. A. E., Jacksonville, Penn. 

JOHN M. WPJGHT, born October 12, 1820, is a son of Eeasin 
and Nancy (McGlumphy) Wright, who were of German and Irish 
and English ancestry. He is the oldest of six children and was 
raised on his father's farm. When a young man he learned the 
trade of a millwright. In 1862 he enlisted in Company C, 
Eighteenth Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry, and was discharged at 
the close of the war, when he returned to liichhill Township, where 
lie still resides. He was married in this county, in 1844, to Hester 
Ann, daughter of John and Lydia (^i5oyd) Caseman. Mrs. Wright 
is of Dutch e.xtraction. Their children are — George W., a fanner; 
Sarah M., Perry and Elizabeth. In politics Mr. Wright is a Demo- 
crat. 

G. W. WEIGHT, farmer and stock-grower, born in Eichhill 
Township, February 22, 1849, is a son ef John and Hester Ann 
(Caseman) Wright. He is the oldest of his father's family 
was raised on the farm and received his education in the common 
schools. Early in life he learned the carpenter's trade and followed 
that as a business until 1879, since which time he has both farmed 
and worked at his trade. Mr. Wright has made his own way in the 
world. He now owns a well improved farm of 135 acres near 
iiristoria, Penn. He was married in Vermilion County, 111., in 
January, 1871, to Elizabeth J., daughter of Abraham and Mary 
(Gardner) Kimball, and their children are — Norton, Mary F., 
Oliver M., Maud D. and Hester L. In religion Mr. Wright is a 
Methodist, and his wife was a member of the Baptist Church. He 
is a Democrat and belongs to the I. O. O. F. 

P. J. WHITE, merchant, Eyerson's Station, Penn., was born in 
Aleppo Township, August 4, 1850. His parents, J. M. and Rebecca 
(Hewitt) White, were natives of Greene County, and of Dutch and 
English extraction. His father is a farmer and justice of the peace, 
and now resides on a farm in Aleppo Township. The subject of this 
sketch is the only member of the father's family now living. He was 
reared on the farm, attended the select schools and engaged \n farm- 
ing until 1879, when he embarked in the mercantile trade for two 
years on Hart's Eun, in Aleppo Township. He then located at New 



HlSTOKf OP GREENE COUNTY. 



Freeport, and carried on a general store until 1883, when he removed 
to his present location and established the business in which he is 
meeting with great success. Mr. White "was united in marriage in 
this county in 1872, with Miss Margaret Ann, daughter of W. J. 
Moore. Mrs. White is of English and Irish lineage. Their children 
are Mary Rebecca and Hannali E. In politics Mr. White is a Demo- 
crat, and was appointed to his present position of postmaster at 
Ryerson's Station in 1885. 



SPRINGHILL TOV^TNSHIP. 

J. E. AYERS, the subject of this sketch, was born in Richhill 
Township, Greene County, Penn., March 12, 1824, and is a son of 
Silas and Jane (Rickey) Ayers. His parents were natives of New 
Jersey, from whence they emigrated to Richhill Township, Greene 
County, Penn., September, 1807, and are of English origin. His 
father was a farmer and soldier in the war of 1812, and was engaged 
in the battles of Lundy's Lane and New Orleans. Of his father's 
family of eleven children, J. R. is the fourth. He grew to manhood 
in this county, spent his early life in teaching school, and subse- 
quently chose the occupation of farming and stock-dealing, in which 
occupation he has been very successful. He owns a fine farm of 200 
acres where he resides in Springhill Township. He was married 
November 9, 1848,' to Miss Caroline Dye, who was born in this 
county November 9, 1829. They are the parents of the following 
named children: E. L., deceased; R. H., Nanna J., Pennina, Silas- 
and Minor (deceased), Mary M., Ola L., A. D. and J. L. R. II., the 
second son, who is a farmer, was born in Springhill Township, No- 
vember 23, 1852. He was reared on the farm, i-eceived his education 
in the district schools. He was married to Miss Avaline White, 
April 3, 1874. Pennina, widow of E. B. Darling, deceased, was born 
in Springhill Township, May 20, 1858, and was married March 12, 
1874. Mr. and Mrs. Ayers are members of the Baptist Church, in 
which he is deacon. Pie is a Republican, and has filled the oflSce of 
school director and auditor in his township. 

JOHN BARGER, retired farmer and stock-grower, who was born 
in Morris Township, this county, May 25, 1827, is a son of Francis 
and Sarah (Pettit) Barger. His mother, who is of German and Irish 
origin, is the daughter of Nathaniel Pettit, an early settler of Morris 



HISTORY OF GREENE COtTNTY. 849 

Township. His father, whose chief occupation was that of farming, 
was in early life a shoe-maker and schcjol- teacher. He died in this 
county April 12, 1854. He was twice married, and the subject of this 
sketch is the oldest of his four children, aged sixty-one years. Mr. 
John I'arger was a resident of Richhill Townsiiip until he was ten 
years of age, when he moved with his i)arents to Aleppo, now Spring- 
hill Township, and has remained there for over half a century. His 
education was obtained in the common-schools, and while still a young 
inan he was employed as a farmer for some time. He subsequently 
established a store in New Freeport, Penn., and carried on a success- 
ful business for live years, and in that time he made $10,000. Mr. 
J^arger now owns 400 acres of valuable land, besides good town 
jiroperty. He is a self-made man, — his father, Francis Barger, hav- 
ing been bound out by his father to work for Robert Pelleet, of New 
York, until he should attain his majority. He, — John Parger — 
however, managed by industry and economy to get a start in the 
mercantile trade, with what subsequent success we have already noted. 
Mr. Barger was united in marriage November 2, 1854, with Emily 
J., daughter of Noali and Elizabeth (Fettit) Lyon, and their children 
are — David W., a farmer; James P., a silversmith of New Freeport, 
Penn. ; John W., a teacher, and Homer. Mr. Barger is a Republican, 
and has Ijeen postmaster at New Freeport for a period of twenty 
years. He and his wife are members of the Christian Churcii. 

JAMES BURDINE, retired farmer and stock-grower, was born 
in Perry Township, Greene County, Penn., March 7, 1820, and is the 
son of Levi and Rebecca (Fo.x) Burdine, who were of Dutch and Irish 
lineage. His grandfather, Joseph Fox, was a soldier in the Revolu- 
tionar}' war. At the age of live years the subject of our sketch was 
left an orphan. Most of his early life was spent on the farm in 
Monongalia County, W. Va., where he attended the common- 
schools. He was bound out as a farm laborer until eighteen years 
old, when he came to Whiteley Township, this county. He soon 
found work on a farm, and received eight dollars per month. On 
November 22, 1842, Mr. Burdine was united in marriage with Abi- 
gail, daughter of Joseph Johnson, of Dunkard Township. Their 
ciiildren are — Dennis, Eliza Jane, Johnson, Mary, wife of J. L. Mor- 
ford; Harriet A., who was the wife of Lewis Hamilton, and died in 
1883; Delila and James Milton. Mr. Burdine's present wife is 
Fannie, daughter of Rev. John Henderson. They have one child — 
Orphia. Mrs. Burdine is a member of the Cliristian Church. Mr. 
Burdine is a Democrat. He is a self-made man, having l)egun life 
as a poor boy, and is now the owner of a tine farm of ll8 acres in 
Springhill Township. He at one time owned over 400 acres. He 
has paid out over $4,000 of bail money, and has till been able to give 
his ciiildren a good start in life. 



gSO History of oreene county. 

W. L. BURGE, fanner and stock-grower, was born in Whiteley 
Township, Greene County, Penn., August 25, 1827, and is a son of 
Henry and Rachel (Wildman) Burge. His parents, who were of 
English and Dutch descent, were natives of this county, and members 
of the Society of Friends. His father, who died in Virginia in 186G, 
was a blacksmith, and spent most of his life in that occupation. He 
was twice married, and liis family consisted of fourteen children. 
The subject of this sketch grew to manhood in Greene County, learned 
the blacksmith's trade with his father and has followed that as a 
business for over forty years. In 1861 he went to Virginia and 
worked at his trade until 1866, when he returned to this county. He 
has since farmed, and now owns a farm consisting of 118 acres of 
well-stocked and improved land. In 1850 Mr. Burge married Miss 
Margaret, daughter of John and Sarah Knight. Mrs. Burge is of 
English and Dutch ancestry. They have a family of ten children, 
viz.: Plesa Arm, wife of W. H. Main; Alfred J., William L., Melissa, 
wife of Albert J. Fordyce; Rachel, wife of John L. Main; Maggie, 
wife of William H. Dye; Mary M., Ella E., John C. and Rosa E. 
Mr. and Mrs. Burge are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
where he has served as class-leader for twenty years, and has also 
served as steward. Mr. Burge is a Democrat. He takes an active 
interest in the public schools, and has been for a number of years a 
member of the I. O. O. E. 

THOMAS M. CARPENTER, physician, Deep Valley, Penn., 
was born in Greene County, January 14, 1843, and is a son of Will- 
iam and Agnes (Derbin) Cai-penter. His father, who is a blacksmith 
by trade, was born in JNew Jersey, but now resides on a farm in 
Jackson Township. His mother was a native of Morgan town, W. 
Va. His grandfather, James Carpenter, was among the earliest 
farmers of Richhill Township, this county. His father was twice 
married, and Dr. Carpenter is the oldest child of the first wife. He 
was reared on his father's farm, obtaining his earliest education 
in the district school. He studied medicine in the College of Phy- 
sicians and Surgeons, Baltimore, Md., and is now in active practice 
as a pliysician. Dr. Carpenter is a close student, and endeavors to 
keep himself posted in matters pertaining to his profession. He 
was united in marriage April 5, 1865, with Miss Margaret J. White, 
whose parents were of English and Irish origin. Mrs. Carpenter's 
father, Stephen White, was the first man to build and settle in Deep 
Valley. Dr. and Mrs. Carpenter are the parents of the following 
named children: Emma, William, Virginia, James, Stephen, Sarali 
(deceased), Harriet and Jordan. Winfield Burdine, the youngest 
child was adopted by Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter when only nine days old. 
The Doctor is a Democrat, and a member of the Greene County Med- 
ical Society. He and wife belong to the Methodist Protestant Church. 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 851 

P. C. DINSMORE, M. D., Deep Valley, Penn., was born in 
Richliill Township, Greene Countj, Penn., January 9, 1854. He is 
a son of Tlionias and Elizabetli (Dickey) Dinsmore, natives of Greene 
and "Washington counties, respectively. They are of Irish and 
English ancestry. Dr. Dinsinore's father is a farmer and stock 
dealer now residing on a farm in Washington County. The Doctor 
is the oldest in a family of six children, and was reared in his native 
township. lie attended the graded schools of Washington County, 
and commenced tiie study of medicine with Dr. Silas McCracken, of 
Claysville, Penn. lie practiced for a year in West Virginia, was a 
student in the Cleveland Medical College one year, and siibsequently 
attended Baltimore Medical College, M'liere he graduated with the 
Iionors of his class in 1887, and ex-graduate of Medico Chirurgical 
Faculty, Philadelphia. The token of lionor bestowed on Dr. Dins- 
more on this occasion was a gold medal, which he still retains as a 
souvenir. Dr. Dinsmore has lieen very successful in his profession, 
to which he is greatly attached. He was united in marriage August 
10, 1881, with Miss Mary !>., daughter of George and Harriet Hunt, 
and they have two children — Thomas A. and George H. In politics 
Dr. Dinsmore is a Democrat. 

JAMES M. FEKRELL, Merchant, New Freeport, Penn.— 
Among the most prominent business men in this part of Greene 
Greene County we mention the gentleman whose name heads this 
sketch. He was born at Jacksonville, Penn., April 13, 1851, and is 
a son of George W. and Sarah (Pettit) Ferrell. His ancestors were 
among the early German settlers of the county. His fiither was a 
shoe-maker all his life, and was in business in Jacksonville for over 
forty years. His father was twice married, having three children 
by the first marriage and eight by the second. Mr. James M. Fer- 
rell attended the common schools and Jacksonville Academy at 
Jacksonville, Penn. Early in life be taught school for a period of 
nearly three years. In 1873 he engaged in the mercantile tirade at 
Jacksonville, and in 1876 lie was appointed salesman for the Singer 
Sewing Machine Company, for which he acted as general agent for 
three years, with Harrisonburg, Va., as headquarters, where he and 
his family lived during the time. In 1882 Mr. Ferrell located at 
New Freeport, where he established a general store. He is eminently 
qualiiied for his business. His affable mariner and obliging disposi- 
tion, coupled with a determination not to be excelled or undersold, 
have drawn to his store many of the affluent and influential citizens 
of Springhill Township and surrounding country. He owns a com- 
modious store building, which enables him to carry an extensive 
stock. Mr. Ferrell was married October 26, 1876, to Miss Frances 
Henrietta, daughter of Hon. James W. Hays, of Waynesburg, Penn. 
Mrs. Ferrell was born in Washington, D. C. Their children are - 

47 



852 HISTORY OF GEEENE COUNTY. 

Russell Hays, Jessie Virginia and James Wilson. They are mem- 
bers of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Mr. Ferrell is a 
Kepublican, and for a time was postmaster at Jacksonville. He is a 
member of the 1. O. O. F. and the Encampment, and in ISTS-'TB 
was representative to the Grand Lodge at Philadelphia, Penn. 

F. PI. GRIFFITH, a farmer and stock-dealer, residing in 
Springhill Township, Greene County, is the oldest son of Sam- 
uel and Lydia (Blake) Griffith. He was born in Marshall County, 
W. Va., Octooer 13, 1858, but has spent most of his life in 
Greene County, Penn., where he came with his parents at a very 
early age. He attended the schools of Springhill Township, and 
wliile still a young man he began farming as his chief piirsuit. He 
has met with more than average success, and has a valuable farm of 
150 acres. In 1881 Mr. Griffith was united 'in marriage with Miss 
Joanna, daughter of Edward Dowlin, of West Virginia. Mrs. 
Griffith is of English ancestry. They have two children — Shannon 
A. and Caddie A. Mr. and Mrs. Griffith are members of the Church 
of God. He is superintendent of the Sabbath-school, and his political 
views are Republican. 

SAMUEL GRIFFITH, farmer and stock-grower, who was born 
in Maryland, August 1, 1885, is a son of Daniel and Mary (Strickler) 
Griffith, who were, respectively, natives of West Virginia and Mary- 
land, and of English origin. His father, who was a farmer and 
stock-grower, died in this county in 1848. The subject of this sketch 
is the second in a family of nine children. He was reared on the 
home farm and attended the district school. Early in life he made 
choice of farming as his occupation, and has met with great success. 
He started in life as a poor boy, working for twenty-five cents per 
day, and has succeeded in accumulating a handsome fortune. His 
farm, which lies in West Virginia and Greene County, Penn., con- 
sists of 257 acres of well improved land, and he has a neat and sub- 
stantial residence in Springhill Township, where he has lived for 
twenty-six years. In 1857 Mr. Griffith was united in marriage with 
Miss Lydia J., daughter of Nathan and Susannah (Richardson) 
Blake, and they have a family of nine children, viz. — 1 . II., Susan 
Mary, wife of John Earnest; Sarah E., J. J., Thomas J., Clarabel, 
Margaret, Bruce and Martha. Mr. Griffith is a Republican. He 
and wife are members of the Disciples Church. 

LEWIS W. HAMILTON, farmer and stock-grower, was born in 
Whiteley Township, Greene County, Penn., September 19, 1848, and 
is a son of William and Margaret (Maple) Llamilton. His mother 
was a native of this county, and died October 29, 18(39, and his 
father was born in Greene County, Penn., where he spent most of 
his life. He was a farmer by occupation, and died April 3, 1879. 
He reared a family of fifteen children, of wliom Lewis W. is the 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 853 

youngest. He was reared on the farm, receiving a coiuinon-scLool 
education, lie lias made farming his chief pursuit, and has fol- 
lowed it very successfully. On March 10, 1872, Mr. Hamilton 
married Miss Harriet A., daughter of James Burdine, of Springhill 
Township. Mrs. Hamilton died in 1883. Their children are — 
George W., Mary Ellen, Thomas J., Eliza Jane and James W. (de- 
ceased). On October 20, 1884:, he was again united in marriage, 
his present wife being Maria M., daughter of John C. Church, of 
Isabella County, Mich. They have one child — Calva E. Mr. 
Hainilton is a Democrat; his wife is a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. 

ENOCH HAMILTON, farmer and stock-grower, was born in 
Whiteley Township, this county, September 20, 184-4, and is a son of 
William and Margafet (Mapelj Hamilton. His parents were ol 
English and German origin, and were natives of this county. His 
father, who was a farmer and stock-grower, died in 1879. He 
was reared in Springhill Township, where he attended the common 
schools. Here he has spent much of his life as a farmer, and has 
met with marked success. He owns 118 acres of well improved land 
where he lives near New PVeeport, Penn. Mr. Hamilton was united 
in marriage in 1871 with Elizabeth, daughter of John and Mary 
(Philson) Tustin. Her parents were of German and English descent. 
Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton are the parents of the following named 
children: Delilah Ann, John W., William C, Elizabeth E., Fannie 
H., Cora L., Festus C. and Lewis W. In politics Mr. Hamilton is 
a Democrat. 

W. P. HOSKINSON, farmer and stock-grower, who was born 
in this county, December 28, 1838, is a son of George and Sophia 
(Adams) Hoskinson. His parents were natives of Waynesburg, 
Penn., and his ancestors, who were of English extraction, were among 
the pioneer settlers of Greene County. Mr. Iloskinson's great-grand- 
father, Adams, was killed by the Indians. His grandfather, liobert 
Adams, built one of the tirst brick houses in Waynesburg — the house 
now occupied by Henry C. Sayers, Esq. Mr. Iloskinson's father 
was a saddler by trade, and among the prominent citizens of the 
county, in which he served as associate judge, and also as register 
and recorder. He died in Waynesburg, July 24, 1884. He was 
twice married, and by the tirst marriage there were eight children, 
of whom the subject of this sketch is the third. W. P. Hopkinson 
was reared in Waynesburg, where he received his early education. 
Most of his early life was spent as clerk in a store, and he was given 
the management of his father's business. In 1860 he bought a 
half interest in the store, and bought his father's interest in 1861 
and carried on a successful business for a period of twenty years. 
He has since devoted his time to farming and owns 200 acres of 



854 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

valuable land near New Freeport. Mr. Hoskinson was married June 
21, 1860, to Eebecca, daughter of Phillip and Matilda (Garrison) 
Shough. Her father is a prominent farmer of Gilmore Township, 
having at one time owned over seven hundred acres of land. Mr. 
and Mrs. Hoskinson are the parents of four children — Phillip D., a 
clerk and salesman; George W., a farmer; Mary S. and Eobert L., 
who is a student at Waynesburg College. Squire Hoskinson is an 
active members of the Baptist Church, in which he is a trustee and 
deacon. He belongs to the I. O. O. F. and tlie Masonic fraternity. 

JOSEPHUS ISIMINGEE.— The history of the Isiminger family 
commences in Greene County with Abraham Isiminger, who came from 
JSTew Jersey to this county and was among the pioneer German set- 
tlers. His descendants have been usually farmers. The subject of 
this sketch, Josephus Isiminger, was horn in this county November 
3, 1839, and is a son of Andrew and Sarah (Kughn) Isiminger, who 
were of German and English extraction. His father was a farmer 
and reared his son to that occupation. Josephus Isiminger, is the 
sixth in a family of twelve children; attended the district school in 
Wliiteley Township. He owns a good farm where he resides, and 
has also spent some time at the carpenter's trade, in connection with 
his agricultural pursuits. In 1861 Mr. Isiminger married Miss 
Maria Lemley, and they had live children — Nicholas, Eliza J., Eliza- 
beth R., John and William. Mrs. Isiminger died in 1873. She was 
a member of the Baptist Church. Mr. Isiminger's second wife was 
Miss A. M. Dollison, to whom he was married in 1879. They have two 
children — Elias and Eva. Mrs Isiminger is not a member of the 
Baptist Church, but she is of Baptist faith. 

JACOB ISIMINGER, farmer and stock-gi-ower, was born in 
Greene County, Penn., February 17, 1830. He is a son of Andrew 
and Sarah (Kughn) Isiminger, who were also natives of this county, 
and of German extraction. His father's family consisted of five sons 
and four daughters, all of whom grew to maturity. Jacob Isiminger 
was the oldest and was reared in Whiteley Township, on the farm 
where his father now resides. He attended the common schools and 
chose farming as an occupation. He is the owner of 100 acres of 
fine land where he resides, near Deep Valley Postoffice, in Spring- 
hill Township. Mr. Isiminger was united in marriage, June 1, 
1859, with Hannah, daughter of William and Elizabeth Tllinerman) 
Miller, and they are the parents of four children, viz: McClelland, 
Stanton, Henry and Willie. Mr. and Mrs. Isiminger are members 
of the Baptist Church, and Mr. Isiminger has been superintendent 
of the Sabbath-school for years. He is a Democrat in politics. 

JOHN H. MILLER, M. D., Deep Valley, Penn., was born 
in Springhill Township, Greene County, October 6, 1858, and is a 
son uf Iliel and Mary (Warrick) Miller. His parents were also na- 



iiiSTOHY OK (m:j;knp: county. 855 

tives of this comity, and of Irish and English lineage. His father 
who was a fanner ail his life died in 1864. Mr. Miller was then in his 
sixth year and was the eldest of four children. He received his edu- 
cation in the district schools, and at the age of fifteen obtained a 
certificate and taught his first school. He was for sometime thereafter 
engaged in teaching the country schools of the county. He then 
worked for a time in the glass works at Martin's Ferry, Ohio, in 
which place he was appointed policeman by the town council. He 
had previous to this time begnn the study of medicine, but was 
obliged to abandon it for the lack of funds. In 1885 he entered the 
College of Physicians and Surgeons, at Baltimore, Mar^dand, and in 
1886 he became a student in the Western Pennsylvania Medical Col- 
lege, graduating with high honors. He was a diligent and success- 
fnl student, and was elected president of his class. Dr. Miller re- 
turned to Greene County, where his genial manner and professional 
skill soon won for him a good practice. He has had unusual success 
in surgery. He was married in Deep Valley to Miss Charlotte, 
daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Geary) Nuss. Her parents were 
of German origin. Dr. and Mrs. Miller have four children, three 
now living — Leon, Furman and Floyd. The Doctor and wife are 
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a Democrat, 
and a member of the Greene County Medical Society. 

JOHN MILLER, farmer and stock-grower, was born in Spring- 
hill Township, Greene County, Penn., June 20, 1845, and is a son of 
Jacob and Sarah (McConnell) Miller, who were of Irish and German 
origin. His father was a farmer and stock-grower, and died in this 
county in 1881. Of his family of eleven children, John Miller is 
the ninth. He was reared on the farm, attending school in the old 
log school house of the district. Since his marriage in 1870, he has 
devoted much of his leisure time to study, and has acquired his edu- 
cation without assistance. He is is now able to read and write and 
keep his accounts correctly. Mr. Miller owns the farm where he re- 
sides, consisting of 123 acres of well improved land. Mr. Miller's 
wife was Miss Caroline Reeves. She is a daughter of Phineas and 
Matilda Reeves, and of Irish origin. Her ancestors were among 
tlie pioneers of Greene County. In politics Mr. Miller is a Dem- 
ocrat. 

J. L. MORFORD, farmer and stock-grower, was born in Spring- 
hill Township, this county, November 23, 1847, and is a son of Isaac 
and Elizabeth (Brown) Morford. His parents were of Irish and 
German ancestry, and were natives of Greene County. Mr. Mor- 
ford's ancestors were among the pioneer settlers of the county. His 
grandfather, James Morford, was a pioneer farmer. Isaac Morford, 
his father, who spent his life in this county, was killed at Burton, 
West Virginia, November, 1864, where he was shot by a man who 



856 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

opposed him in a political discussion. His family consisted of six 
children, of whom the subject of this sketch is the youngest. He 
was rsared on his father's farm, receiving his education in the com- 
mon schools. He chose farming as his occupation through life and 
has been very successful, owning at present a fine farm of 122^ 
acres near New Freeport, Penn. In 1866 Mr. Morford married 
Miss Mary, daughter of James Burdine. They are the parents of 
seven children, viz: James B., Mary Ann Eliza., Yalma L., Eliza- 
beth A., Samuel M., Lewis Q. and Delilah Harriet. In politics 
Mr. Morford is a Democrat. 

JOHN McNEELY, farmer and stock-grower, New Freeport, 
Penn., was born in this county March 8, 1842. He is a son of John 
and Elizabeth (Coen) McNeely, natives of Greene County, and of 
English extraction. His father was a farmer. His family numbered 
eleven children, of whom John is the fifth. He spent his early 
manhood on the farm, receiving his education in the common schools. 
He has made farming his life work, and his home farm contains 278 
acres of valuable land. In 1861 Mr. McNeely was united in mar- 
riage with Mary, daughter of Michael and Sarah (Taylor) Poupe. 
Mrs. McNeely is of Dutch origin. Their children are — Jacob, a 
farmer; Eachel, wife of Himus Null; Nancy, wife of William 
Roupe; John, Elizabeth and Pobert, Mr. McNeely is a Democrat. 
His wife is a member of the Baptist Church. 

J. H. PINEHART, M. D., New Freeport, Penn., was born in 
Franklin Township, Greene County, Penn., January 28, 1859. He 
is a son of William H. and Ruth Ann (Bowen) Rinehart, residents 
of Springhill Township. Dr. Rinehart is the third in a family of 
eight children. He attended the common-school and was later a 
student of Waynesburg College. He studied medicine with Dr. P. 
C. Dinsmore, of Deep Valley, Penn., and also attended the Starling 
Medical College at Columbus, Ohio, where he graduated in 1887. 
He then entered the practice of his chosen profession at New Free- 
port, Penn., his present location. In 1888 he formed a partnership 
with Dr. I. N. Owen, an old and experienced physician who has 
been in active practice in Greene County for many ^^ears. At the 
early age of seventeen the Doctor began teaching school, spending 
some time in that employment both in this county and in West Vir- 
ginia. He began the study of medicine at the same time and also 
paid considerable attention to the study of surveying and civil en- 
gineering. He has been through life a diligent student and gives 
promise of a successful career. 

W. II. RINEHART, farmer and stock-dealer, son of Jacob and 
Abigail (Huss) Rinehart, was born January 6, 1827. His parents 
were natives of Greene County, and of German descent. The Rine- 
hart's were among the earliest settlers of the county. Several mem- 



HISTORY OF GltEENE COUNTY. 857 

bers of tlie family were killed by the Indians, and others were taken 
captive when children growing up among the savages. They were 
almost without exception farmers, but some few a member of the 
family were professional men. Mr. Rinehart's father, who was a 
farmer and stock-dealer, died in 1874. The subject of this sketch 
is the oldest of a family of seven children. He was reared on the 
farm, receiving his education in the district school in Franklin 
Township. He has made farming and stock-dealing his occupation 
and now owns the farm where he resides in Springhill Township. 
In 1852 Mr. Rinehart was married to Miss Ruth Ann, dangliter of 
Corbly and Joanna (Garrison) Bowen, who were of German, Englisli 
and French origin. Mrs. Rinehart's paternal grandmother was a 
member of the Corbly family who were miirdered by the Indians 
near Garard's Fort, this county. Mr. and Mrs. Rinehart are the 
parents of the following children — M. E., a resident of Deep Valley, 
Renn.; J. IT., a practicing physician; Joanna, wife of Scott Lippencott; 
Arabell, wife of J. C. F. Milligan; S. Cora and Maude B. The fam- 
ily are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

JAMES STILES, merchant and justice of the peace, Deep Val- 
ley, Penn., was born in. Monongalia County, West Virginia, January 

4, 1841, and is a son of Thomas and Frances (Cross) Stiles. His 
father, who was a farmer, died in West Virginia in 1852. The 
subject of this sketch, the youngest of seven children, was reared in 
his native county, where he received a common-school education. 
After his father's death he was apprenticed as a bound boy until 
twenty-one years of age. In 1869 he entered the employ of Hon. II. 

5. White, as a salesman, and formed a partnership with him the 
same year. This partnership was dissolved in 1871, and Mr. Stiles 
located at Deep Valley, where he established a general store. In 
1883, in company with J. K. Null, he erected the mill at Deep Val- 
ley, and later he dissolved partnership with Mr. Null. Squire Stiles 
has met with success in business and is an honorable, high-minded 
gentleman. In politics he is a Republican. In 1869 he was united 
in marriage with Jennie, daughter of Rev. D. Charnock, of Wheel- 
ing. W. Va. They were the parents of one child, James, deceased. 
Mrs. Jennie Stiles died in 1871. In 1873 Mr. Stiles married 
Emma J., daughter of George Wright, they are the parents of seven 
children — Ora Belle, Lucy II., Minnie P., James G., Nellie A., 
Christie and Goldie. Mrs. Stiles is a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. In 1875 Mr. Stiles was elected justice of the 
peace, which office he has since held continuously. In 1864 he en- 
listed in Company N, Sixth West Virginia Infantry, and served until 
the close of the war. He is an active member of the G. A. R. Post, 
No. 550, and is now Adjutant. 



858 HISTORY OF GKEENE COUNTY. 

THOMAS STJaOPE, farmer and stock-grower, Deep Yalley, 
Penn., was born November 22, 1823, and is a son of Thomas and 
Sarah (Elems) Strope. His parents were of English descent. His 
fatlier, who was a farmer during his lifetime, died in 1848. Mr. 
Thomas Thrope is the fourth in his father's family and the eldest 
who grew to maturity. His opportiinities for an education were very 
limited. He is a self-made man and now owns 290 acres of well 
improved land. When he was a small boy he worked by the month 
and then worked on a farm as a tenant. He also learned the tanner's 
trade, at which lie was employed until twenty-four years of age. 
Mr. Strope's first wife Avas Eliza Mitchell, who lived twenty-five 
years after their marriage. They had one child, George W. Mrs. 
Sarah Jane Strope, the present wife, was the daughter Jacob Miller, 
a prominent farmer of Springhill Township. Mr. and Mrs. Strope 
are the parents of two children — Park L. and Purman D. Mr. 
Strope is a Kepublicau. He is a member of the Masonic Fraternity 
and the Patrons of Husbandry. He and wife are members of the 
Church of God. 

W. T. WHITE, farmer and stock-grower, Deep Valley, Penn., 
was born in Monongalia County, West Virginia, April 30, 1842. 
He is a son of Michael and Mary A. (Eussell) White, who were also 
natives of West Virginia, and of German extraction. Mr. White's 
father was a farmer through life, and died in Monongalia County, 
W. Va., in 1868. Of his family of four children, W. T. White is tlie 
second. Pie was reared on the home farm and received his education 
in the common-schools. Having chosen farming as his occupation, 
Mr. White came to Greei.e County, Penn., in 1872, and settled on a 
farm in Springhill Township where he now resides. His farm con- 
sisting of 185 acres, is well stocked and improved. In 1868 he was 
married to Miss Harriet, daughter of William and Elizabeth (Oden- 
bangh) Kent. Mrs. White is of English descent. They have four 
children — Luella, a school teacher; Guy W., Nettie E. and Charles 
F. Mrs. White died March 13, 1888. The family are members of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which Mr. White takes an active 
interest. He is also greatly interested in school affairs and has been 
one of the most efficient members of the school board in his township. 
In 1861 he enlisted in tlie Sixth West Virginia Volunteer Infantry 
in Company N., where he served until the close of the war, being a 
non-commissioned officer. 

JOSEPH WHITLATCH, farmer and stock-grower, was born in 
Whiteley Township, this county, November 22, 1821, and is a son of 
Joseph and Barbara (Hostetler) Whitlatch. His mother was born in 
Fayette County, and his father in Greene, and they were of English 
and Dntch extraction. His father was a farmer and distiller by occu- 
pation. His grandfather, Thomas Whitlatch, who was an energetic 



lIISTOItY OF GREENE COUNTY. 859 

and industrious farmer tlirougli life, was bom in England and emi- 
grated to America, coming to Greene County among the earliest set- 
tlers. The subject of this sketch, who is the sixth in a family of ten 
children, resided in Whiteley Township until he was twenty-four 
years of age. He has followed his father's occupation and has been very 
successful, being now the owner of 220 acres of well-improved land. 
Mr. Whitlatch was united in marriage, December 11, 1845, with Miss 
Jane, daughter of Thomas Owen, who came from Wales. They are 
the parents of thirteen children — Elizabeth, wife of George Plantz; 
lienson, who died July 5, 1888, aged thirty-eight years; Barbara J., 
wife of George Murphy; Sarah Ann, wife of John Springer; Susan 
Caroline, wife of AVilliam Patterson; Mary Ellen, wife of John 
Nicholas; John AV., Peter O., Belle, wife of James Brewer; Viola, 
AVilliam, Isaac N., and David (deceased), who was their oldest child, 
died April 12, 1880, aged thirty-three years. Mr. "Whitlatch is a 
member of the Baptist Church, in which he has been a deacon for 
twenty-three years, and also superintendent of the Sabbath-school. 
Tlie other members of the family are menibers of the Church of God. 
Mr. Whitlatch is a Republican, and has been school director in his 
township. lie went into the army as a private in 1864, and served 
until the close of the war. 

WILLIAM WILDMAN, farmer and stock-grower, was born in 
Gilmore Township, Greene County, Penn., October 31, 1847, and is 
a son of Joseph and Frances (Cumpston) Wildman. His parents 
were born in Dunkard Township, and were of English descent. His 
father spent his life as a farmer. His family consisted of nine chil- 
dren, of whom William is the seventh. He was reared on the home 
farm, receiving his education in tiie common schools. Since early 
life he has made farming his chief pursuit, and has met with unusual 
success. Mr. Wildman has made his own way in the world, and is 
now the owner of 175 acres of well-improved land. In 1868 he 
married Miss Ruth, daughter of Alexander Compston. Mrs. Wild- 
man is of German origin. Tiieir children are — Anna C, wife of 
Jacob Tustin; Fannie, Eliza Ellen, Harriet, Charles W., and Rebecca 
(deceased). Mrs. Wildman is a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. In politics Mr. Wildman is a Democrat. 



WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP. 

SILAS BARNES, retired farmer, P. O. Ruff's Creek, was born 
oil the farm where he now resides in Wasliiugton Township, Greene 



860 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

County, Penn., August 22, 1810. His parents were Jacob and 
Phoebe (Crayn) P>arnes, who were natives of Pennsylvania. They 
were the parents of nine children, of whom six are living. The 
subject sf our sketch is the second of these children, and was united 
in marriage, in 1832, with Catharine Johns. She was born in Wash- 
ington Township, this county, in 1816, a daughter of Jacob and 
Elizabeth (Smith) Johns, who were pioneers of Greene County. Mr. 
and Mrs. Barnes are the parents of three children — Maria, Elizabeth 
and John. Mr. Barnes was reared on a farm and has been engaged 
in farming through life. He owns 300 acres of land. He served as 
sheriff of the county by appointment, was elected treasurrr in 1847, 
and in 1878 was elected associate judge and served one term. Mrs. 
Barnes died in November, 1886. 

JAMES BOYD, farmer (deceased), was born in Greene County, 
Penn., September 10, 1813. His parents, Eichard and Mary (Pitney) 
Boyd, were natives of Maryland, but settled in Gi-eene County, Penn., 
and remained until their death. James Boyd was united in marriage, 
April 14, 1839, with Martha Decamp, who was born in Washington 
County, November 2, 1816. She was a daughter of Kunion and 
Hannah (Wiuget) Decamp, who departed this life in Iowa. To Mr. 
and Mrs. Boyd were born eight children, six of whom are living — 
Permelia, Minerva, wife of George W. Johnson; James, Martha J., 
Mary S., wife of B. K. Bell, and Hannah J., wife of James C. Bell; 
the deceased being Elizabeth E., who was the wife of Samuel J. Gra- 
ham, and Emeline. Mr. Boyd was a farmer, and at the time of his 
death owned 176 acres of land where his widow and family reside, 
at Hope P. O., Greene County. He was a consistent member of the 
Baptist Church, of which Mrs. Boyd is also a member. Mr. Boyd's 
death occurred August 2, 1885, and he was much mourned, not only 
by his own family and immediate friends, but as a good citizen 
throughout the township and county. 

ROBEET BEISTOE, farmer, P. O. Hackney Penn., was born 
in Washington Township, Greene County, August 11, 1818, a son 
of James and Catharine (Sibert) Bristor, the former a native of 
Pennsylvania and the latter of Virginia. Tliey settled and remained 
in Greene County until their death. Robert Bristor was united in 
marriage, June 15, 1841, with Margaret Oliver, who was born in 
Washington Township, November 18, 1821. Her parents were 
Samuel and Elizabeth (Holingsworth) Oliver, the one a native of 
New Jersey and the other of Pennsylvania. They also settled in 
Greene County and remained until their death. Mr. and Mrs. 
Eobert Bristor have ten children — Mary J., widow of Shadrach 
Mitchell; ]James N., Melinda, wife of Samuel Kelley; Caroline, wife 
of Joseph 'Smith; Timothy J., Hannah M., wife of Joseph Martin; 
Rachel E., Oliver D., John W., and George W. (deceased). Mr. 



HISTOKY OF GREENE COUNTY. 801 

Bristol' has always lived on a farm, and has devoted himself to stock- 
raising and tlie care of his land of which he owns 200 acres where, 
with his family, he now resides, lie and his wife are consistent 
members of the Bethlehem Baptist Church.. 

SYLVESTER GARY, farmer, deceased, was born iu "Washing- 
ton Township, Greene County, Penn., May 6, 1819. His father 
and mother were Daniel and Mary Cary (jiee C-ooper), who were na- 
tives of Washington County, where they were married, then settled 
in Greene County, remaining till their death. Sylvester Cary was 
twice married, his first wife being Miss Hannah Cooper, born Au- 
gust 14, 1820, a daughter of Zebulon Cooper. By this marriage Mr. 
Cary was the father of nine children, only one of whom — Elmas W. 
— is now living. Mrs. Cary died in 1858. Her husband then 
married, March 10, 1859, Sarah J. Cooper; she was the widow of 
Nathaniel Cooper, and was born March 29, 1833. Her father and 
mother were John and Martha Cooper (nee Atkinson), who were na- 
tives of Pennsylvania, and after marriage residents of Washington 
County until death. By his second marriage Mr. Cary was the 
father of five children — Laura B., wife of Oscar Day; Thomas S., 
Alice S., wife of John M. Simpson, John C. ; and Hannah M., de- 
ceased. Mrs. Cary by her first marriage is the mother of one child — 
Flora S., wife of John Andrew. Sylvester Cary, deceased, was one 
of the substantial citizens of Washington Township, In connection 
with the farming he made quite a success of stock-dealing during his 
lil'e, and at his death was the possessor of a fine farm containing 
about 600 acres. He belonged to the Methodist Protestant Church, 
of which his widow is also a member. Mr. Gary's death occurred 
January 3, 1886, and it proved a great loss not only to his family 
but also throughout the community in which he lived. 

JAMES W. GLOSSER, farmer, grain and stock-dealer, Waynes- 
burg, Penn. — Among the stirring and prosperous business men of 
Greene County, we take pleasure in mentioning the name that heads 
this biographical sketch. He was born in Amwell Township, Wash- 
ington County, October 15, 1852, and is a son of Andrew J. and 
Sarah (Totton) Closser, who were natives of Pennsylvania, married 
and settled in Bethlehem Township, Washington County, where 
they remained through life. On Septeniber 24, 1882, James AV. 
Closser married Miss Elazan Garner, who was born in AVashiiigton 
Township, April 4, 1858, and is a member of the Baptist Church. 
Her parents were Matthew and Sarah (IIuffman)Garner, the latter of 
whom is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Closser's family consists of three 
children — Daniel, Hallie J. and James I. Althougli reared on a 
farm, Mr. Closser has been engaged in various pursuits since start- 
ing out in life for himself. He is at present dealing in grain, stock 
and agricultural implements, besides managing his farms which con- 



862 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

sist of about 600 acres, owned in partnership with his brother Henry. 

JESSE CRAIG, deceased, was born in Virginia, October 20, 
1799; and following in the footsteps of the early pioneers, while still 
a boy, came to Pennsylvania and settled in Greene County, on March 
12, 1829, he married Miss Hannah Evans, who was born in "Wash- 
ington County, April 27, 1803, a daughter of David and Elizabeth 
Evans, both deceased. By this marriage Mr. Craig was the father of 
one child, David, who married Nancy Matthews. Mr. Craig lost 
his wife by death, January 27, 1831; but realizing that it was not 
good for man to be alone, on April 22, 1832, he was married to Miss 
Sophrona Cary, who was born on the farm where she and family re- 
side, March 5, 1815, a daughter of Abel and Eunice Cary [nee 
Woodrufi). Her parents were natives of New Jersey, and early in 
life settled in Greene County, Peun., remaining until their death. 
By the last marriage Mr. Craig was the father of thirteen children, 
of whom nine survive him — Cephas, married Eunice Bigler; Daniel, 
married Malinda Bane; Sarah, wife of Abel Turner; Abel, married 
Sarah J. Rejester; Eunice, wife of John G. Barr; Hannah, Eleanor, 
wife of Silas Hoover; Margai-et, wife of George Stilwell, and Sophrona, 
wife of William Taylor. Thomas (married Leah Horn), Mary, Eliza- 
beth and Jesse, being deceased. Mr. Craig was a successful farmer, 
and stock-raiser through life, owning at the time of his death a farm 
of 150 acres. Pie was a member of the Baptist Church, of which 
his widow is also a member. He filled in his lifetime the ofhce of 
justice of the peace of Washington Township. He 'departed this 
life, April 26, 1882; and by his death the township lost a good 
citizen and his family a kind husband and father. 

ENOCH DURBIN, retired farmer. Swarfs Station, Penn., was 
born in Richhill Township, Greene County, July 24, 1820, a son of 
Stephen and Mary Durbin (nee McDonell), the former a native of 
Maryland. After marriage they resided in Richhill Township until 
their death. Enoch Durbin was united in marriage the first time in 
1845, with Mary M. Stagner, born in Morris Township in 1819, a 
daughter of John and Mary Stagner. By this marriage Mr. Durbin 
is the father of four children — Peter H., George W., Eliza J., wife 
of Thomas lams; and John (deceased). Mrs. Durbin died May 27, 
1866. Four years after her death, December 7, 1870, Mr. Dui-bin 
took for a second wife Eliza Hopkins, born January 27, 1818, on 
what was known as the old Hopkins farm, where she and family still 
reside. Her parents were Daniel and Esther Hopkins (nee Johnson). 
The former was born in eastern Pennsylvania, November 27, 1782. 
and liis wife in Washington County, November 8, 1787. They were 
married November 15, 1811, and settled in Maryland, then lived in 
Washington County, Penn., one year and moved to Greene County 
in 1816, remaining until their death. Mr. Hopkins died October 10, 



, HISTORY OP GUKENE COUNTY. 863 

1828, and his widow October 5, 1866. They were the parents of eight 
children, of whom six are living — Margaret, Levi, Eliza, the wife of 
subject of this sketch, Samuel, Abigail, the wife of fiev. J. T. 
Riley, and Aranna. The deceased are William S. and John J. 
Enoch Durbin has been a farmer all tlirough life, and he, wife and 
sister-in-law are all members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

G. W. DURBIN, farmer. Sycamore, Penn., was born in Morris 
Township, Greene County, December 20, 1849, a son of Enoch and 
Mary Durbin (wed Stagner). His father and mother were natives of 
Richhill and Morris townships respectively. They remained in this 
count}' after their marriage, Mrs. Durbin departing this life in 1866. 
Sometime after her death Mr. Durbin contracted a second marriage 
with Miss Eliza Hopkins, and now resides in Washington Township. 
George W. Durbin chose as his life partner, September 11, 1875, 
Miss Jennie L. Fonner, who was born in Morris Township, Novem- 
ber 4, 1854, a daughter of James and Eliza Fonner (^nee Taylor). 
Iler parents were natives of Greene County, where they were mar- 
ried and lived until Mr. Fonner's death, March 16, 1883. His widow 
is still living. To Mr. and Mrs. Durbin have been born live chil- 
dren — James R., Lizzie B., Albert F., Charlie B. and Maggie E. 
Mr. Durbin is a farmer by occupation and has made that his lifg 
work. He is the possessor of a 100-acre farm on which he and family 
reside. Both he and wife are consistent members of the Bates' Fork 
Baptist Church; and he is a leading director of the school board, 
taking great interest in the educational affairs of the township. 

JOHN EDGAR, farmer, Castile, Penn., is one of the substantial 
farmers and stock-dealers of Washington Township, Greene County, 
where he was born May 2, 1845. His parents were Isaac and Mar- 
garet Edgar, the former a native of New Jersey, and the latter of 
Washington County, Pennsjdvania. After marriage they settled in 
Greene County and remained until 1868, then lived in Washington 
County till 1874 — the year of Mrs. Edgar's death. Her husband 
died in 1875. John Edgar was united in the holy bonds of matri- 
mony February 9, 1869, with Mary A. Keys, born in AVashington 
County, September 24, 1850. Her parents, Daniel and Ruth (Bane) 
Keys, are natives of Washington County where they still reside. 
Mr. and Mrs. John Edgar are the parents of nine children — Daniel 
A., Ida R., Maggie M., Lucy L., William K., John, Anna M., Min- 
nie and Clarence. Mr. Edgar has been engaged in farming and 
stock-dealing all his life. He owns 228 acres of land in one tract, 
on which he and liis family reside. They are consistent members of 
the Baptist Church, in which he has served as deacon for three years. 
He has also been a member of the school board of his township. 

STEPHEN FULTON, farmer, Castile, Penn., was born in West 
Bethlehem Township, Washington County, August 16, 1818, a son 



864 HISTORY 01^ GKEENE COtTNTY. 

of Stephen and Jeruslia Fulton (^nee Gary). His mother was a na- 
tive of Greene and his father of Washington County, where they 
settled after their marriage and remained through life, Mr. Fulton's 
death occurring in 1847 and his widow in 1858. September 16, 1847, 
Stephen Fulton wedded Miss Mary Greenlee, who was born in Wash- 
ington County, December 26, 1822. She is a daughter of Samuel 
and Nancy Greenlee {nee Gantz), the one a native of Maryland and 
the other of Fayette County, Penn. After marriage they resided in 
Washington County until the death of Mrs. Gantz in 1863. lier 
husband died in 1876. Stephen Fulton and wife are the parents of 
eight children, five of whom are living — Emma, wife of Zephaniah 
Johnson; Samuel G., Henry H., Eliza, wife of Amos Shirk, and 
Albert G. ; Nancy, Margaret and Ruth, are deceased. Mr. Fulton 
has always lived in the country and engaged in farming throughout 
his life, which has been one of usefulness and activity, and he has 
acquired for himself and family a farm of 120 acres, where he now 
lives. They are both members of the Mount Zion Baptist Church. 

SPENCEE B. GAENEE, farmer, P. O. Waynesburg, was born in 
Greene County, Penn., March 10, 1851. His father, Matthew — son 
of Samuel and Catharine (Miller) Garner — was born in Washington 
Township, August 9, 1820; and September 29, 1844, wedded Sarah, 
daughter of Amos Masters. She was a native of Greene County, 
and died August 5, 1851. After her death Matthew married Sarah, 
daughter of John Huffman, December 24, 1854. She was also a 
native of Washington Township, and died August 23, 1871. Her hus- 
band then married, October 3 1872, Miss Maria Keigley, his present 
wife, a native of the same township and a daughter of George and 
Anna Keigley, both deceased. Spencer B., the subject of this sketch, 
was united in marriage, September 16, 1875, with Ella Huss, who 
was born in Greene County, Penn., August 7, 1854, a daughter of 
William H. and Maria Huss (nee Keys), the former a native of 
Greene and the latter of Washington County. Mr. Huss is deceased 
and his widow is now living with her daughter, Mrs. S. B. Garner. 
To Mr. and Mrs. S. B. Garner have been born two children — Weatha 
and Isa G. Mr. Garner has been a farmer, stock-dealer and miller 
through life, and owns 184 acres of land in Washington Township. 
He and wife are members of the Bates' Fork Baptist Church. 

T. J. HUFFMAN, farmer and stock-dealer, Euff's Creek, Penn., 
was born in Washington Township, December 17, 1819. His parents, 
George and Susannah (Stagner) Huffman, are natives of Greene 
County, where they reside at present. Mr. Huffman, the subject of 
this sketch, was united in marriage, May 25, 1871, with Eliza M. 
Mattox, who was born in Morris Township, this county, October 12, 
1852, a daughter of John and Clarissa Mattox {nee Eial). Her 
mother was a native of New Jersey and her father of Greene County, 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 865 

Penn., where they settled after marriage and remained till tlie death 
of Mr. Mattox; his widow survives him. Mr. and Mrs. Iluftman 
are the parents of four children, one living — George E., born May 
24, 1880; and Lonny, Ida and an infant, deceased. Mr. Huffman is 
a member of the Baptist and his wife of the Cumberland Presbyte- 
rian Church. Mr. Huffman was raised on the farm where he now 
resides with his family and parents, and in connection with his 
farming, has dealt in all kinds of stock, making the raising of fast 
horses a specialty; of these the principal ones are "Slow-Go," and 
two that Vanderbilt bought. Mr. Huffman has always been known as 
one of the most successful and enterprising farmers of his township- 

G. W. HUFFMAN, farmer and stock dealer, P. O. Paiff's Creek, 
was born in Washington Townsliip, Greene County, Penn., Jan'^^ry 
17, 1845. He is a son of George and Susannah (Stagner) Huff /nan, 
who ai'e natives of Greene County, where they were married and 
have resided all their lives. Mr. Huffman was united in marriage, 
September 20, 1866, with Phoebe J. Baldwin, who was born in 
Washington County, March 27, 1846. Her parents, Amos and Sarah 
(Lindley) Baldwin, were natives of Washington County, but moved 
to Iowa where they both died. Mr. and Mrs. Huffman are the 
parents of two interesting daughters — Cora B. and Sadie A. Mr. 
Huffman was brought up on a farm, and in connection with his farm- 
ing interests has made the raising of fine stock a specialty. He owns 
380 acres of land where he and family live, and a fifth interest in 
700 acres in Kansas. The whole family are consistent and leading 
members in the Bethlehem Baptist Church. 

ANDREW HUGHES, retired farmer, Paifl''s Creek, Penn., is 
one of the old pioneers of Greene County, having been born in 
Washington Township, November 1, 1810, a son of Nathan and 
Nancy (Sharon) Hughes. Mrs. Hughes was a native of England, 
and her husband was born in Greene County, Penn., where they re- 
sided from the time of their marriage until their death. Andrew 
Hughes was united in marriage, September 25, 1834, with Hannah 
Crayne, born in Washington Township, April 4, 1815, a daughter 
of Daniel and Hannah (Clawsou) Crayne, the one a native of Greene 
County, Penn., and the other of New Jersey. After marriage they 
made their home in Mr. Hughes' native county until their death. 
Mr. Andrew Hughes and wife are the parents of two children — Asa 
and Samuel. Mr. Hughes was raised on a farm and has been a tiller 
of the soil all his life. He owns the 200-acre farm where he now 
lives with his family. He and wife are members of the Bethlehem 
Baptist Church, in which they have ever been regarded as among 
the most prominent and faithful workers. 

ZEPHANIAH JOHNSON, retired farmer, Castile, Penn.— The 
subject of this sketch is one of the substantial pioneer farmers of 



866 nisTOET OP greene cotrwTY. 

Greene County, having been born in Morgan Township, December 
21, 1812. Plis parents were Zenas and Phoebe (Wolf) Johnson, who 
were natives of JS^ew Jei-sey, and after marriage moved to Greene 
County, Penn., and spent the remainder of their lives. March 6, 
1837, Zephaniah Johnson took unto himself a wife in the person of 
Miss Eachael Ulery, born in Greene County, February 24, 1819. 
Her parents were Stephen and Jane (Cruyn) Ulery, who were natives 
of Washington County, Penn., but moved to Knox County, Ohio, 
remaining until their death. By this marriage Mr. Johnson is the 
fatherof the following children — PhcebeJ.,wife of Isaac Keys; Stephen, 
Zenos, Daniel and Sarah. Mrs. Johnson departed this life July 21, 
1853. After her death Mr. Johnson was united in marriage, in 
1857, with Mrs. Mary Horn (iiee Moore), a daughter of Joseph and 
Mary Moore, both deceased. By the last marriage Mr. Johnson is 
the father of one daughter — Ellen. Her mother departed this life 
May 21, 1872. Mr. Johnson has always lived on a farm, to which, 
in connection with stock-raising, he has given his care and attention 
through life. His farm consists of 234 acres. He is named among 
the prominent citizens of his township, and is a leading member in 
the Mount Zion Baptist Church. 

GEOPGE W. JOHNSON, farmer, P. 0. Ten-Mile, was born in 
Morgan Township, Greene County, Penn., May 21, 1818. His 
parents were Zenas and Phoebe (Wolf) Johnson, who were natives of 
New Jersey, where they were married, then moved to Greene County, 
Penn., remaining till Mrs. Johnson's death, which occurred in 1819. 
Her husband then married Sarah Crayn. Both died in Gi'eene 
County. The subject of our notice was united in marriage, Novem- 
ber 4, 1841, with Eunice Smith, born in Amwell Township, Wash- 
ington County, April 16, 1821. She is the daughter of Peter and 
Priscilla (Cooper) Smith, the former a native of Germany, and the 
latter of Washington County, Penn., where they were married, and 
after settling for a short time in Greene County, returned and died 
there. Mr. G. W. Johnson and wife are the parents of five children 
— Smith, I. B., Phcebe J., wife of Othaniel Khoads; Zephaniah and 
George A. Having been reared on a farm, Mr. Johnson has been a 
tiller of the soil all his life, and owns the farm of 170 acres where 
he now lives with his family. He has served as a member of the 
school board of his township, and both he and wife are members of 
the Baptist Chm*ch. 

ZENAS JOHNSON, farmer, P. 0. Puff's Creek, born in Greene 
County, Penn., April 12, 1827, is a son of Zenas and Sarah Johnson, 
the former a native of New Jersey, and the latter of Greene County, 
Penn., who after marriage settled and remained in this county until 
their death. Our subject was united in marriage, October 28, 1862, 
with Sarah J. Watson, born in Washington County, Penn., October 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 8G7 

28, 1839, who is still living and is a consistent member of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church, ller parents were John and Mary A. (Al- 
most) Watson, the former a native of Ireland, and the latter of 
Greene County, Penn., who settled in Washington County after mar- 
riage, where they remained until their death. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Johnson have been born eight children — George B., Daniel D., Silas 
C, Sadie, Emma, Maggie, Jennie and Cora. Having been raised on 
a farm, Mr. Johnson has made farming his business through life, 
and through industry and economy has secured for himself one of 
the best farms in Washington Township, consisting of 257 acres. 

D. W. JOHNS, farmer, P. O. Ruff's Creek, is a descendant of 
one of the Pioneer families of Greene County, Penn. Pie was born 
in Washington Township, May 21, 1838, a son of Jacob and Eliza- 
beth Johns (?iee Ross), who are natives of Greene County, the former 
of Washington Township and the latter of Morgan. They have re- 
sided in AVashington Township ever since they wei'e married. The sub- 
ject of this sketch was united in marriage, February 24, 1870, with 
Rachael Meek, who was born in Washington Township, November 17, 
1842, a daughter of John and Elizabeth Meek (^nee Boyd), who were 
natives of Greene County, where they remained until their death, 
Mr. and Mrs. Johns have two children — Thomas S., born June 5. 
1871; and John F., born February 8, 1873. Mr. Johns was raised 
on a farm and has been engaged in farming and dealing in stock all 
his life. He owns 345 acres of land where he and family live. lie 
and wife are members of the Bethlehm Baj)tist Church. 

JACOB JOHNS, a retired farmer of RuflPs Creek, Penn., is one 
one of the pioneers of Washington Township, Greene County. He 
was born on the farm where he and family reside, December 3, 
1806, and is a son of Jacob and Elizal)eth (Smith) Johns, the former 
a native of Delawai-e and the latter of Washington County, Penn., 
who settled in Greene County after marriage and remained until their 
death. Jacob Johns was united in marriage March 27, 1834, with 
Elizabeth Ross, born in Morgan Township, Greene County, May 29, 
1816. Her parents, John and Phtebe (Eaton) Ross, were natives of 
Greene Coi;nty and residents therein until their death. Mr. and Mrs. 
Johns are the parents of eight children, four of whom are living and 
married, as follows: J. U., to Mary J. Huffman; D. W., to Rachael 
Meek; Abner, to Elizabeth Meek; and Jacob, Jr., first to Lourinza 
R. McClelland, then to Josephine V. Hickman. The deceased are — 
Phcebe, Timothy, Thomas, and Elizabeth, who was the wife of Jacol) 
Iloge. Mr. Joiins has been engaged in farming all his life and owns 
about 500 acres of land in Greene County. He held the ofKce of 
justice of the peace of Washington Township for ten years, and lilleil 
the positions of assessor, auditor, inspector and tax collector of his 
township. 



868 HISTOET OF GREENE COUNTY. 

GEORGE KEIGLEY, farmer, "Waynesburg, Penn., was born in 
Washington Township, Greene County, April 8, 1831, a son of 
George and Anna Keigley (nee McCaslin). They were natives of 
Pennsylvania, where they were married and remained in Greene 
County until their death. Both departed this life where the subject 
of this notice now resides. March 21, 1869, George Keigley married 
Similda J. Rose, who was born in Guernsey County, Ohio, March 
27, 1845, a daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Rose {iiee Haines). 
They were natives of Pennsylvania but lived in Ohio until about ' 
1850, when they returned to Fayette County, Penn., where Mrs. Rose 
died in 1852. Mr. Rose married again and moved to Greene County, 
Penn., then to Fulton County, Penn., where he died November 10, 
1887. To Mr. and Mrs. Keigley have been born eight children — 
Laura V., Homer L., Mary M., Jessie I., Sadie E., Louie, Anna P. 
and Thomas H. Mr. Keigley is a saddle and harness-maker by 
trade, which he followed about fifteen years, after which he engaged 
in the service of his country in Company F, Pennsylvania Cavalry, 
and served nine months. He and his wife are faithful members of the 
Baptist Chiirch. 

JOHN M. MARTIN, farmer and stock-dealer, P. O. Ten Mile, 
was born in Morgan Township, Greene County, August 12, 1823. 
His parents were Thomas and Mary (Bradbury) Martin, natives of 
New Jersey. They were married in Washington County, Penn., and 
made their home in Greene County, where Mr. Martin died. Mrs. 
Martin died in Missouri. After her husband's death, she lived with 
her children, who were — John M., the eldest and the subject of this 
sketch; Thomas and David C. John M. was united in marriage 
January 18, 1848, with Miss Martha Moore, born in Wash- 
ington County, Penn., in 1819. Her parents were Joseph and Mary 
(Shackleton) Moore, both deceased. By this union Mr. Martin is the 
father of four children — Joseph T., Martha A. and James J., living; 
and Mary E., deceased. Mrs. Martin departed this life in 1880. 
February 8, 1881, Mr. Martin was again united in marriage with 
Isabella (Barr) Montgomery. She was born in Washington County, 
and is a daughter of Samuel and Sarah Barr, the former deceased. 
By his last marriage Mr. Martin is the father of two sons — Charles 
A. and Ira H. He was raised on a farm and made farming his busi- 
ness through life, having also delt somewhat in stock. He owns 
about 200 acres of land in Greene County, and is one of the in- 
dustrious and substantial citizens of Washington Township. 

L. W. MEEK, farmer, P. O. Swarfs, was born on the farm where 
he and his family reside in Washington Township, December 26, 
1858. He is a son of Cary and Jane Meek {iiee Milliken), who 
were natives of Greene County, Pennsylvania, where they were 
married, settled and remained until their death. He died in 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 869 

October, 1873, and liis widow in November of the same year. 
Tliey were the parents of four cliildren — L. W., A. W., Josie and 
Lillie. L. W. Meek was united in marriage with Sena Buchanan, 
born in Waynesburg, March 18, 1859, a daughter of David and 
Cassie Buchanan (/lee Swart), the former a native of Greene and tlie 
latter of Wasliington County, Penn. They reside in Morris Town- 
ship, Greene County. Mr. and Mrs. Meeli are tlie parents of two 
cliildren — Cassie J. and David B. Mr. Meek was raised on a farm 
and has given considerable attention to stock-dealing in connection 
with the care of his farm which consists of 140 acres. He has also 
taken much interest in the educational affairs of his township and has 
served as a members of the school l)oard. His wife is a member of 
the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. 

CEPHAS MEEK, farmer. Ruff's Creek, Penn., is a descendant 
of one of the pioneer families of Greene County. He was born in 
Washington Township, January 2-1, 1832, a son of John and Elizabeth 
(I?oyd) Meek, who were natives of Greene County, where they were 
married, settled and remained until their death. She died December 
24, 1869, and lier husband February 3, 1878. They were the parents 
of eleven children, eight of whom are living. Cephas Meek was 
united in marriage April 2, 1868, with Phojbe J. Obnklin. She was 
born in Washington County, Penn., December 2, 1838, a daughter 
of William and Catharine (Ross) Conklin, natives ot Washington and 
Greene counties respectively. They were married in Greene and 
settled in Washington County. He departed this life June 25, 1880; 
his widow is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Meek are the parents of 
one child, William R., born January 11, 1869. Mr. Meek has been 
engaged in farming all his life and owns a farm of 145 acres. He 
was a member of the school board of his townshij) for six years, 
and also served as judge and inspector of elections. Mr^. Meek is a 
member in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. 

ASA MITCHELL, a retired farmer of Ruff's Creek, Penn., was 
born in Wasliington Township, Greene County, October 6, 1811. 
He is a son of Shadrach and Margaret (Rinehart) Mitchell, the former 
a native of Maryland and the latter of Greene County, Penn., where 
they were married and remained until their death. January 25, 
1835, Asa Mitchell married Miss Rachel Johns, born in Washington 
Township, December 1, 1815. She is a daughter of Jacob and 
Elizalieth (Smith) Johns who, after marriage, settled and remained in 
Greene County until their death. To Mr. and Mrs. Asa Mitchell 
have been born eight children, of whom four are living — Jacob J., 
John, Maria and Catharine, who is the wife of George V. Shirk; and 
Shadrach, Thomas, Delilah and Mary J. (deceased). Mr. Mitchell 
was raised on a farm and has been engaged in farming all his life. 
He owns 227 acres of land where he now lives with his family and 



870 HISTORY OF GREENE OOtTNTY. 

he is one of the most substantial and highly respected citizens of 
Washington Township. 

M. M. McClelland, retired farmer, Euff's Creek, Penn., was 
born on the farm where he and his family reside in Washington 
Township, Greene County, December 22, 1824, a son of John and 
Nancy McClelland (iiee Montgomery). His father was a native of 
Pennsylvania and his mother of Harford County, Md. They were 
married in Greene County, Penn. Mr. McClelland departed this 
life in 1840, and his widow May 5, 1862. The subject of our sketch 
was united in marriage February 27, 1848, with Elizabeth Mettler, 
born in Columbia County, Penn., May 6, 1826, a daughter of Daniel 
and Waty Mettler, {^lee Baker). They were natives of Pennsylvania, 
married there, and in 1831 moved to Knox County, Ohio; from there 
they moved to Williams County, in 1860, and in 1866 went to Iowa, 
where he died December 13, 1884. His widow survives him, mak- 
ing her home with her ohildrfen. Mr. and Mrs. McClelland have ten 
children, of whom five are living — Sarah F., wife of J. D. lams; Cary, 
Elmira, wife of Stephen Cox; Emma J. and Ettie. The deceased are 
Melvin T., Waty A., Marinda, Mary and Lourinza. She was mar- 
ried October 30, 1878, to Jacob Johns, and died September 7, 1879. 
Mr. McClelland was raised on a farm and has been engaged in farm- 
ing almost all his life. He owns 345 acres of land, constituting one 
of the finest farms in Washington Township. He was elected to the 
oflice of county auditor in 1856 and served the term of three years. 
In 1868 he was elected county commissioner, and served tliree years. 
He is now serving a second term as justice of- the peace of Washing- 
ton Township, having at different times successfully filled abnost all 
the township offices. He has also been a member of the Masonic 
order for twenty years. His wife is a faithful member of the Beth- 
lehem Baptist Church. 

JOHN PETTIT, farmer. Swarfs was born in Washington 
Township, Greene County, Penn., January 22, 1831, a son of 
Isaac and Cynthia Pettit (iiee Hathaway), who were natives of Greene 
County and residents there until their death. In 1860 Mr. Pettitt 
was united in marriage with Kachel Pettit, who was born in Morris 
Township January 2, 1840, a daughter of Charlie and Iveziah Pettit, 
natives of Greene County and residents there until their death. To 
Mr. and Mrs. John Pettit have been born seven children — Eliza, wife 
of G. H. Loughman, who is the mother of two children — Olie M. and 
Stanley J ; Isaac, Mai-y A., wife of George Fry ; Kizzie, Charlie, Frank 
and Nora. Mr. Pettitt was raised on a farm and has been engaged 
in farming all his life. He owns 325 acres of land, all in Washington 
Township. He and wife are consistent members of the Baptist Cliurch. 

JOSEPH H. PETTIT, farmer. Swarfs, Penn., was born in 
Washington Township, Greene County, May 6, 1837, a son of Isaac 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 871 

and Cynthia Pettit (wee Hathaway), who were natives of Greene 
County, wiiere they remained nntil their death. She departed this 
life in 1873, and her liusband in 1881. December 13, 181)2, Josepli 
II. Pettit was united in marriage with Elizabeth Hedge, born in 
Greene County, February 2, 1846. She is a daughter of A<\ron and 
Eva Hedge {iiee Fonner), natives of the same county, both deceased. 
The latter departed this life April, 1888. Mr. and Mrs. Pettit are 
the parents of eight children, six of whom are living — Laura, Jessie, 
Cynthia, Martha, George and Bert; and Eva and Mary, deceased. 
Having been reared on a farm, Mr. Pettit has made farming his occu- 
pation through life, and owns 148 acres of land where and his family 
live. Mrs. Pettit is one of the faithful members of the Baptist Church. 
JOHN ROSS, retired farmer, Dunn's Station, Penn. — The sufiject 
of this biographical sketch is one of the pioneer citizens of Washing- 
ton Township, Greene County, born on his present farm, November 
3, 1820. He was the oldest child of Tiiomas Ross, a native of this 
county, who died in 1832. His mother's maiden name was Hannah 
DcTiney, a native of Jefferson Township, who after marriage resided 
in Washington Township until her death in 1847. They were the 
parents of seven children, of whom three are living. John Ross mar- 
ried Miss Maria Loughman, October 7, 1847. She was born Sep- 
tember 20, 1825, in Morris Township, of which her parents, David 
and Christina (Fonner) Loughman, were also natives and residents 
therein until their death. Mr. and Mrs. John Ross have eight 
children — Hannah B., wife of John Kendall; David, Mary J., Lvdia, 
wife of John W. Kelley; Timothy, Christina A., Maria 1. and Will- 
iam, (deceased). Mr. Ross was born and raised on the farm on which 
he now resides, and like his ancestors, has made farming and stock- 
raising his business through life. His home farm consists of 237 
acres of excellent land. He has most acceptably tilled the offices of 
auditor and assessor of his township, and served as member of the 
.school board for fourteen years. He and his wife are among the 
most prominent members of the Baptist Church. 

TIIOMAS ROSS, farmer and stock-dealer, P. O. Ruff's Creek, 
was born in Washington County, Penn., October 8, 1833. He is the 
son of Benjamin and Hannah Ross [nee Johns,) both natives of 
Washington Township, Greene County, where they were married 
and where they returned after a few years spent in Washington County, 
and remained until their death, which occurred in the house where 
the suljject of this sketch and his family now reside — his father hav- 
ing departed this life in 1863, and his mother in 1868. Six of their 
twelve children still survive them. Thomas Ross was united in 
marriage May 11, 1870, with Helen M. Lindley, born in Washington 
County, January 10, 1844, a daughter of Zebulon and Julia Lindley 
(nee Parkinson), natives of the same county, and residents therein 



872 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

during their whole life, with the exception of a short time spent in 
Ohio immediately subsequent to their marriage. They were the 
parents of tliree children, all now living. Mrs. Lindley died in 1873 
and her husband in 1887. To Mr. and Mrs. Ross have been born 
two daughters — Estella J., born May 26, 1872; and Clara 11., born 
February, 23, 1871, died September 29, 1878. Mr. Ross was reared 
on a farm. In 1859, at the age of twenty-six, he went to California 
and engaged in the miniiig business. Returning to his native county 
in 1863, after an absence of four years, he has since devoted himself 
to stock-dealing and the care of his farm of 290 acres in Washington 
Township. He and his family are members of the Baptist Church, 
and for the consistency of their Christian character are highly re- 
spected throughout the community. 

BENJAMIN SHIRK, retired farmer, Ruff's Creek, Benn., born 
in Lancaster County, Benn., July 23, 1815, is a son of Michael and 
Barbara (Alobough) Shirk, also natives of Lancaster County. They 
were married and lived there until about 1830, when they moved to 
Coshocton County, Ohio, and remained until Mrs. Shirk's death. 
Mr. Shirk again married and moved to Illinois, where he died. On 
Septeinber 5, 1839, Benjamin Shirk first married Margaret Martin, 
born in "Washington Township, Greene County, June 13, 1818, a 
daughter of Amos and Ruth Martin, both deceased. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Shirk were born seven children, five of whom are living — Michael 
M., Daniel, George V., Joel and Amos; and John and Benjamin F., 
deceased. Mrs. Shirk died February 20, 1859. In 1860 Mr. Shirk 
married Elizabeth (Turner) Ullom. She was born in Greene County, 
February 6, 1827, a daughter of Za and Elizabeth Turner, who de- 
l^arted this life in Greene County. By his last marriage Mr. Shirk 
is tlie father of three children — Charles, Maggie and Benjamin F. 
Mr. Shirk has been a tiller of the soil all his life, and at one tiine 
owned 700 acres of land. He has given this all to his children, ex- 
cept the farm of 325 acres where he and his family reside. lie and. 
his wife are consistent members of the Baptist Church, of which his 
deceased wife was also a member. Mr. Shirk has been a member of 
the school board, and judge of the election at different times. He is 
one of Greene County's oldest and best known citizens, having lived 
in Washington Township for fifty years. 

J. H. SMITH, farmer, B. O. Sycamore, was born in Washington 
Township, Greene County, Benn., January 17, 1841. His parents, 
Jacob and Nancy Smith (^nee Hill), were natives of Greene County, 
where they have always resided. His death occurred iji 1887, and her 
death May 2, 1888. Mr. J. II. Smith was united in marriage June 
6, 1861, with Martha Armstrong, who was born in Washington 
County, Bennsylvania, September 24, 1842. Mrs. Smith is a daugh- 
ter of James and Elizabeth Armstrong ( nee Richie), the former a 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 873 

native of New York, the latter of Ohio, who after marriage settled 
in Washington County, Pennsylvania, and from there moved to Mar- 
shall County, West Virginia where she died in 1853. After her 
death he married again and moved to Richhill Township, this county, 
and died in 1881. The widow is still living. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Smith have been born five children: Anna, wife of Gr. M. Fordyce; 
Mary L., Maria B., Ida M. and Jacob H. Mr. Smith has been en- 
gaged in farming through his life, and owns 112 acres of land where 
he and family reside. lie and wife are consistent members of the. 
Baptist Church. 

JOHN WALKER, farmer, Paifi's Creek Penn., was born in 
Center Township, Greene County, January 6, 1818. His parents 
were Joseph and Rebecca (Iliginbotham) Walker, the former a na- 
tive of New Jersey, and the latter of Fayette County, Pennsylvania. 
They were married in Greene County where they remained for sev- 
eral years, when they moved first to St. Clairsville, Ohio, then to 
Moundsville, West Virginia. From that point Mr. Walker com- 
menced running on the Ohio River. About this time he disappeared 
very mj'steriously, and his family never knew what became of him. 
His widow, with her family, moved to Centre Township, Greene 
County, and married George Williams. They lived first in Wash- 
ington, County Penn., then moved to Wellsbnrgh, West Virginia. 
Mr. Williams died in Ohio County, West Virginia. His widow then 
moved to AVashington County, Penn., then to Greene County 
where she was first married, and made her home with her son until 
her death. The subject of this sketch was united in marriage, 
November 7, 1839, with Rachael Supler. She was born in Richhill 
Township, Greene County, September 12, 1820, a daughter of John 
and Mary (Sargent) Supler, natives of Pennsylvania. They were 
married and settled in Richhill Township, where they remained 
until their death. To Mr. and Mrs. Walker have been born twelve 
children: John L., Minerva, George S., William W., David L., 
Rebecca, Nancy, Jackson V., and Fannie M., living; and Josepli 
L., Samuel II. and Mary M. deceased. Mr. Walker is a farmer 
and owns about 367 acres of land where he and family reside in 
Washington Township, Greene County Pennsylvania. 



874 HISTOET OF GREENE COUNTY. 



WAYNE TOV\^NSHIP. 

\ GEORGE W. BELL, P. O. Hoover's Eun, one of the oldest 
residents of Greene County, Penn, was born in Virginia, September 
30, 1809. His parents were Jason and Sarah (Noll ) Bell, natives 
of Virginia, where they married and settled, afterwards removing to 
Washington County, Penn., then to Greene County, where his father 
died in 1873 and his mother in 1840. George W. was the seventh of 
their nine children, and was joined in the holy bonds of wedlock, 
February, 8, 1844, with Clementine, daughter of William and Sarah 
Tygart (?iee Eagon). Mr. Tygart was a native of Virginia, and his 
wife of Gi'eene County, Penn., where they spent their married life 
He departed this life in Guernsey County, Ohio, in the year 1846, 
and his wife in April, 1857. JMr. Bell and wife are the parents of 
nine children: Sarah J., Felix, Julia A., wife of David Stoneking; 
Maria, wife of J. Harvey Stewart; Mary, wife of Eli Pethtell; 
Josephine, wife of William Cole; Susan R; William H. and Eliza 
abeth M. deceased. Mr. Bell has always lived on a farm, and his 
life has been characterized by great industry and economy, as a result 
of which he owns a fine farm of 500 acres in Greene County, also 
100 in West Virginia, and 7,000 at interest. Fie has served 
as justice of the peace for ten years; has been a member of the , 
school board, and was at one time assessor of Jackson Township.^ 

HON. MATTHIAS BRANT, Spragg's, Penn., is one the most 
successful farmers and stock-raisers of Greene County, and owns 300 
acres of land. He was born in Wayne Township, December 29, 
1828, a son of Christopher and Susan Brant {nee Meighen). His 
father was a native of Maryland, and his mother of Greene County, 
Pennsylvania, where they were married and lived until 1863, when 
Mrs. Bi-ant died. Mr. Brant then moved to Fillmore County, Minne- 
sota, where he died in November, 1857. They were the parents of 
thirteen children, of whom Matthias was the oldest, and was united 
in marriage, June 28, 1868, with Mary Shaw, who was a native of 
Greene County, where she remained through life. By this marriage 
Mr. Brant is the father of six children, of whom four are living — 
Susan M., Gertrude M., William H. and Fanny; Emma being^de- 
ceased. Mrs. Brant departed this life in August, 1880. Mr. Brant 
married for his second wife, October 25, 1883, Elizabeth, daughter 
of John and Mary (Varlow) Fitzgerald, natives of County Carey, 
Ireland, where they were married. They soon after emigrated to 
America, settling in West Virginia where they now reside. Mr. 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 875 

Brant tauglit school for sixteen years, beginning when sixteen years 
of age. lie was elected member of the State Legislature in 1878 
and re-elected in 1880. He has been a member of the school board 
for about thirteen years. In politics he is a Democrat. He and 
his wife are honored members of the Catholic Church at Waynes- 
burg. 

KENDALL J. BRANT, Spragg's Penn., was born in Gilmore 
Township, September 23, 1839, a sou of Christopher and Susannah 
Brant [nee Meigheu). The father was a native of Maryland, and 
the mother of Greene County, Penn., where they were married and 
resided until Mrs. Brant's death, which occurred in May, 18G3. Her 
husband died in November, 1857, in Fillmore County, Minnesota. 
Tiiey were the parents of thirteen children, of whom Kendall J. was 
the twelfth. lie was twice married, his first wife being Minerva, 
daughter of John and Margaret (Hamilton) Spragg, who are natives 
and residents of this county. Mr. and Mrs. Brant were married 
December 16, 1860, and were the parents of two children — Mar- 
garet C, wife of William E. Spragg, and Matthias L. Mrs. Brant 
departed this life February 15, 1865. Mr. Brant was afterwards 
united in marriage, December 17, 1871, with Maria, daughter of 
James and Eliza (Rush) Stewart, natives of Greene County, living 
in Franklin Township. By this marriage Mr. and Mrs. Brant have 
seven children — Susannah G., Lida A., Priscilla, Lydia, Minerva, 
James D. and William E. Mr. Brant was reared on a farm and is 
now one of the most successful farmers in this township. He has 
also been mnch interested in the raising of fine, stock in which he 
has dealt quite extensively. His farm consists of about 200 acres. 

RICHARD T. CALVERT, Blacksville, West Virginia, was born 
in AVayne Township, Greene County, Penn., April 16, 1836. He is 
a son of John and Eleanor Calvert' (?iee Thralls). His father was 
born in Mapletown. After marriage they lived in this county until 
his mother's death which occurred in 1857. His i'ather then mar- 
ried Margaret, daughter of James Marshall. She died February 9, 
1888; her husband is still living. Richard Calvert's wife was Sarah 
J. Conklin, born in this county December 1, 1832. They were mar- 
ried October 19, 1859. Mrs. Calvert's parents were Josiah and Cas- 
sandra (Brown) Conklin, deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Calvert have five 
children, three living — Cassie A., Thomas and John; Martha E. and 
an infant being deceased. Mr. Calvert is a farnaer, and by industry 
and good management has made a good home for himself and fam- 
ily where he now lives, on a 228 acre farm in Wayne Township. 

JOHN F. COEN, merchant and postmaster. Dent, Penn., born 
in Wayne Township, Greene County, March 8, 1844, was the only 
son of Francis and Barbara (Cumberledge) Coen, natives of Penn- 
sylvania, who were married in Greene County and resided there 



876 HISTOEY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

until Mr. Coen's death in December, 1843. His widow was after- 
wards mari'ied to Isaac Stiles and now lives in West Virginia. John 

F. Coen's wife was Miss Mary Kent, born in Greene Couut_y, Feb- 
ruary 18, 1841, and married May 1, 1866. Slie is a daughter of 
William and Elizabeth (Odenbaugh) Kent. Her mother is deceased. 
Mr. and Mrs. Coen have no family of their own but have adopted 
two sons, William H. and Benjamin T. Mr. Coen was raised on the 
farm which he now owns consisting of ninety acres. When eighteen 
years of age he went into the army, enlisting in Company A, One- 
hundred and Fortieth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and remained three 
years, during which time he was in a number of hotly contested 
battles. He has tilled theofSces of assessor and auditor of his town- 
ship; has been engaged in merchandising since 1880. He and wife 
are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

EPHRAIM COLE, farmer, Hoover's Eun, Penn., was born June 
11, 1842. His parents, Jeremiah and Delilah (Filson) Cole, were 
natives of Maryland, they were married in Greene County, Pennsyl- 
vania, where he died March 14, 1870, and she February 6, 1871. 
Jeremiah's first wife was Christener Crotiuger, a native of Maryland, 
but died in Greene County, Penn. Ephraim was the youngest of 
eight children, and was united in marriage July 12, 1862, with Mis- 
souri, daughter of Adam and Sabia Geho (jiee Garrison). Mr. Geho 
was a native of Ohio and his wife of Maryland. They were married 
in Washington County, Penn., then moved to Greene County in 1889, 
where they resided until Mr. Geho's death. May, 1871. Mrs. Geho 
is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Cole have seven children — Benjamin 
T., Simon T., James C, Albert M., Everett P., Mary E. and William 

G. Mr. Cole's farm contains 105 acres. He has served as school 
director two terms. He and wife are member of the Patrons of 
Husbandry Lodge at Kughntown; and the whole family except the 
two youngest children are consistent members of the Bethel Baptist 
Church. 

JAMES L. COLE, farmer, Hoover's Pun, Penn., was born March 
30, 1840. He is a son of Jeremiah and Delilah (Filson) Cole, who 
were natives of Maryland. Subsequently they removed to Greene 
County, Pennsylvania, where Mr. Cole, Sr., departed this life March 
14, 1870 and his wife February 6, 1871. They were the parents of 
eight children, James L. was the seventh and was united in marriage 
November 26, 1865, with Maria, daughter of Adam and Sabia (Gar- 
rison) Geho. Mr. Geho was a native of Ohio; they were married in 
Washington County, Pennsylvania, settling in Greene County in 
1889. The former departed this life May, 1871; his widow is still 
living. Mr. and Mrs. Cole have three children — Sarah C. and Eliza- 
beth J., both born May 26, 1867, and Edward L., bom November 
13, 1870. Mr. Cole devotes all his time to stock-raising and the 



HISTOKY OF GKEENE COUNTY. 877 

care of his farm containing 102 acres. He lias served as inspector 
of elections of Waj'ne Township; he and his wife are meinl)ers of 
the Patrons of Husbandry Lodge at Knghntown. 

PIENIIY COLE, deceased, was one of the most prosperous 
farmers of Greene County, owning at the time of his death a fine 
tarrn of 858 acres. He was born April 25, 1819 and died March 15, 
1882. His parents were John and Mary Cole [nee Crotinger), who 
were natives of Maryland, came to Greene County, Penu., early in 
life, where they made their home until Mr. Cole's death in May, 

1862. His wife died in JSTovember, 1868. Henry was the second 
of their nine children and April 2, 1840, married Elizabeth, daughter 
of George and Ellen King (nee Stewart). Mrs. Cole's parents were 
native of Pennsylvania and residents in this county until their death. 
Her mother departed this life January 24, 1843, and her father in 

1863. Mr. and Mrs. Cole M'ere the parents of nine children — Mary 
A., wife of Hiram White; Sarah, wife of William D. Phillips; George 
W., Frances E., wifeof Abram Tustin; John L., James H., Josephus; 
and Jacol) and Peter, (deceased). Mrs. Cole is still living and resides 
on the old homestead in Wayne Township. 

HENRY CONKLIN, Brock, Penn., born in Greene County, 
November 17, 1834, is a son of Josiah and Cassandra Conklin [nee 
Prown), who were also natives of this county, where tliey were mar- 
ried and remained through life. His father died in September, 1856, 
and his mother August 13, 1884. Of their ten children, eight are 
now living. Henry is the third child and was united in marriage 
November 22, 1857, with Eleanor Hoy, born in this county January 
16, 1839. She is a daughter of James and Isabella (Kuhn) Hoy, 
also natives of Greene County. Mr. Hoy died November 8, 1878; 
his widow is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Conklin are the parents of 
eleven children — James H., Sarah E., wifeof Richard Stewart; San- 
ford M., Israel, Ruie, William A., Lissie J., Clara B., Emma L., 
Lewis IL; and John S., (deceased). Mr. Conklin is one of the most 
substantial farmers and stock-dealers of Wayne Township, and owns 
400 acres of land. He has served as school director in his township. 
He and wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

A. J. CUMBERLEDGE, p. 0. Dent, was born in Monongalia 
County, W. Va., August 24, 1888. His parents were George and 
Elizabeth (Lantz) Cumberledge, the one a native of Maryland and the 
other of Greene County, Penn., where they were married, then 
moved to Monongalia County, W. Va., and remained until their 
deatii. His father died November 17, 1881, and his mother October 
23, 1884. They were the parents of sixteen children, nine living, 
and were united in marriage August 14, 1818, by James Dye, Esq. 
A. J. Cumberledge was united in marriage August 14, 1856, with 
Martha J. Grim, born in Greene County, September 30, 1841, a 



878 HISTORY OF GKEENE COUNTY. 

daughter of Christian and Dorcas E. Grim (^lee Carpenter), both 
deceased; the latter died May 28, 1888. Mr. and Mrs. Cumberledge 
have six children — Harriet, wife of William L. Harker; George, 
Samuel L., Dorcas E., Martie; and Emma (deceased). Mr. Cumber- 
ledge is a shoe-maker by trade, but has engaged in farming all his 
life. His present farm comprises 140 acres. He enlisted in the 
service of his country in Company N, Sixth Virginia Volunteers, 
remaining in the war three years and two months. He belongs to 
the Masonic order, and his wife is a member of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church. 

JOHN FREELAND, Pine Bank, Penn., was born in Monon- 
galiela Township, Greene County, May 15, 1814. His parents were 
George and Nancy (Fitch) Freeland, also natives of this county, 
where they were married and remained until Mrs. Freeland's death, 
December 23, 1863. Her husband died May 16, 1873. Of their 
four children, two are living — Sarah, and John, the subject of this 
sketch, who was united in marriage September 20, 1840, with 
Minerva Cleavenger, born in Greene County in 1823. She is a 
daughter of Edward and Mary (Kline) Cleavenger (deceased). To 
Mr. and Mrs. John Freeland were born nine children, six now living, 
viz. — George, who married Eliza E. Jolley; Cyrus F., who married 
JSTancy E. Owen; Mary A., wife of W. J. Bell; David L., who mar- 
ried Sarah J. Kiger; Elizabeth J., wife of "W". Lowther; and Martha 
A. The deceased are Edward A., Charles A. and William L. Mrs. 
Freeland died January 26, 1877, a faithful member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. Mr. Freeland afterwards. May 16, 1879, married 
Agnes Wright, born in Gi'eene County, February 28, 1838. Her 
parents were John F. and Agnes (Vance) Wright, also natives of 
this county and residents therein until their death. Tier mother 
died in 1874 and her father in 1880. Mr. Freeland was raised in 
Mapletown. He began teaching school when twenty-one years of 
age, and taught until 1876. He has since given all his time to the 
management of his farm, which consists of 122 acres. Mr. Freeland 
is a member of the Methodist Episcopal and his wife of the Baptist 
Church. 

SAM. H. HEADLEY, merchant at Pine Bank is a des- 
cendant of the Headleys, who emigrated from the north of England 
in 1689 and settled in East Jersey. Francis Headley, his great- 
grandfather, was born in 1731, and who remained in Essex County, 
N. J., until after the close of the war of the Revolution, and in 1790 
traded his farm in New Jersey for 1,400 acres in Randolph County, 
Va. (now West Virginia). Ble had one brother, Joseph Fleadley, 
who settled on North Ten Mile, Washington County, Penn. Francis 
Headley died in Randolph County, Va., in 1805. He had several 
children. Samuel Headley, his grandfather, was born in the year 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 879 

1765, and was married to Abigail Trace in the year 1788; he and 
his wife moved from Essex County, N. J., in 1790 witli his father, 
Francis. Samuel Headley (his grandfather), had a family of eight 
children. An older claim or title was established for the land in 
liandolph County, Va., so all was lost and the family moved to 
other parts. Samuel Headley moved to Jefferson Township, Greene 
County, where John Headley, his father, was born in the year 1809. 
lie learned the blacksmitli trade with John Young during the years 
1828 and 1829, and in 1833 commenced business in Washington 
Township. lie was married to Eliza Hoffman during that year, and 
in 1843 moved to Tom's Run in Gilmore Township, where he is now 
living. His first wife died in 1875, and in the same year lie was 
married to the widow Silveous, who died in 1888. He had a family 
of eight children by his lirst wife, Sam. II. Headley being the third 
child. He was born in Washington Townsliip in 1838. In 185G 
he left home to attend school, working nights and mornings for his 
board, and for several years he taught school during the winter and 
attended school during the summer. In 1868 he commenced the 
mercantile business with T. J. Hoffman as a partner, and in 1872 
set up for himself at Pine Bank. He was married to C. J. Fletcher, 
of Blacksville, W. Va., in the year 1870. They have one child — 
Robert B. Headley, who was born in 1871. Sam. H. Headley and 
son religiously are Friends. 

WILLIAM II. JOHNSON, farmer, P. O. Blacksville, W. Va., 
was born in Wayne Township, Greene County, Penn., November 4, 
1840, a son of William and Nancy Johnson (iiee Lantz). Mrs. 
Johnson was born in Monongalia County, W. Va., and her husband 
was a native of Greene County, Penn., where they lived until his 
death, November 16, 1857. Mrs. Johnson was afterwards united in 
marriage with Henry Stephens, who died June 8, 1877; the widow 
is still living. William H. Johnson's wife was Sarah A. McDougal, 
born in Wayne Township, October 24, 1843, and married January 
30, 1862. She is a daughter of Alexander and Sallie (Franks) Mc 
Dougal, the former deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have three 
children, viz. — Nancy A., wife of John McPhillips; Minerva J., 
wife of Josephus Thomas; and John W. Mr. Johnson is one of the 
enterprising farmers of Wayne Townhip, where lie owns 115 acres 
of land. He tilled tlie office of justice of the peace in his township 
two terms, has served as school director six terms, and held the posi- 
tion of assessor and inspector of elections. He and his wife are 
members of the Southern Methodist Church. 

J. S. KENT, farmer, Dent, Penn., was born in Centre Township, 
Greene County, January 31, 1835. His parents, William and Eliza- 
beth (Odeubaugh) Kent, were natives of this county and residents 
therein until Mrs. Kent's death, Ma}' 4, 1868. Her husband after- 



880 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

■wards married Jane White, widow of Rev. Michael White, of West 
Virginia; they live in Wayne Township. William Kent is the 
father of eleven children, seven boys and four girls, of whom nine 
are living. In 1858 J. S. Kent was united in marriage with Kebecca 
Morris, born in West Virginia in 1837, a daughter of James and 
Sarah Morris, the former deceased. By this marriage Mr. Kent is 
the father of one child — William J. Mrs. Kent departed this life 
September 25, 1860. Mr. Kent was a second time united in mar- 
riage, August 20, 1861, with Catharine Eddy, born in Wayne Town- 
ship, January 5, 1830, a daughter of John and Sophia Eddy (iiee 
Steel). Mr. and Mrs. Kent have a family of three boys and three 
girls, five living — Elizabeth, wife of Jesse Coen; Minerva, wife of 
Thomas Hoy; John E., Hiram W. and Michael I.; and Nancy J. 
(deceased). Mr. Kent is one of the most enterprising citizens of 
Wayne Township, and owns 287 acres of land where he now lives 
with his family. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. 

JAMES KNIGHT, Oak Forest, Penn., one of the enterprising 
young farmers of Wayne Township, was born January 27, 1848, and 
is a son of David and Mary Knight {nee Fry), who are natives of 
Greene County, Penn., where they were married and now reside in 
Centre Township. They are the parents of nine children, seven of 
whom are living. James Knight's wife was Elizabeth S., daughter 
of Jacob and Frances (Tustin) Cole, natives of Greene County and 
now residents of Waynesburg. Mr. and Mrs. Knight were married 
August 29, 1868. Their children are — John H., Frances A., Will- 
iam M. and Mary C. As noticed in the beginning of this sketch, 
Mr. Knight is a farmer by occupation, and has also given much at- 
tention to the raising of fine stock. His farm contains 156 aci'es. 

WILLIAM LANTZ, Dent, Penn., was born AjotI 27, 1835, on 
the farm where he and family reside in Wayne Township. His par- 
ents, Jacob and Delilah (Coen) Lantz, were natives of Greene County 
and residents therein through life. His father died in 1858 and his 
mother in 1866. They were the parents of five children, three liv- 
ing. William is the youngest, and was united in marriage May 22, 
1856, with Minerva, daughter of William and Elizabeth (Oden- 
baugh) Kent, the latter deceased. Mrs. Lantz was born in this 
county November 24, 1837, and is a consistent member of the Me- 
thodist Episcopal Church. Mr. William Lantz and wife are the 
parents of seven children — Mary, wife of William Wiley; William, 
who'married Belle Phillips; Ulysses and Emma; Harriet, Delilah, and 
an infant (deceased). Mr. Lantz has been eminently successful as a 
farmer and stock-dealer, and owns 480 acres of good land in Greene 
County. 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. ggl 

GEORGE W. MOORE, Spragg's, Peiin., was born in Whiteley 
Township, Greene County, January 3, 1834. His parents, James 
and Matilda (Franks) Moore, were also natives of this county, where 
after marriage tliej settled and remained all tlieir lives. After Ma- 
tilda's death, Mr. Moore married Elizabeth (J]rown) Provence, who 
is still living. Mr. Moore is deceased. lie was the father of eleven 
children, six living. George W. is the third child, and was united 
in marriage, July 26, 1S59, with Louisa R. Phillips, born in Cum- 
berland Township, September 26, 1840, a daughter of Job and Mar- 
garet (Simington) Phillips, natives of Greene County, where they 
remained until Mrs. Phillips' death, after which he married Mary 
Mason. To Mr. and Mrs. Moore have been born seven children — 
James E., Thomas L., Job, Peter C, Elizabeth L., Lafy E. and Ma- 
tilda M. Mr. Moore's occupation is that of farming and stock- 
dealing, and he owns 275 acres of land in Wayne Township. He 
and wife are among the most prominent members of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. 

HON. JESSE PHILLIPS, Spragg's, Penn., born in Whiteley 
Township, February 10, 1824, is a son of Ricliard and Abigail 
(Starkey) Phillips. His parents were natives of Greene County, 
where they spent their whole life. His father died in the year 1877, 
and his mother in 1879. They were the parents of eleven children, 
of whom our subject is the second, and was united in marriage, l)e- 
cember 22, 1845, with Mary, daughter of David and Nancy (Gorden) 
Spragg. They were also natives of this county, wliere they remained 
till Mr. Spragg's death in 1877. His wife died in 1886. Ey this 
marriage Mr. Phillips is the father of twelve children — William D., 
Richard, Caleb, Levi, Adam ¥., Thomas E., Jesse L., Deborah F., 
James L., John W. ; and Otho and Nancy E. (deceased). Their 
mother departed this life in 1871. She was a faithful member of tlie 
Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Phillips' second wife was De- 
ijorah, daughter of David and Nancy (Gorden) Spragg, now deceased. 
l!y this marriage Mr. and Mrs. Phillips have three children — George 
Daniel, and Clemmie (deceased). Although raised on a farm and 
devoting much of his time to agricultural interests and stock-raising, 
Mr. Phillips has also been actively engaged in political aifairs. lie 
is a Democrat, and in 1881 was elected associate judge, having polled 
nearly as many votes as his three competitors. In April, 1888, he 
sat on the jury which found George Clark guilty of murder in the 
first degree, for the killing of William McCausland. This was the 
lirst verdict of murder in the fii'st degree ever found by a jury in 
Greene County. Mr. Phillips has a tine farm of 500 acres, and he 
and wife are members of the Patrons of Husbandry Lodge of Kughn- 
town. The whole family are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. 



882 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

WILLIAM D. PHILLIPS, Hoover's Eun, Penn., is one of the 
most successful of the younger farmers of Greene County. He was 
born in Wayne Township, December 22, 1846, a son of Jesse and 
Mary (Spragg) Phillips, natives of Greene County, where Mr. Phil- 
lips still resides. Mrs. Phillips died in the year 1871. William D. 
is the oldest of twelve children, and was united in marriage, August 
4, 1866, with Sarah, daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (King) Cole, 
also natives of Greene County, where Mrs. Phillips' mother still re- 
sides. Her father departed this life March 15, 1882. Mr. and Mrs. 
Phillips have eight children — Mary E., Justice, Henry C, 'James P., 
Adam P., Frances A., Walter S. and Sarah E. The subject of oiu 
sketch was reared on a farm and is greatly interested in all matters 
pertaining to agriculture and stock-raising. He owns 200 acres of 
land in Wayne Township. He and wife are members of the Patrons 
of Husbandry Lodge of Kughntown, and are also communicants in 
the Methodist Episcopal Church of that place. 

JOHN Mo. PHILLIPS, P. O. Spragg's, is one of the substantial 
young farmers and stock-dealers of Wayne Township, where he was 
born August 26, 1862. He is a son of Armstrong and Eleanor 
(Spragg) Phillips, also natives of Wayne Township, and i-esidents 
therein all their lives. His father died August 13, 1870, aged tliirty 
years and four months; and his mother died December 25, 1870, 
aged thirty-three years, seven months and twenty days. John Mc. 
is their only child. He was united in marriage, December 17, 1882, 
with Nancy A. Johnson, a daughter of William H. and Sarah A. 
(McDougal) Johnson, whose sketch appears in this history. Mr. 
and Mrs. Phillips have two children — William A., born February 7, 
1884, and Ora A., born November 10, 1887. Mr. Phillips owns 219 
acres of good land where he resides with his family. In religion 
Mr. and Mrs. Phillips are members of the Methodist Protestant 
Church. 

DAVID SPKAGG (deceased) was born May 2, 1806, in Wayne 
Township, Greene County, Penn., on the farm now owned by the 
heirs of Otho Spragg. He was a son of Caleb and Deborah (Mc- 
Clure) Spragg, who were married November 6, 1798. The former 
was born September 22, 1778, and died April 20, 1854. The latter 
was born August 1, 1780, and departed this life September 22, 1860. 
They emigrated from Trenton, N. J., to what is now Wayne Town- 
ship, Greene County, Penn., where they reared a family of twelve 
children, six sons and six daughters. Eleven of these grew to be 
men and women, one daughter dying in infancy. The oldest daugh- 
ter. Amy, was born April, 1800, and was united iu marriage with 
Joseph Wells. They were the parents of a large family. John was 
born June 30, 1801, and was married to Margaret Hamilton in 1820. 
To this union was born eleven children. He departed this life Feb- 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 883 

ruary, 1888. Sarah was born December 30, 1802. She remained 
single through life, and died in 1865. Uriah was born October 7, 
1804, and was married to Snsannali McLaughlin in 1820. He was 
the father of seven children, and departed this life in 1875. "William 
was born February 28, 1808, and married Nancy Maple in 1833. 
They were the parents of four children. He died in 1872. Jeremiah 
was born September 2G, 1800, and was married in 1832 to Sarah 
Shriver. This union was blessed with three children. He died 
March 3, 1878. Otho was born October 5, 1811, and was united in 
marriage in 1833 with Lydia Shul. They were the parents of two 
children. He departed this life March, 1882. Elizabeth was born 
July 4, 1814, and was married to Simon Strosnider in 1833. She 
was the mother of eight children, and departed this life February, 
1884. Rebecca was born May 17, 1817, and was married to W. J. 
Casgray, December 15, 1842. To them were born seven children. 
She died May 6, 1881. Deborah was born November 9, 1820, and 
was united in marriage, in 1848, with Thomas Hoge. She was the 
mother of one child, and departed this life in 1849. David (deceased), 
who is the subject of this sketch, was the fifth in the family, and was 
united in marriage, at the age of twenty-one, with Nancy A.Gordon, 
who was born November 3, 1806, and died March, 1886. She was a 
daughter of William Gordon, and was reared in Whiteley Township, 
Greene County, Penn. Her parents, with all their children except 
herself, moved to Perry County, Ohio, in 1836. To Mr. David 
Spragg and wife were born five children. The oldest, Mary, was 
born in 1827, and was married to Hon. Jesse Phillips in 1845. She 
was the mother of twelve children, and departed this life September 
29, 1872. Caleb A. was born December 18, 1829, and is one of 
Greene County's most substantial citizens. He was united in mar- 
riage, November 6, 1851, with Sarah Johnson, a daughter of Will- 
iam and Nancy (Lantz) Johnson. The former is deceased, and the 
latter is living. By this marriage Mr. Caleb A. Spragg is the father 
of five children — Sylvenus L., a prominent physician of Pittsburgh, 
Penn.; Francis M. and David G., of Harrison County, Mo.; William 
E., proprietor of the marble works at Waynesburg, and Clara N., 
wife of Corbly K. Spragg. Mrs. Spragg departed this life December 
21, 1882. After her death Mr. Spragg was again united in marriage, 
April 6, 1884, with Matilda Porter, a daughter of John and Hannah 
(Rinehart) Porter. This union has been blessed with one child — 
Porter M. In connection with the raising of stock and the manage- 
ment of his farm of 125 acres, upon which he has bestowed much 
care and attention, Mr. Spragg has filled various ofHces in his town- 
ship, and served as a member of the school board two terms. Will- 
iam, the second son of David and Nancy Spragg, was born November 
14, 1832, and was married to Sarah A. Brock, October, 1859. They 



884 HISTORY OF GREENE COITNTY. 

were the parents of six children. He departed this life October 10, 
1872. Adam, the third son, was united in marriage with Lydia 
Pettit, December 3, 1858. To this union was born foiir children. 
lie died September 10, 1872. Debbie, the youngest daughter, was 
born May 14, 1839, and was married to Joel Strawn in 1858. They 
were the parents of six children. Mr. Strawn died in 1871. David, 
our subject, died February 7, 1877, on the farm known as the Spragg 
homestead, in "Wayne Township. He was from his early youth 
engaged in land speculations and farming. He obtained but a lim- 
ited education, but being a great philanthropist he proved a blesings 
to the community in which he lived. At the age of thirty-iive he 
became a member of the Methodist Protestant Church. He possessed 
good social qualities. His wife was of a kind disposition, and their 
home was one of the most attractive in the neighborhood. He and 
his wife lived a long and happy life together, and were known to 
every one in that neighboi'hood as "Uncle Dave" and "Aunt Nancy 



I-IENKY M. SPPAGG, postmaster, Spragg's, Penn., is one of 
the most successful farmers of Greene County, and owns about 300 
acres of land. He was born August 8, 1837, a son of Jeremiah and 
Sarah Spragg {ixee Shriver), who were natives of this county, where 
they wei-e married and resided until his father's death, March 10, 
1878 ; his mother is still living. Henry M., the youngest of their 
three children, was united in marriage, March 19, 1862, with Eliza, 
daughter of John and Kezia Kent (i%ee Shields), natives and resi- 
dents of this county. Mr. and Mrs. Spragg are the parents of five 
children — McClelland, Lazear, Simon T., Laura S. and Harriet E. 
Mr. Spragg has served his township as constable, assessor and school 
director; and is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows 
Lodge, of Blacksville, West Virginia. 

ISEAEL STEWAKT, deceased, was born in Greene County, 
Penn., May 17, 1830, a son of James and Mary Stewart (iiee Blair), 
(deceased). Mr. Stewart was united in marriage, March 24, 1853, 
with Rebecca Phillips, born in Wayne Township, December 18, 1827, 
a daughter of Richard and Abigail (Starkey) Phillips, natives of 
Greene County, and now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Stewart were the 
parents of ten children — Thomas L., Richard, James, Elizabeth M., 
wife of Kenney Strosnider; Jesse H., Spencer M., Mary J., wife of 
Thomas Calvert, Abigail F. and Sarah P.; and George W., (deceased). 
Mr. Stewart was a stone-mason by trade, but in later years devoted 
his time to farming, and owned 300 acres of land near Blacksville, 
West Virginia. He was a deacon in the Baptist Church, of which 
his widow and family are also members. He died October 29, 1887. 

ABRAHAM, TUSTIN, farmer, P. 0. Hoover's Run, Penn., was 
born in Wayne Townsliip in 1848, a son of John and Mary (Bum- 



HISTORY OP GREENE COUNTY. 885 

garner) Tustin, natives of Greene County, where his father died in 
tlie year 1882, and his mother in 1850. They were tlie parents of 
iive children, of whom Abraham is tlie third. On September 2, 18G2, 
lie chose for his life companion Miss Frances E., daughter of Henry 
and Elizabeth (King) Cole, who were natives and residents of this 
county, where Mr. Cole died March 15, 1882; Mrs. Cole is still 
living. Mr. and Mrs. Tustin's children are — John L., Elizabeth M., 
Jacob II., Sarah C, Lucy J., Margaret E. and Osa E. ; Fanny M. and 
Hachel A. being deceased. Mr. Tustin was reared on a farm, and 
although comixiratively a young man, he has been greatly prospered 
in his fanning and stock dealing, and owns 191 acres of land in 
Wayne Township, lie and wife and two of their children are mem- 
bers of the Patrons of Husbandry Lodge of Kughntown, and belong 
to the Oak Shade Methodist Episcopal Church. 

REASIN WHITE, farmer. Oak Forest, Penn., was born in 
Franklin Township, January 13, 1833. His father is the Rev. David 
White, founder of what is known as "White's Churcli," near 
Waynesburg. He is now over ninety years of age and still quite 
active in mind and body. His motiier's maiden name was Leah 
Strosnider; both were natives of Greene County. Mrs. White de- 
parted this life in 18G7. On June 3, 1854, Mr. Reasin White mar- 
ried Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Daniel and Jemima Rogers (iiee 
Pettit), also natives of tliis county, where they were married and first 
settled. They afterwards removed to Ohio, where Mr. Rogers died 
in 1883. Mrs. Rogers departed this life January 21, 188(3, in Wayne 
Townsliip, Greene County, Penn. Mr. and Mrs. AVhite have live 
children, two of whom are living — Judge D. and Samuel K. The 
deceased are: Mary E., David AV. and Israel. Mr. White is one of 
the most industrious and highly i-espected farmers in liis community, 
and owns 200 acres of excellent laud. He and family are faithful 
members of the Pursley Baptist Cliurch. 

JOHN I. WORLEY, farmer and stock-dealer, Elacksville, West 
Virginia, is a descendant of one of the first settlers of Wayne Town- 
ship, Greene County, Penn. He was born December 1, 1823, on 
the farm where he and family reside in Wayne Township. His 
father, David Worley, was born in Wayne Township, May 8, 1775, 
on the farm now owned by John I. His mother, Margaret Cather, 
was a native of Franklin Township, born May 20, 1780. They wore 
married December 30, 1799. Three of their ten childern are living, 
viz.: William C, of West Virginia; Dr. Asberry, of Fayette County, 
Oliio, and John I. Their father died September 10, 1851, and the 
mother December 5, 1853. Mr. John I. Worley was twice married, 
his first wife being Miss Maria Gordon, with whom he shared his 
fortunes, December 21, 1843. Mrs. Worley was born in I'ranklin 
Township, January 6, 1824, a daughter of Bazil and Sarah (Shriver) 



886 HISTORY OP GREENE COTJNTT. 

Gordon (deceased). By this marriage Mr. "Worley is the father of 
seven children — Sarah, wife of R. W. Dougan ; William G., David 
R., Jesse L., Alpheus B. and Lizzie, wife of Rev. James E. Mercer; 
and Maggie, (deceased). Their mother departed this life February 7, 
1877, a consistent member of the Methodist Protestant Church. On 
June 17, 1879, Mr. "Worley chose for his second wife Mrs. Delilah 
Higgins, born in Whiteley Township September 15, 1830, a daughter 
of Mark and Susan Gordon (deceased). Mr. Worley was brought up 
on a farm and has always followed his present occupation. lie owns 
600 acres of land in Greene County. He has served as justice of 
the peace in Wayne Township, an office which his father held for 
forty years. He has held almost all the important offices of Iiis 
township, having ever been one of its most highly respected citizens. 
He and Mrs. Worley are consistent members of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. 

ROBERT ZIMMERMAN, farmer, Spragg's, Penn., was born in 
Greene County, December 19, 1819. His parents, Henry and Eliza- 
beth (Mitchell) Zimmerman, were natives of Maryland, where they 
were married, then moved to Greene County, Penn., near Waynes- 
burg, and remained until their death. Robert and his brother Henry 
are their only children living. On December 17, 1840, Robert mar- 
ried Mary Flick, a native of Greene County and daughter of Daniel 
Flick. .To Mr. and Mrs. Zimmerman were born six children, four 
living — Elizabeth, wife of Lot Rose; Susan, wife of Solomon Lem- 
ley; Eliza, wife of Hudson Kiger; and Henry, who married Caro- 
line Headley. The deceased are Daniel and William. Mrs. 
Zimmerman died August 5, 1852. February 1, 1855, Mr. Zimmer- 
man married Catharine, daughter of John Cree, also a native of this 
county. By this second marriage he is the father of one child — 
Ruth, wife of Bowen Stephens. Mrs. Catharine Zimmerman died 
September 2, 1860. Robert Zimmerman afterwards married Dorcas 
Rinehart, January 5, 1862. She was born in Franklin Township, 
November 8, 1819, a daughter of John T. and Susannah Rinehart. 
Mr. Zimmerman owns 204 acres of land where he and famil}^ reside 
in Wayne Township. 



IIISTOKY Ol'' OUEENE COUNTY. 887 



WHITELEY TOWNSHIP. 

A. M. BAILEY, retired farmer, Kirby, Penn., is one of the pio- 
neers of Whiteley Township, where he was born on his present farm 
April 30, 1814. His father, Juab I'ailey, was a native of Chester 
County, Penn., and when only twelve years of age came with his 
parents to Greene County, where he married Miss Jane Mundell, a 
native of Greene Township, this county. They lived on Muddy 
Creek a few 3'ears and then purchased the farm on Pleasant Hill in 
Whiteley Township, now owned hj Abner M., and remained on tliat 
farm until their death. They were the parents of nine children, of 
whom only three arc living, viz.: Abner M. and two sisters, Jaen 
and Eliza A. Mr. A. M. Bailey was united in marriage the first 
time, in 1838, with Elizabeth South, born in Dunkard Township in 
1816, a daughter of Enoch and Ruth South (jied Gregg). By tin's 
marriage he is the father of six children, four living — Benjamin, 
Presley, Ruth, wife of William Patterson, and Jane, wife of Jasper 
Morris; and Ellis and Joab E. (deceased). Mrs. Bailey died in 1849. 
In 1855 Mr. Bailey took unto himself a helpmate in the person of 
Mrs. Mary Covvell, who was born in Dunkard Township, this county, 
in 1824, a daughter of Thomas and Rachael Bowen (^iiee Fordyce). 
By this union Mr. Bailey is the father of four children, two living, 
viz.: Abner J. and Elvador; and Elizabeth and Susan A., (deceased). 
Mrs. Mary Bailey died in 1874. In 1877 Mr. Bailey was united in 
the holy bonds of matrimony with Miss Margaret Taylor, who was 
born in Washington Township in 1825, a daughter of Thomas and 
Angeline Taylor (^nee McCaslin). Mrs. Margaret Bailey departed 
this life in 1885. Then Mr. Bailey was married the fourth time, 
November 24, 1885, to Mrs. Puth A. Hoover, born in Jefterson 
Township, December 10, 1840, a daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth 
Wickersham (^nee Randolph). During the early j'ears of his life 
Mr. Bailey was actively engaged in farming and stock-dealing, from 
which he has secured enough of this world's goods to keep him in 
comfortable circumstances the remainder of his days. In 1867 he 
was elected to the office of county treasui-er and served one term very 
creditably. He and his wife are members of the Methodist 
Protestant Church. 

DAVID BARE, Kirby, Penn., is one of the pioneers of Whiteley 
Township, Greene County, where he was born September 29, 1818, 
a sou of David and Susannah (Rittenour) Bare. His father was a 



888 HISTOKY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

native of Bedford County, Penn., tod his mother of Washington 
County, Maryland, where they were nriarried and remained till 1810, 
at which time they moved to Fayette County, Pennsylvania. In 
1812 he enlisted in the service of his country, and the same year his 
wife moved with the family to Greene County. She departed this 
life in 1845; her husband died in 1862. They had a family of lour- 
teen children, nine- of whom are living. Mr. David Bare was united 
i7i marriage May 13, 1840, with Lucinda Hickman, who was born in 
Greene County in 1822, a daughter of Abraham and Mary (Nelson) 
Hickman. By this marriage Mr. Bare is the father of six children 
— Martin B., Eliza, wife of John M. Bradford; Mary A., wife of 
Andrew Pitcock, and John; the deceased are James and Emily. 
Mrs. Bare died in 1853. Then in 1860 Mr. Bare married Eebecca 
Lemley, born in Whiteley Township, November 5, 1822, a daughter 
of Ezekiel and Sarah (Bowers) Lemley. By this marriage Mr. and 
Mrs. Bare_ have four children — Benjamin F., living; and Sophrona, 
Emma and an infant, (deceased). Mr. Bare is a blacksmith by trade, 
which he followed about forty-eight years; since that time he has 
been engaged in farming, and owns eighty acres of land in Whiteley 
Township. He filled the office of assessor of his township. In re- 
ligion he and his wife are Methodists. 

HENRY BOWERS, farmer. Lone Star, Penn., was born in 
Virginia, January 1, 1826. He is a son of Solomon and Peggy 
Cowers (nee Bradford), who were natives of Whiteley Township, 
Greene County, Penn., where they were married, then moved to 
Virginia and remained until their death. They had twelve children, 
eight of whom are now living. Henry is the oldest son and was 
united in marriage October 21, 1847, with Catharine Barockman, 
born in Virginia, July 27, 1824. She is a daughter of John and 
Barbara Barockman [nee Franks), natives of Pennsylvania, who 
after marriage moved to Virginia and remained until their death. 
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Bowers are the parents of seven children, four 
dead — Lucinda, Elizabeth, Clark and Marion; and three living — 
Morgan, Sarah E. and Josephus, who married Josephine Fuller, and 
is the father of two children — Charlie E. and Lizzie M. Mr. 
Bowers is a farmer, as we learn from the heading of this sketch, and 
is the owner of a fine farm of 170 acres. He and his family are 
members of the Methodist Protestant Church, in which he has been 
one of the trustees for about ten years. 

M. C. BRANT, P. O. Kirby, is one of the leading business men 
of Newton, Pennsylvania. He was born in Cameron, West Virginia, 
September 29, 1858, a son of Eli and Sarah Brant («<?<? Spragg), na- 
tives of Wayne Township, Greene County, where they lived until 
about 1856, at which time they moved to Cameron, W. Va., and re- 



HISTORT OF GREENE COUNTY. 889 

mained till 1859, then returned to Wayne Township. When the 
war commenced, Mr. IJrant enlisted in behalf of his country's cause, 
and while in service contracted the disease of diphtheria from which 
he died. After his death his widow was united in marriage with 
Abraham Gump, whose sketch appears in this work. M. C. Brant 
was united in marriage February 14, 1885, with Edna Thourpson, 
born in Center Township, Greene County, August 22, 1859. Her 
parents, Elijah and Sarah Thompson {^nee Iloge), were natives of 
Center Township, and residents there until Mr. Thompson's death 
which occurred in 1861. Sometime afterwards his widc)W was united 
in marriage with Lisbon Staggers, whose sketch also appears in this 
book. Mr. M. C. Brant and wife are the parents of one child. Jay 
F., born February 22, 1886. Mr. Brant was raised on a farm, and 
acquired a good common-school education. In 1884 he opened a 
general store in Newton, where he has a large and liberal patronage. 
His wife is a consistent member of the Baptist Church. 

DAVID L. COWELL, farmer, Kirby, Penn., was born in Dunkard 
Township, Greene County, November 5, 1829, a son of Daniel and 
Susannall Cowell (^nee Bowers). The former was also a native of 
Dunkard, and the latter of Whiteley Township, where they were 
married. They then settled in Dunkard Township and remained 
until their death. They were tlie parents of twelve children, only 
four of whom are living. September 15, 1864, David L. Cowell mar- 
ried Miss Harriet Long. She was born in Whiteley Township Octo- 
ber 15, 1843, and is a consistent member of the Methodist Episco- 
pal Church. Iler parents, Samuel and Adeline Long, were natives 
Greene County and residents therein until their death, which occurred 
in Perry Township. Of the five children born to Mr. and Mrs. 
Cowell, three are living — William L., Ellsworth and Amanda. 
Throughout his life Mr. Cowell has been engaged in stock-dealing 
and farming, in which he has been eminentl}' successful, owing at 
present a fine farm of 400 acres of land in Whiteley Township. 

JOHN M. COWELL, Lone Star, Penn., is a descendant of one 
of the pioneer families of Greene County. He was born in Whiteley 
Township, January 1, 1851, on the farm where he and his family 
now live. His parents were Solomon and Eliza Cowell (^}iee Miciiael). 
The forme.' was born in Greene County and the latter in West Vir- 
ginia where they -were married, settled in Whiteley Township on 
the farm now owned by John M., and remained iintil Mr. Cowell's 
death which took place in 1879. Mrs. Cowell is still living in New- 
ton. They were the parents of thirteen children, five living. Sep- 
tember 23, 1873, John M. Cowell married Mary J. Norton, born in 
Butler County, Penn , December 29, 1855. Her parents were Mar- 
tin K. and Rebecca Norton, also natives of Butler County, who now 



890 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY, 

live in the State of Iowa. To Mr. Cowell and wife have been born 
seven children — Minnie L., Wesley A., William S., Charles N., John 
E., Sadie R. and Cleveland. Mr. Cowell's farm consists of 246 
acres, and on it can be found line horses, cattle and sheep, the raising 
of which has formed an imi^ortant part of his business. He is a 
public spirited citizen, and has held the ofSce of school director in 
his district. Mrs. Cowell is a consistent member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. 

. JOHN A. CUMMINS, Waynesburg, Penn., is one of the most 
industrious farmers of Whiteley Township, where he was born Sep- 
tember 14, 1840. His parents, William and Catharine Cummins, 
are natives of Greene County and reside in Whiteley Township. They 
have a family of ten children, of whom nine are living. September 
14, 1878, John A. Cummins married Miss Plannah Hush, a native of 
Franklin Township. To them have been born four children — Will- 
iam A., Lona O., Catharine E., and John B. Having been raised on 
a farm, Mr. Cummins has made a business of farming and stock- 
dealing all tlirough his life, and as a result of his faithful and per- 
sistent labors is now in possession of an excellent farm of about 230 
acres in Whiteley Township, whei-e he and family live. His wife is 
among the most consistent and prominent members of the Methodits 
Protestant Church. 

JOHN FOX, Kirby, Penn., one of the substantial citizens of 
Whiteley Townshijj, Greene County, was born in Perry Township, 
April 25, 1830. His parents were Henry and Susannah (Delany) 
Fox, who were natives of Greene County, where they were married 
and remained till death. He departed this life October 29, 1882, and 
she December 25, 1875. They were the parents of ten children, of 
whom six are living. Mr. John Fox was united in marriage Decem- 
ber 13, 1849, with Dorothy FCains, who was born in Whiteley Town- 
ship October 15, 1830, a daughter of John and Jane Hains (^nee John), 
who were natives of Greene County, lived in Whiteley Township until 
1857, then moved to West Virginia where Mr. Hains died in 1887. 
His widow is still living. They had a family of eleven children — 
Eli, Christopher C, Matilda, wife of Winfield S. Vandruff; Jane, wife 
of John L. Walters; Taylor, Daily, Luther, Maggie, wife of George 
Patterson; William and Nancy; and Walter, (deceased). Mr. Fox is 
quite a genius in his way, an'd successful in almost every undertaking. 
His principal business is farming, and he owns 475 acres of land in 
Gi'eene County. He filled the office of justice of the peace of his 
township for five years; and at difterent times has held the positions 
of auditor, constable, assessor, trustee and member of the school 
board. He and his wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. 



HISTORY OF OllEKNE COUNTY. 891 

JOHN S. FULLER, farmer and stock-dealer, T. O. Lone Star, 
was born in Whiteley Township, Greeue County, Peiin., April 24, 
1833. His parents are Daniel and Nancy (Whitlatch) Fuller, the 
one born in Fayette and the other in Greene County, where they 
were married in Wliiteley Township and remained through life. He 
departed this life April 22, 1874, and she December 14, 1876. They 
were the parents of eight children, all but one living. Subject's 
grandparents were natives of Ireland. The grandfather was born in 
tiie city of Dublin, and the grandmother in the county of Tyrone. 
They were married after emigrating to America. Mr. John S. Fuller 
was united in marriage August 13, 1852, with Einily Phillips, born 
in Greene County September 28, 1837. She is a daughter of Elmer 
and Elizabeth Phillips {?iee Vandruff), natives of this county, the 
latter deceased. Mr. Fuller and wife are the parents of seven chil- 
dren, five living — Nancy, wife of Henry Zimmerman; Josephine, 
wife of Josephus Bowers; Smith, Bowman and LlaM.; Elizabeth and 
Daniel L. being deceased. Mr. Fuller owns 700 acres of land where 
he and his family reside, and has taken considerable interest in the 
raising of fine stock, being the first to bring a herd of thorough-bred 
short-horned cattle into Whiteley Township, in 1883. Lie was a 
member of the school board two terms; served as assessor three terms 
and as assistant assessor for manj' years. Both he and his wife are 
memljers of the Methodist Protestant Church. 

ABRALIAM GUMP, farmer and stock-dealer, is a descendant of 
one of the pioneer families of Greene County, Penn. He was born 
in Whiteley Township, December 15, 1832, a son of John and Dorcas 
Gump (nee Whitlatch). His father was a native of Virginia, and his 
mother of New Jersey. They were married in Whiteley Township, 
Greene County, Penn., residing there until their death; she departed 
this life in 1840 and her husband in 1863. They were the parents 
of thirteen children, of whom only two are living, viz.: Cassandra, 
now the widow of Jacob Lemley, and Abraham, the subject of our 
notice, who was united in marriage the first time March 4, 1852, with 
Maria Adamson. She was born in Waynesburg, a daughter of Cyrus 
and Elizabeth Adamson, now deceased. By this union Mr. Gump is 
the father of two children, one living — John C; and Samantha A., 
deceased. In the spring of 1857, Mr. Gump and family moved to 
Warren County, Illinois, and about two months later Mrs! Gump 
met with a sad accident resulting in her death. While alone in the 
house with her little family, in passing too near the grate her clothes 
took fire and were burned off' before any assistance could reach her 
and she died in about sixteen hours from the effect of the burns. 
This occm-red May 16, 1857. Mr. Gump afterwards returned with 
his family to Whiteley Township, Penn., and was united in marriage 



892 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 

June 16, 1867, with Sarah Brant, {^nee Spragg). She has two chil- 
dren — Otho and Matthias. Her parents, Otho and Lida (Shull) 
Spragg, were natives of Greene County, and residents' of Wayne 
Township until Mrs. Sragg's death March 23, 1874. Her husband 
died April 12, 1882. By his last marriage Mr. Gump is the fatlier 
of three children — George M., Corbly and Debbie. Mr. Gump has 
been a farmer and stock-dealer all his life, and he and his wife own 
about 650 acres of land in Greene County. They are consistent 
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and his deceased wife also. 

SOLOMON GUTHRIE, a retired farmer of Kirby, Penn., was 
born in the house where he and his family reside in Whiteley Town- 
ship, Greene County, April 7, 1816. He is a son of Archibald and 
Elizabeth (Lemley) Guthrie, who were natives of Pennsylvania. 
They were married in Greene County, afterwards settling in Whiteley 
Township, where Mrs. Guthrie died. After her death, Archibald 
married Mary Scott, who is still living. He died August 23, 1845. 
He was the father of twelve children, of whom eight are living. 
Solomon Guthrie was united in marriage January 31, 1839, with 
Elizabeth Fry, born in Centre Township, November 20, 1818. Mrs. 
Guthrie's parents were George and Elizabeth Fry (iiee Beckingbaugh), 
who werenativesof Greene County. To Mr. and Mrs. Guthrie have been 
born ten children, of whom seven are living — Susan, wife of Robinson 
John; Elizabeth S., wife of Benona John; George W., Lncinda, wife 
of Abraham Shull; Solomon E., Jessie L. and William F. ; Job, Maria 
and Archibald B. being deceased. Mr. Guthrie has been engaged in 
farming all his life, and owns 120 acres of land where he and his 
family reside. He and Mrs. Guthrie are consistent members of the 
Methodist Church. 

G. W. HATFIELD, farmer, P. O. Lone Star, was born in White- 
ley Township, Greene County, Penn., July 30, 1816. His parents 
were Jacob and Rebecca (Mundle) Hatfield, the former a native of 
New Jersey and the latter of Greene County, Penn., where they were 
married and remained through life. In 1839, G. W. Hatfield mar- 
ried Miss Mary Richie, born in Fayette County, Penn., in 1806, 
daughter of James Richie. Mr. and Mrs. Hatfield have seven chil- 
dren, six living — Jacob, James, Hiram, William, Elizabeth, wife of 
Lindsey Stephens and Madison, and Frank, (deceased). Mr. Hatfield 
has always lived on a farm, and has beSn oneof tlie most enterprising 
and successful farmers and stock-dealers in the coanty, where he owns 
900 acres of land. He served his district on the school board for 
about twelve years. Mr. and Mrs. Hatfield are exemplary members 
of the Methodist Protestant Church. 

CHRISTOPHER JOHN, deceased, was born May 26, 1820, on 
the farm where the family reside in Whiteley Township. His father 



mSTOKY OF GREENE COUNTY. 893 

and mother were James and Margaret (Robinson) John, natives of 
eastern Pennsylvania. They were married in Greene County and 
settled on tlie farm now owned by the heirs of Christopher John, 
(deceased), and remained until their death. His father died January 
16, 1874, and his mother July 20, 1852. They were the parents of 
eleven children, live now living. Christopher John was united in 
marriage in 1839 with Nancy Fox, born in Greene County, March 
23, 1823, a daughter of Henry and Susannah (Delany) Fox, natives of 
Greene County, now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. John's family consists 
of eleven children, seven living — Barbara, wife of David Lockhart; 
Sarah J., widow of George Connor; Margaret, wife of R. Fox; Kin- 
sey, Eeasin, Elizabeth, wife of I. N. Kiger; and Sidonia, wife of 
William Vandruff. Henry, Susannah, Franklin and William, are 
deceased. Notwithstanding the fact that Mr. John, like the rest of 
the early settlers, received but a limited education, he was quite a 
successful fanner tlirough life, and owned 550 acres of good land in 
Greene County at the time of his death, which occurred August 11, 
1888. 

DK. G. W. MOSS, deceased, was Ijorn in Washington County, 
Penn., May 5, 1836. His parents were Jennings J. and Ellen (Win- 
net) Moss. After marriage tliey resided in Washington County 
until 1844, at which time they moved to Ricldiill Township, Greene 
County, for a few years, then returned to Washington County, and 
remained until their seven children grew to maturity. They again 
retraced their steps to Greene County, and remained until their 
death. Only four of their children survive them. Dr. Moss was 
the third, and acquired his education in the common schools of 
Greene and Wasliington counties. He graduated in the Jefferson 
Medical College at Philadelphia in 1870, and afterwards took a course 
of lectures at Bellevue, N. Y. He began the practice of medicine at 
Jefterson, Penn., and in 1856 located at Newtown, wliere he was 
actively engaged in the profession until his death, January 16, 1888. 
The Doctor was united in marriage February 15, 1863, with Sarah 
J. Hudson, who was born in Newton, Penn., Noveml)er 17, 1846. 
Mrs. Moss is a daughter of John and Sarah J. (Morris) Hudson, the 
former a native of West Moreland and the latter of Greene County, 
where they were married. Tliey settled in Newtown, where Mr 
Hudson departed this life in August, 1884. His widow still resides 
at Newtown. They were the parents of nine children, of whom five 
are living. Dr. and Mrs. Moss were the parents of one daughter — 
Ethel H.', born March 4, 1882. The Doctor was a member of the 
I. O. O. F., was a Knight Templar in the Masonic order, and belonged 
to the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which his widow is also a 
faithful and devoted member. 



894 HISTOllY OF GKEENE COUNTY. 

HENRY MORRIS, fanner, Fordyce, Peun., was born in Jeffer- 
son Township, Greene Conntj, February 25, 1824. His parents, 
Peter and Elizabeth (Renner) Morris, are natives of this county, 
where they were married and remained until Mrs. Morris' death. 
Her husband is still living and resides in Whiteley Township. They 
were the parents of seven children, of whom three are living. Henry 
is the oldest child, and was united in marriage May 31, 1846, with 
Eliza Morris, who was born in Franklin Township, December 7, 
1828. She is a daughter of John and Jemima (Pipes) Morris, now 
deceased. Mr. Henry Morris and wife have seven children — ^Caro- 
line, wife of Dr. Jacob Hatfield; Lindsey, John, George W., Andrew 
J. and Milton R; Franklin being deceased. Mr. Morris is one of 
the progressive business men of his township, in which he has been 
engaged in farming and stock dealing all his life. He owns a fine 
farm of 370 acres. He served one term as director of the poor. His 
wife is a consistent member of the Methodist Church. 

ELIJAH MORRIS, farmer, Fordyce, Penn., was born in Jeffer- 
son Township, Greene County, January 7, 1809, a son of Henry and 
Edie (Hickman) Morris. They were natives of this county, where 
they were married and lived a number of years, then moved to Noble 
County, Ohio, where they died. Their son, Elijah, was united in 
marriage October 10, 1830, with Nancy Morris, a native of Ohio 
and daughter of Isaac and Mary Morris. By this mari'iage Mr. 
Morris is the father of ten cliildren, seven are living — Peter, Mary, 
wife of John Morris; David, Abner, Richard, Simon and Sarah J., 
wife of Eli Stoops; and Andrew J., Elizabeth and Selah (deceased). 
Mrs. Morris died in 1850, and in 1864 Mr. Morris married Nancy 
Ketcham (tiee Mofford), a native of Greene Coimty and daughter of 
"William and Susan Mofford. By this second marriage Mr. Morris 
has one child — Emma E., wife of Johnson Stickels. Mrs. Morris 
died December 23, 1867. Mr. Morris is a farmer, and owns 152 
acres of land in Whiteley Township, where he and family reside. 

RUFUS PATTERSON, Kirby, Penn., is one of the substantial 
young farmers of Whiteley Township, where he was born August 11, 
1861. His father, William Patterson, a native of the same town- 
ship, was united in marriage the first time with Rhoda Whitlatch, 
born in Perry Township, this county. By this marriage Mr. Will- 
iam Patterson was the father of fourteen children, of whom ten are 
living. His wife departed this life in 1852, and November 6, 1856, 
Mr. Patterson was again united in marriage with Sophia Kuhn, the 
mother of Rufus, the subject of this sketch. She was born in 
Whiteley Township, October 29, 1815, a daughter of Abraham and 
Eleanor Kuhn (7iee Mooney), the one a native of Germany and t'le 
other of Ireland, who after marriage settled in Greene County, Penn., 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 895 

remaining until their death. Bj his last marriage Mr. AVilliam Pat- 
terson is the father of two children, of whom only Ilufus is living. 
Mr. Patterson died May 13, 1887. March 2, 1887, Eufus married 
Emma Connor, who was liorn in Perry Township, this county, Feb- 
ruarj' 12, 1861, a daughter of Simon and Nancy Connor iiiee Har- 
rington), who resides in Whiteley Township. Like his father, Mr. 
Patterson was raised on a farm, and makes farming the business of 
his life. He ow^ns 160 acres of land (the old Patterson home), where 
he and family reside. 

ARTHUR SHRIVER, farmer, Kirby, Pennsylvania. Among 
the younger class of farmers and stock dealers of Whiteley Township, 
we mention the name that heads this sketch. He was born in 
Whiteley, April 26, 1845, his parents being Jacob and Elizabeth 
(Inghram) Shriver, who were pioneers of Greene County where they 
were married, July 5, 1831, and remained through life. He departed 
this life February 1, 1885, and she February 22, 1855. They were 
were the parents of ten children, nine living. The subject of our 
sketch is the youngest son. 1873, on October 2, he married Miss 
Ella Hickman, who was born in Whiteley, January 7, 1848. She is 
a daughter of Gilmon and Phojbe (Cloves) Hickman, natives of 
Greene County and residents of Whiteley Township. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Shriver have been born three children, two living, Minnie M. 
and Lizzie P. Mr. Shriver was reared on a farm and has been a 
successful farmer and stock-dealer through life, owning at present 
200 hundred acres of excellent land where he lives with his family. 
Mr. Shriver is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

A. J. SMITH, farmer, Kirby, Penn., born in Washington Town- 
ship, Decemlier 14, 1833, is one of the pioneers of Greene County. 
His parents were Dennis and Sarah Smith, who were natives of this 
county and residents therein till deatli. His father died in Mis- 
souri. Li 1855, A. J. Smith married Miss Phoebe J. Estle, born 
in Jefferson Township in 1828, a daughter of Matthias and Mary 
Estle (lice Stewart) who were natives of this county, both now de- 
ceased. Mr. and Mrs. Smith's family consists of si.x childi-en, of 
whom four are living: Leroy W., Mary A., wife of Frank John- 
son; Sarah M. and Elizabeth E.; Abraham and Matthias being de- 
ceased. Mr. Smith was reared on a farm and, following in the foot- 
steps of many of his ancestors, he has made the tilling of the soil the 
pursuit of his life. He owns ninety-seven acres of good land where 
he resides with liis family. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are faithful mem- 
bessof the Methodist Protestant Church. 

LISBON STAGGERS, retired farmer and stock-dealer, Kirby, 
Penn., was born in Franklin Township, Greene County, December 
17, 1820, a son of John and Catharine Staggers (iiee Maple). His 



896 HISI'ORY OB; GREENE COUNTY. 

parents were natives of Franklin Township and residents there until 
their death. His mother died in 1851, and his father, December 
16, 1882. They were the parents of fifteen children, of whom seven 
are living. Lisbon, the eubject of this sketch, is the fifth, and was 
first united in marriage, December 16, 1843, with Eliza J. Mooney, 
born in Franklin Township November 20, 1820, a daughter of 
Thomas and Cassandra Mooney {^nee Inghram), now deceased. To 
Mr. and Mrs. Staggers were born nine children, four living — Cass- 
andra, wife of Albert Eice; Arthur, Catherine M., wife of Sebastian 
Eowlby and James M. The deceased are Thomas J., William F, 
John, Martha E. and Harvey. Their mother died May 31, 1864. 
After her death, Mr. Staggers was again united in marriage, Sep- 
tember 16, 1866, with Sarah Thompson (nee Hoge), who was a 
native of Centre Township, this county. She was born July 14, 
1835, a daughter of Joseph and Mary Hoge (iiee Cowen) the latter 
deceased. Ey the last marriage Mr. Staggers is the father of six 
children, five living — Hamon, Alice, Ida, Lisbon C, and Elva; and 
Selah, (deceased.) Mr. Staggers was reared on a farm and has made 
the care and management of his farm his life work. He owns 300 
acres of good land where he and his family now live. Eoth he and 
his wife are communicants of the Baptist Church. 

LINDSEY STEPHENS, Kirby, Penn, was born in Greene 
Township, June 23, 1836, a son of Earzilla and Margaret (Lantz) 
Stephens, who were natives of Greene County, where they were 
married and have since resided. Mr. Earzilla Stephens departed this 
life, April 24, 1884; his widow survives him and resides with her 
children, of whom three are living. Lindsey is the second of their 
five children, and was united in marriage, September 26, 1861, with 
Margaret Fordyce, born in Whiteley Township, December 30, 1813, 
a daughter of Benson and Maria (Nicholas) Fordyce, the latter de- 
ceased. Ey this marriage Mr. Stephens is the father of one daughter, 
Amanda. On October 27, 1863, Mrs. Stephens died, leaving to her 
daughter the example of her christian character and consistent life. 
On February 23, 1865, Mr. Stephens married Elizabeth J. Hatfield, 
who was born in Whiteley Township, September 4, 1846, a daugh- 
ter of George W. and Mary (Richie) Hatfield, residents of the same 
township. Mr. and Mrs. Stephens have a family of seven children, 
of whom four are living — Nora, John, James and Harry; the de- 
ceased being Lafayette, Ida and Salina. Mr. Stephens has always 
lived on a farm and has been an industrious farmer aad stock-dealer 
all his life. He and his wife own 975 acres of land in Whiteley 
Township. He has been a member of the Masonic Order for about 
thirty years; and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. 



niSTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 897 

SIMON R. STROSNIDER, farmer, Waynesburg, Penn., was 
Ijorn in Wliitcley Township, Greene County, Marcli 9, 1834, a son 
of Peter and Charlotte Strosnider (iiee Cordon). His father was 
born in Whiteley and his mother in Franklin Township. They were 
married and lived in Greene County until 1850, after which time 
they moved to Perry County, Ohio, where tliey died. They had a 
family of eight children, of whom seven are living. Simon R., 
their son, was united in marriage, October 12, 18G2, with Sarah A. 
Inghram, who was born in Waynesburg, January 11, 184:3. Her 
parents were Arthur and Susannah Inghram [jiee Eagon), natives of 
Greene County, both now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Strosnider 
have been born four daughters, Dolly, Lillie A., Laura V. and Lucy O. 
Mr. Strosnider was reared on a farm and has carried on the business 
of farming quite successfully all his life, at present owning 
120 acres of land constituting his home farm. He filled the 
office of auditor of his township with credit to liimself and his 
constituents. Dolly, the oldest of the four daughters was born 
August 26, 1864, united with the congregation at Mount Pleasant 
Church, March 13, 1881, she departed this life at the home of her 
parents, February 4, 1888, she was loved and respected by all who 
knew her. 

A. M. TEMPLE, farmer, Fordyce, Penn., is a pioneer of White- 
ley Township, Greene County. He was born October 11, 1825, a 
son of John and Elizabeth Temple [nee Douglass), the former of 
Greene and the latter of Fayette County, Penn., where they were 
married. They lived at Garard's Fort, Greene County, until 1831, 
when they moved to the farm where the subject of this sketch now 
resides. Mr. John Temple died three weeks later; his M'idow sur- 
vived him until 1873. They had a family of four children, three 
living. Mr. A. M. Temple was united in marriage, in July, 1846, 
with Lucy Greene, born in Franklin Township, September 13, 1829, 
a daughter of Morris and Sarah ((Itrooms) Greene. By this marriage 
Mr. Temple is the father of three children — Benjamin, living, and 
Elizabeth and Rebecca, deceased. Mrs. Temple died, June 17, 1881, 
having been a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
April 20, 1882, Mr. Temple married Mrs. Anna M. Burwell, who 
was born in Jefierson Township, .June 13, 1832, a daughter of Jacob 
and Nancy WaychofF, the former a native of New Jersey and the 
latter of Greene County, Penn. Mr. Temple is a cooper by trade, 
which he followed about twenty-five years. He has since engaged 
in farming and stock raising, and owns a good farm of 300 acres. 
He has filled the offices of director of the poor and jury commis- 
sioner. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal and his wife 
of the Baptist Church. 



898 



niSTOEY OP GREENE COITNTY. 



JAMES R. ZIMMERMAN, fanner, P. O. Deliglit, was born in 
Franklin Township, Greene County, Penn., September 15, 1840. 
His parents were William and Eliza A. Zimmerman {^iiee Seals), 
natives of the same township, where they were married, settled and 
remained until their death. He departed this life, January 21, 1852, 
and she, in October of the same year. They were the parents of seven 
children, of whom six are living, viz: William II., James R., Caro- 
line, wife of Robert MeCHumpliy; Enos, Anna E, wife of Perry 
Cummins, and Vanambiirg; Maria, deceased. Like his ancestors, 
the subject of our sketch was raised on a farm, and has always been 
engaged in farming and stock-dealing. Through industry and good 
management he has succeeded in getting a good farm, consisting of 
225 acres, where he resides. 




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